Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide

 City of Glasgow


Charing Cross
Glasgow - A Portrait Wee Book of Glasgow


Photographs of Charing Cross in the city centre of Glasgow

Charing Cross Mansions in Glasgow, Scotland

Charing Cross Mansions

at Sauchiehall Street

 


Charing Cross Mansions
Most visitors to Glasgow are impressed by Charing Cross Mansions, the French early renaissance-style development which literally put "mansions up closes” in the city centre when it was built in 1889-90.
Luckily for us, it narrowly avoided the fate of so many fine buildings in that part of the city when the M8 tore throughin the late 1960s.
Charing Cross Mansions is one of the most prestigious addresses in Glasgow.
An imposing red sandstone curved building at Sauchiehall Street and St George’s Road, it was one of the first sandstone buildings to be erected in the city.
Built in 1891 and based on the design of Scottish Edwardian architect John Iames Burnet (who was unsuccessful with his entry to design Glasgow "City Chambers in 1882)
the eight figures surrounding the clock were sculpted by William Birnie Rhind.
Rhind would go on to create the seated figure of Science in the city’s Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in 1898.
Indicating the passing of time and the seasons, the clock face at the Mansions is bordered with the signs of the zodiac, together with an enigmatic male mask probably representing Old Father Time himself
 (which looks remarkably like a portrait of Burnet), and is surrounded by four crouching and standing figures representing Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.
The clock is surmounted by two reclining figures representing Commerce and Industry, in poses similar to those on Michelangelo’s Tomb of Guiliano Medici in San Lorenzo Florence, of around 1534.
The other sculptural ornament includes splendid escutcheons bearing the Glasgow Arms and monograms carved with the entwined letters R and S.
Charing Cross itself takes its name originally from a block of tenements named Charing Cross Place built in the 1850s, which continue at the south-West corner with North Street.
The junction of Sauchiehall Street was formed as part of the original development of Blythswood Hill including Blythswood Square.
Just round the corner from the Mansions, at the bottom of Renfrew Street, stands a later Burnet building.
Built of red sandstone, Albany Mansions would stand out strongly in another part of the city but is overshadowed by its more famous neighbour.
Nevertheless, it is a fine building and was designed by Burnet a few years after Charing Cross Mansions was completed.




Charing Cross Mansions in Glasgow, Scotland

Charing Cross Mansions

at Sauchiehall Street





Charing Cross Mansions in Glasgow, Scotland

Charing Cross Mansions

at Sauchiehall Street





Clock on Charing Cross Mansions in Glasgow, Scotland

Clock on

Charing Cross Mansions

at Sauchiehall Street




Old photo of Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

Old photo of Charing Cross

Glasgow Then




Charing Cross Mansions in Glasgow

Charing Cross Mansions ( 1889 - 91 ) at Sauchiehall Street

French Renaissance frontage - A class "A" listed building





St George's Mansions at Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

St George's Mansions at Charing Cross

 


St George's Mansions at Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

St George's Mansions at Charing Cross




M8 Motorway at Charing Cross in Glasgow , Scotland

M8 Motorway through Glasgow at Charing Cross

 

Mitchell Library at Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

Mitchell Library at Charing Cross

The library is one of Europe’s

largest public libraries



Mitchell Library at Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

Mitchell Library at Charing Cross




Dome above entrance to the Mitchell Library at Charing Cross in Glasgow, Scotland

Dome above entrance

to the Mitchell Library


Mitchell Library illuminated at night

Mitchell Library

illuminated at night


Mitchell Library illuminated at night

Mitchell Library

illuminated at night



Mitchell Library in Glasgow

Mitchell Library in Granton Street

The frontage

of the old Saint Andrew's Halls



Charing Cross in Glasgow , Scotland

Charing Cross

Glasgow Buildings Gallery Photo Gallery 

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Glasgow - A Portrait Wee Book of Glasgow  Glasgow from the Air  Glasgow - No Mean City  Lost Glasgow  Glasgow - The Real Gorbals Story   

Glasgow Visitor Guide - Colin Baxter Itchy Insider's Guide to Glasgow Glasgow Footprint Pocket Guide Glasgow Insight Pocket Guide Glasgow Guide Pub Companion Glasgow Scotland's Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Rough Guide

Glasgow Insight Pocket GuideCollins Street Map of GlasgowGlasgow: Then & NowThey belonged to Glasgow Phillips Street Atlas of Glasgow & West Central Scotland Glasgow: The Photographic Atlas100 Hillwalks around Glasgow 50 Walks in Glasgow & SW Scotland

Visit Scotland - Touring Guide Scotland: Where to Stay - Hotels & Guest Houses Scotland: Where to Stay - Bed & Breakfast Rough Guide ScotlandScottish Highlands & Islands - Rough Guide Scotland - Lonely PlanetScotland's Highlands & Islands - Lonley Planet Great Glasgow StoriesGlasgow & Surroundings - Insight Guide

West Highland Way: Official GuideWest Highland Way: Rucksac ReadersWest Highland Way: TrailblazerThe West Highland WayWest Highland Way: Footprint MapWest Highland Way - Map West Highland Way - Map West Highland Way Wet Highland Way - Official Guide

Munro Almanac The High Mountains of Britain and Ireland The Munros: Scottish Mountaineering Club The Isle of Skye The Isle of Arran Wilderness Walks Ski Mountaineering in Scotland

More Wilderness Walks 50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay Skye - W.A.PoucherMagic of the Munros Mountaineering in Scotland and Undiscovered Scotland by W.H.MurrayA Long Walk on the Isle of Skye

Classic Climbs - Central & Southern Highlands The Isle of Arran Lonely Planet, Walking in ScotlandPathfinder Guide: Skye and NW Highlands WalksPathfinder Guide: Fort William and Glen Coe Walks Rambler's Guide: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe50 Best Routes on Skye and Raasay - Chris Townsend









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