Adam Smith in the Hall of Heroes
For the final post of 2010, I’ll take you away from Glasgow, to Stirling. Within the Wallace Monument is a floor called the Hall of Heroes, featuring the marble busts of sixteen notable Scotsmen, including Adam Smith, seen above. You can see a panorama of the Hall of Heroes here.
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John Veitch Memorial Tablet
The ornate tablet at the foot of the Randolph Staircase was unveiled in 1986 and commemorates John Veitch, Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at the University of Glasgow. He was also a poet, philosopher, and historian. Educated at Edinburgh University, he spent four years as the chair of logic, metaphysics and rhetoric at St Andrews University, after which he spent thirty years in the aforementioned professorship at the University of Glasgow.
The marble and gold mosaic tablet was created by John Oldrid Scott, the son of Sir George Gilbert Scott, the architect of the University’s Main Building. >The inscription on the panel in the base, which is a bit difficult to read, has the words:
To the memory of John Veitch M.A. LL.D., Professor of Logic Rhetoric and Metaphysics in the University of St Andrews 1860-1864, Professor of Logic and Rhetoric in the University of Glasgow1864-1894. Born at Peebles Oct. 24 1829. Died there Sep. 3 1894.
Through mystery to mystery, from God and to God.
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Faces of Randolph Staircase
The Randolph Staircase in the southern front of the University of Glasgow’s Gilbert Scott Building, the University’s main building, is another grand staircase. The two facing walls are adorned with 19th century paintings of a number of considerable individuals from the University’s history books.
The top row, from the left, you have Charles Randolph (1809-1879), a benefactor who the staircase and the hall at the top of it are named after; Lord Kelvin (1824-1907), Professor of Natural Philosophy; and Stevenson MacGill (1765-1840), Professor of Divinity.
The bottom row, from the left, you have John Veitch (1829-1894), Professor of Logic and Rhetoric; Duncan MacFarlan (1771-1857), Principal; and Archibald Davidson (1732-1803), Principal.
I’ll feature the ornate memorial of John Veitch in a bit more detail tomorrow. I don’t have a good photo of the opposite wall, so I’ll have to get that photographed and posted in the future.
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Thomas Stillie 1832-1883
Right next to the bust featured yesterday is one of Thomas Logan Stillie (1832-1883), a benefactor to the University. Greatly involved in Glasgow’s musical life, Stillie worked for some years as a music critic for the Glasgow Herald. His library included a range of music books on subjects including the theory and philosophy of music, tutoring, music history and composition, and a number of concert programmes, as well as a comprehensive collection of musical scores of the time, such as oratorios, part-songs, operas, instrumental and chamber music, and symphonies. A collection of some 750 volumes of scores and books on music was bequeathed to the University of Glasgow by his estate a year after his death.
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Hugh Blackburn 1823-1879
In the middle level of the Randolph Staircase are two marble busts. The one on the left represents Hugh Blackburn (1823–1909), Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow from 1849 to 1879.
Blackburn was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he met and befriended William Thomson, better known Lord Kelvin. In 1849 he succeeded William Thomson’s father James to the Chair of Mathematics at Glasgow. Apparently he was said to be a good teacher but incapable of maintaining discipline in his classes.
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I is for… Interfaith Chaplaincy [ABC Sundae]
![I is for... Interfaith Chaplaincy [ABC Sundae]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5254/5392027860_c0a0bbab6e_z.jpg)
The University of Glasgow was established as an ecclesiastical institution, founded by a Papal Bull from Pope Nicholas V on January 7th, 1451. Over five and a half centuries after the University’s catholic upbringing in the Glasgow Cathedral, the University’s religious Services are focused round the Interfaith Chaplaincy.
The current Chaplain of the University is the Reverend Stuart MacQuarrie, a Church of Scotland Minister from the Iona Community. In addition, the University appoints Honorary Chaplains of other denominations. These include a Roman Catholic Chaplain, a Free Church of Scotland Chaplain, a Quaker Representative, an International Chaplain, a Humanist adviser, a Jewish Chaplain, a Muslim Chaplain, a Sikh Chaplain, an Anglican/Episcopalian Lay Chaplain, and a Buddhist Chaplain.
