In person tickets SOLD OUT, online still available Talk: Glasgow’s Gaelic Place Names

Posted November 1st 2024

Wednesday 20 November 2024 | 7-8pm | GCHT, 54 Bell Street, G1 1LQ and online via Zoom

Join Dr Alasdair C. Whyte – Scottish Government Gaelic Ambassador of the Year 2019 & 2020 and Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow – for this talk on the place-names of Glasgow.

Showcasing cutting-edge research from his new book Glasgow’s Gaelic Place-Names (Birlinn), Alasdair will tell the story of Glasgow through its place-names – in particular, its Gaelic story, which began around 1,000 years ago. Come along and hear about how and when Gaelic became the main community language in Glasgow and what Glasgow Gaelic sounded like in the past. Learn about the deep Gaelic roots of places like Auchenshuggle, Barlinnie, Cathkin, Cessnock, Garthamlock, Gartnavel, Shettleston and Yoker, to name a few!

You might even hear a Gaelic song or two composed on the banks of the Clyde. Glasgow hasn’t suddenly ‘gone Gaelic’; the language has been spoken in this city for around a millennium. Come along and hear for yourself!

This event will be held both in-person at our office on 54 Bell Street, Glasgow and streamed online via Zoom. Please pick the appropriate ticket option for you below.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

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Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

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SOLD OUT Workshop: Screen Print a Glasgow Building with Mobile Print Studio

Posted October 10th 2024

Sunday 10 November 2024 | 11am-4pm | Many Studios, 3 Ross Street, G1 5AR

This introductory workshop will give you a solid foundation in screen-printing. We will work with a combination of simple hand-cut stencils and pre-exposed photosensitive screens to create colourful multi layer prints.

The workshop will be themed around some of Glasgow’s iconic historic buildings, including the Tenement House, Kelvingrove Museum and the Barrowlands.

The class will consist of participants drawing, cutting out and printing two base layers, which will give the buildings colour and personality, before completing their images with a key line drawing layer to add architectural details and tie it all together.

This is a beginner friendly class and no previous experience is required. We will talk you through the process and demonstrate the steps on the day.

Equipment, materials and lunch provided. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting a bit messy!

Booking essential, £50 per person

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Talk: Brutal Glasgow

Posted October 3rd 2024

***IN PERSON SOLD OUT, ONLINE TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE***

Wednesday 23 October 2024 | 6:30-7:30pm | GCHT, 54 Bell Street, G1 1LQ or online via Zoom

Dive into Glasgow’s love-hate relationship with Brutalism with curator Rachel Loughran. In this lively talk, Loughran, a specialist in digital curation, will discuss the development of Brutal Glasgow, the latest exhibition from Glasgow City Heritage Trust. Expect captivating insights into the project’s core themes and insights into the creative process of Glasgow-based illustrator Nebo Peklo (Natalie Tweedie), who will join the discussion.

This interactive session promises a dynamic exploration of the exhibition’s multimedia content, highlighting the innovative ways technology brings Glasgow’s Brutalist legacy to life.

Rachel Loughran is a curator specialising in interactive multimedia. She holds a BA in English from The University of Cambridge and a Masters from the Glasgow School of Art. She collaborated with The Alasdair Gray Archive on Gray: Beyond the Horizon (2022) and curated Poor Things: A Novel Guide (exhibition in collaboration with GFT & Òran Mór X Grosvenor, 2024). Rachel is currently writing a book chapter on Alasdair Gray and digital afterlives for the University of Edinburgh Press. She runs ArtDep.

Natalie Tweedie is a Glasgow-based illustrator and artist. Qualified in Printed Textile Design, she uses her design skills to create unique illustrations of places and buildings in beautiful colourways.

Please note this event is hybrid so you can either attend in person by booking an in person ticket, or online via Zoom by booking an online ticket. Please ensure you book the correct one.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

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SOLD OUT Following in the Footsteps of Glasgow’s Witches

Posted September 10th 2024

View of Glasgow from John Slezer's Theatrum Scotiae (1693), with the Bishop's Castle visible to the left of the Cathedral

Thursday 10 October 2024 | 7-8pm | Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary Museum, Cathedral Precinct, G4 0QZ

***SOLD OUT***

From 1563 until 1736 witchcraft was a capital offence in Scotland – a crime punishable by death. The west of Scotland, second only to Edinburgh and Lothian, had a huge number of accusations during this time. Join Lorraine Murray to find out more about some of the places connected with cases in and around Glasgow.

