In 1796 the Assembly Rooms were built on the north side of Ingram Street to the design of Robert (1728-92) and James Adam (1732-94).
In its original form without the later wings, it was an imposing
classical building with a central bay featuring projecting
paired Ionic columns framing a triumphal arch. Glasgow
citizens paid the cost purchasing 274 shares at £20 each, a
practice known as the Tontine principle. The Rooms provided a
social gathering place for dances, music and other cultural
pursuits. In 1847 it became a club, the Atheneum. When the
building was demolished in about 1892 to make way for the new
General Post Office, the central arch was preserved and moved first
to Greendyke Street and then in 1922, to Glasgow Green where it was
arranged as a freestanding triumphal arch.
Eighteenth century Glasgow was widely admired as 'one of the
most beautiful small towns in Europe'. Broad, gridded streets had
been constructed westwards from the old High Street with handsome
houses, offices, shops and warehouses. By 1800 the city had a
population of about 70,000 and was growing rapidly as navigation
improvements on the Clyde brought new opportunities for its
merchants. There was an increasing need for other amenities
suited to an increasingly sophisticated town. The Adam brothers
were responsible for a number of buildings and development
proposals in Glasgow, including the Trades Hall (1791-94) and
the Infirmary (1792-4). The former survives. The latter was
demolished to make way for the present Royal Infirmary.
Also at Glasgow Green (Back to listing)