There is a short 10-minute daily Service during term time in the Chapel at 8.45am (Monday to Friday), led by students and staff of the University. The daily service is open to all students, staff and visitors. In addition, there are many other services and prayer groups of different faiths during the week, which you can find out about on the Chaplaincy website.
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The Stone of Destiny
Christmas Day 2010 marks the 50th anniversary of an ambitious scheme by a small group of Glasgow University students to steal back the Stone of Scone, commonly known as the Stone of Destiny. A short history of the stone goes as follows:
For centuries a block of red standstone has been used as a coronation stone for Scottish monarchs. There is debate over its origins, but such a stone existing at Scone Abbey in Perthshire has been mentioned by writers for centuries, and several sources claim it having been brought over from Ireland centuries before that, possibly as far back as 840AD. The Celtic name of the stone is Lia Fail, or “the speaking stone”. Further accounts suggest that the stone could date to Biblical times, from Jacob in Bethel. From there is has been moved to Syria, Egypt, Spain and to Ireland over the centuries.
In 1296 the stone was captured by Edward I as spoils of war and brought to Westminster Abbey in London, where it was incorporated into a Coronation Chair, known as King Edward’s Chair. From then, English, and subsequently British, monarchs were crowned on the stone, a tradition which remains to this day.
Fastforward to 1950. On Christmas Day four Glasgow University Students (Ian Hamilton, Gavin Vernon, Kay Matheson, and Alan Stuart) travelled to London and stole the Stone from the Coronation Chair, transporting it back to Glasgow. The stone was found to be damaged and was repaired by a stonemason.
The Stone then disappeared for four months, while a major search operation was undertaken by the British Government. In April 1951 the Stone resurfaced, left on the altar of Arbroath Abbey, draped in a Scottish flag. It was returned to the authorities by the Church of Scotland.
On St Andrew’s Day, November 30th 1996, the Stone of Destiny was returned to Scotland for the first time in 700 years. It now resides at Edinburgh Castle, where it awaits for the next coronation of a British monarch, while at the same time existing as a strong symbol of Scottish Independence.
It should be noted that modern lore does dispute the authenticity of the Stone in Edinburgh. There were rumours that replicas of the Stone had been made to confuse the authorities. The real Stone of Scone could be one of three, which are on display at the Scone Abbey (“officially” a replica), Edinburgh Castle (“officially” the real thing), and The Arlington Bar in Glasgow’s Woodlands area, just down the street from the Glasgow University Union. The above photo is from the aforementioned bar. The text above it reads:
Seven centuries after Edward Longshanks marched triumphantly out of Scotland with the ancient symbol of Caledonian nationhood effectively tucked under his arm, the Stone of Destiny crossed the border again in 1996 receiving an emotional homecoming in Edinburgh, after being held at Westminster Abbey for seven centuries.
The Stone however already came back in 1950. Daring students from Glasgow University stole it from Westminster Abbey on Christmas morning! Roadblocks were set up yet the Stone still made it north to Glasgow. For a respite these thirsty students carried it from their car and placed it on the bar of “The Arlington” whilst enjoying a pint.
Within two weeks the game was up and the police were tipped off that the Stone could be found at “The Arlington”. Under pressure the students decided to hand it back… Or did they? Stories abound across Scotland that the Students handed a replica to the police and that the “real” Stone is here in “The Arlington Bar”.
Other stories tell that the monks at Scone Abbey hid the Stone and replaced it with a similar stone as King Edward I was approaching the Abbey. They hid it so well in fact, if this story is true, that the real Stone has not been seen since. Be it one of the three in Scotland, or hidden in Perthshire, or even still tucked away in a secret basement in Westminster Abbey, it’s a very interesting tale, some of it legend but much of it true.
The tale was recounted in a 2008 film by the name of Stone of Destiny, starring Charlie Cox, Kate Mara, Robert Carlyle, and Billy Boyd. Parts of the film were shot on location at the University of Glasgow campus.
Which Stone do you believe is the real one?
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Snowy Panorama of the University
One more snowy photo of the University, the last one of 2010. Taken from my favourite photolocation on campus, the top of the Boyd Orr Building, a panorama of the Gilmorehill campus with a slight blanket of snow. You can compare the above panorama to a previous one from the same location, that one devoid of snow.
Merry Christmas!
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Night on Campus
It’s been a while since I posted a night-time photo of the University of Glasgow. Guess I’ve been a bit too busy to drag my tripod to campus late in the evening, in the bitter early Winter cold. To make up for that I have a few great ones lined up, with an interesting little twist to them.
Question: Is there something specific on campus that looks great at night, one which I haven’t featured before? My previous night-time photos of the University can be found here.
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Old and New Medicine
The study of medicine at the University of Glasgow officially began in 1637 when Robert Mayne MA was appointed Professor of Medicine, a post which he held until 1646. The chair sat empty until 1714 when John Johnstoun MD was appointed. The modern medical school only came into being when William Cullen was appointed Professor of Medicine in 1751, 300 years after the establishment of the University. Since then, the University has created a long history of outstanding achievements in medical science, with such renowned physicians as Joseph Lister (antisepsis), George Beatson (breast cancer), John MacIntyre (X-rays and radiology), William Hunter (anatomy and obstetrics) and Ian Donald (ultrasound) having studied, taught or research medicine at the University.
Today the University of Glasgow Faculty of Medicine maintains a place at the forefront of medical research, and boasts world-class facilities on campus. The future of the Faculty of Medicine is a topic of discussion right now, with the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Yorkhill having closed and the Western Infirmary facing a similar fate. The hospitals would be resurrected at the multi-million pound South Glasgow Hospitals campus, where many of the University’s medical divisions may move to as well. I’ll try to find out a bit more about this and the fate of the Western Infirmary, just to get my facts straight.
The photo above representing the old and the new is the face of the Medical Links buildings – the West Medical School Building, the Wolfson Building and the Davidson Building – which face the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You can read a fuller timeline of the History of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Glasgow here.
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Darkest Days
December 21st marks the winter solstice in the UK, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. For the occasion, a dark view of the Cloisters underneath Bute Hall in the University’s Main Building.
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Inscription on the John McIntyre Building
In the 1880s Dr John McIntyre donated £5,000 to the University of Glasgow for the construction of a student union building on campus in memory of his wife. An inscription on the building reads:
This building erected for the use and benefit of the students of Glasgow by John McIntyre M.D., Odinham, Hampshire, a former student of this University, is dedicated to the memory of his beloved wife Anne, daughter of the late Francis Tweddell Esquire of Threepwood, Northumberland. 1887
The Glasgow University Union was formally opened in the John McIntyre Building on this day in 1890, almost to the day 40 years before it moved down the street to it’s current housing. After the GUU the John McIntyre Building housed the Queen Margaret Union, followed by the Students’ Representative Council. In other words, the John McIntyre Building has served its purpose ever since it was built.
More “On This Day” entries can be found on Glasgow University Story website at universitystory.gla.ac.uk maintained by the Archive Services. Information also from University Story site.
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A Little More Snow
Found another interesting snow photo from this winter, this one of the Main Gate and a part of The Square Professors’ Square. The tree looks a bit weird, blame the photo editing software I was using for a time. Nevertheless I quite like the faded and colourless look of the photo, contrasted by the blue sky.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
The Hunter Cup
The Hunter Cup, on display in the Hunterian Museum, was commissioned in 2007 to mark the bicentenary of the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. The designer was chosen after a competition between 3rd and 4th year silversmithing and jewellery students at the Glasgow School of Art. The winner was Leah Black, a 3rd year student.
The 2007 interpretation of the original Hunter’s Cup, which dates from 1783, is silver as was the original (the lights of in the Hunterian and in the display cabinet make it look gold but I assure you, it is silver). The older Hunter’s Cup was a prized possession of Dr William Hunter, the museum’s founder, and had been presented to him as a tribute from his anatomy students.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
The Long Winter of Lord Kelvin
Lord Kelvin, one of the most influential people associated with the University of Glasgow, passed 83 years ago on December 17th. I’ve featured William Thomson, better known as Lord Kelvin, before, so instead of repeating what I’ve said before I’ll add a few more of his achievements and interesting litte factoids, including some things he got very wrong.
- William Thomson was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
- Thomson had heart problems and nearly died when he was 9 years old.
- He moved to Glasgow when his father was appointed professor of mathematics at the University in 1832.
- Thomson was educated at Peterhouse in Cambridge.
- A long list of his achievements and discoveries bearing his name or influence reads as follows:
- Joule–Thomson effect, Thomson effect (thermoelectric), Mirror galvanometer, Siphon recorder, Kelvin material, Kelvin water dropper, Kelvin wave, Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, Kelvin–Helmholtz mechanism, Kelvin–Helmholtz luminosity, Kelvin transform, Absolute Zero, Kelvin’s circulation theorem, Stokes’ Theorem, Kelvin bridge, Kelvin sensing, Kelvin equation, Magnetoresistance, and Four-terminal sensing.
- Thomson is also credited for coining the term “kinetic energy” in about 1850.
- For all his achievements, he did get a few things wrong.
- In 1897 Thomson said: “Radio has no future.”
- In 1895 Thomson said “Heavier- than- air flying machines are impossible.”
- Lord Kelvin calculated an upper limit for the age of the Earth to a maximum age near 100 million years, by estimating how long it would take an earth-sized molten sphere to cool to today’s temperatures.
- The discovery of radioactivity on the year of his death blew his conclusions on the age of the Earth out of the water.
- Thomson died in 1907 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.
- He left no children behind to inherit his title, making him the first and last Lord Kelvin.
The above statue, covered in snow, is located in Kelvingrove Park, in the shadow of the University’s Main Building.
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Fore Hall
Just between the Lion and Unicorn Staircase and the Memorial Chapel is the Fore Hall. The wooden panelling at the back of the room is the hallway I’ve featured before. An interesting little fact is that back in the days of the Old College, the Lion and Unicorn Staircase used to lead to the Fore Hall, and today the same is true at the Gilmorehill campus. A different type of relic, a memento of the past, if you will.
You can see a photo of the Lion and Unicorn Staircase leading to the Fore Hall from the 1870s, the final days of the Old College, on The Glasgow Story website.
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Gilbert Scott’s Stairs
Another view of the grand staircase in the Gilbert Scott Building, featured yesterday. I really should have gotten a shot from the top as well, now that I think about it.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
Gilbert Scott’s Vertigo
I do believe my search is over: I might have just found the nicest staircase at the University of Glasgow. It’s located in the south-west corner of the Gilbert Scott Building, the University’s Main Building. I apologise if the photo gives you vertigo, it’s taken from the the bottom up.
By the way, when I say my search is over, I’m kidding, there’s still a bunch of staircases that I still have to photograph.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
80 Years of the Glasgow University Union Building
On December 12th, 1930, the building which houses the Glasgow University Union at the foot of University Avenue was opened by the Rector, Stanley Baldwin. It’s the second purpose-built building for the GUU, the first being the John McIntyre Building which you can just and just see in the photo, up University Avenue to the left. I’ve been looking for an excuse to use this panorama for a while now.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
H is for… Hillhead [ABC Sundae]
![H is for... Hillhead [ABC Sundae]](http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5127/5373957414_7d4c935f7c_z.jpg)
The district in Glasgow which houses most of the University of Glasgow’s buildings is called Hillhead. Very little existed of Hillhead at the end of the 17oos, as can be seen from this 1795 map of the west of Glasgow. Back then the land was the property of the Gibsons of Hillhead and it wasn’t until the 1820s that development began in earnest in the area. Hillhead used to be outside Glasgow’s city limits (with the River Kelvin making up the natural boundary), but as the wealthier Glaswegians began moving toward the west (to escape the growing pollution levels in the city’s eastern stretches), Hillhead and the rest of the West End became a part of the city, aided by the relocation of the University in the area. Hillhead became an independent burgh in 1869, but was incorporated into the growing city quickly and was administratively a part of Glasgow by 1891.
Hillhead has a number of well-preserved villas, terraces and tenements, which are populated by an eclectic mix of students and wealthier denizens. All this creates an interesting mixture of economics and cultures, with Byres Road and Great George Street contributing to creating Hillhead as the de facto centre of the West End. The borders of Hillhead begin from the corner of Byres Road and University Place, up Byres Road and Queen Margaret Drive to the bridge of River Kelvin, down the river past Kelvinbridge and Gibson Street, past the Gilmorehill Centre and up University Avenue to University Place. Which means, that technically the University’s Main Building and the Science Buildings are not located in Hillhead, but rather on Gilmorehill (Note: some other sources put the southern border to be Dumbarton Road at Partick Bridge).
In addition to the University of Glasgow, Hillhead contains such features as Ashton Lane, Cresswell Lane, Ruthven Lane, Otago Lane, the Western Baths, Hillhead High School, Glasgow Academy, Hillhead Library, the now-defunct Botanic Garage, the 19th century terraces on Great Western Road, two churches in operation (Hillhead Baptist Church and Wellington Church) as well as four churches, three which have been converted to other uses (Oran Mor, Gilmorehill Centre and the Sir Charles Wilson Building). The former Lilybank Church on Great George Street and the burnt remains of Lilybank Terrace are now being converted into luxury residences. A new secondary school is being at the foot of University Avenue, in the area behind the two converted churches. Must not forget all the little shops on Byres Road and the aforementioned lanes.
The University’s Library, Tower and the Boyd Orr Building are visible in the panorama above. Anything interesting features of Hillhead which I’ve missed?
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The Randolph Buildings
The central section of the University’s Main Building is comprised of mainly Bute Hall, named after John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, the third Marquis of Bute. Randolph, whose name is given (or used to be given) to the structure between the Quadrangles, refers to Charles Randolph (1809-1878), a shipbuilder and politician. In 1877, both Randolph and Marquis of Bute contributed to the University, finances which allowed for the construction of the hall and the separation of the Quadrangles. The Marquis of Bute is remembered in the name of the great hall, while Randolph is remembered in the name of the anteroom to Bute Hall and the staircase at the southern end of the Main Building.
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Concrete University
There are certain sections of the University which are definitely not blessed with beauty and grandeur. The above view is from the Queen Margaret Union, looking south, with the Boyd Orr Building taking up the most of the view. Other buildings visible are the Maths Building on the left, the Wolfson Medical School Building in the centre and the Western Infirmary a bit further on. I quite like how far one can see from the University towards the south of Glasgow.
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Scott’s Snow
One of my favourite shots of the neo-Gothic Gilbert Scott Building at the University of Glasgow, the roofs and spires covered in a light blanket of snow. With the exception of the cars in the foreground, a few modern windows, and the highrises far off in the distance, this photo could have been taken any time in the past century (well, any point since 1929 when the Chapel was built and the western façade was closed).
That’s the last of the snow photos from the University of Glasgow, for now. I have a few more tucked away which I’ll use at some point during the winter.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
Snow Bower
The almost 110-year old Bower Building, historical on the outside, modern within. It’s actually surprising how the building has retained its original look even after having suffered from a catastrophic fire in 2001. The fire gutted the interior but left the exterior standing. You can see a few old photos of the building from the 1950s here and here.
[Nov-Dec 2010 Poll: Should the University Library be open 24 hours a day?] Click on the photo above for a larger version. Please rate the photo below! © 2010 GlasgowUniPhoto.com
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