Lorraine is a professional Archivist who works at the Watt Institution in Greenock and The Glasgow Academy Archive in Kelvinbridge. She has been researching historic witchcraft in Glasgow for the last 8 years.

Please note entry to the museum is via the old Royal Infirmary Entrance on Cathedral Square. There is accessible access via the main hospital entrance, off Castle Street. For more information please click here.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

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SOLD OUT The Development of Glasgow’s Commercial Architecture (Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival)

Posted September 5th 2024

Alexander 'Greek' Thompson's Grosvener building

Friday 20 September | 7-8pm | Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow, G11 6EW

Join GCHT Director Niall Murphy to find out about the development of commercial architecture of Glasgow, as part of the Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival 2024.

In his influential 1960 essay, “The Grid and the Urban Grain,” architecture critic Ian Nairn offers a vivid portrayal of Glasgow’s cityscape. He describes the city as ‘a kind of topographical epic with the buildings as incidents” and likens it to ‘a Beethoven symphony played over 150 years,” where the passage of time adds a unique power to the city’s physical landscape.

In doing so Nairn brilliantly captures the qualities of Glasgow’s gridded city centre. The commercial buildings which sit within this grid, so ruthlessly imposed on to the city’s hilly landscape, make up this strong urban matrix and give the city its unique character.

Discover the evolution of Glasgow’s gridded cityscape and the architects like Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, Sir John James Burnet, and James Miller who shaped its distinctive commercial architecture. This tradition is vital to preserving and enhancing Glasgow’s unique sense of place.

Free but booking is essential: Please note booking is managed by Doors Open Days.

Click here to go to the Doors Open Days website for booking

EXHIBITION: BRUTAL GLASGOW

Posted August 22nd 2024

Explore Glasgow’s love-hate relationship with Brutalism through this interactive, multimedia exhibition featuring the work of Glasgow based illustrator Nebo Peklo (Natalie Tweedie).

Journey from Anniesland Tower to the Gallowgate Twins gaining fascinating insights into the city’s Brutalist buildings past and present, with commentary from architects, academics and writers including Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, Rory Olcayto, Johnny Rodger, Nick Haynes, and Owen Hatherley, as well as first-hand stories from those who lived and worked in these monumental structures.

Devised by Rachel Loughran, a curator specialising in digital design who has previously exhibited with the Alasdair Gray Archive, the exhibition brings Nebo Peklo’s works to life, offering a deeper understanding of this often maligned style of architecture.

Brutal Glasgow tells a uniquely Glasgow story and will make you see Brutalism in a whole new light. Don’t miss out – it might just change your mind about these concrete giants.

Visit the exhibition online here

Or you can visit in person:

Following successful runs at Glasgow City Heritage Trust and at the Pyramid at Anderston, the exhibition is heading eastwards to Edinburgh:

Monday to Friday weekly from 17th March – 2nd May 2025

10am – 4pm

The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BE

Free entry

Football’s Square Mile: The World’s Biggest Open-Air Football Museum

Posted July 17th 2024

A black arrow pointing right with Football's Square Mil written on it. In the head of an arrow is a white circle with a black outline of a person kicking a ball.

Thursday 22 August 2024 | 7-8pm | 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ

Discover the trailblazing world of the Scottish pioneers (aka ‘Scotch Professors’) who developed the beautiful game and exported it to the world!

Graeme and Rory, from The Hampden Collection, will guide you through the story behind 21 heritage sites across Glasgow which make up Football’s Square Mile: the world’s biggest open air football museum, which is the cradle of the modern passing, running and combination game.

You’ll also hear about the 3 Hampden Parks and where the story began, how they went about creating Football’s Square Mile, and the work they’ve been doing to try and make this Glasgow’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.

Free, donations welcome, booking essential.

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Dining Tales with Marco Giannasi

Posted July 4th 2024

Wednesday 31 July 2024 | 7-8pm | 54 Bell Street, Glasgow, G1 1LQ & Online

*** In person tickets have now sold out however the online option is still available ***

Battlefield Rest, which was once considered the most exotic tram stop in Scotland, was rescued and restored by Marco Giannasi after the Council issued a demolition order in the early 1990s. Marco will join us to discuss his journey from taking on the dilapidated building to turning it into the iconic Southside restaurant.

Marco will also speak about his recently published book ‘Dining Tales‘, a collection of 27 stories from some of the most successful restaurant owners & Executive Chefs in Glasgow, sharing their experiences, amusing moments and personal thoughts for the first time. Joe Moretti, the last Maitre D of the elegant and glamorous restaurant ‘Malmaison’, where the rich and famous rubbed shoulders in spectacular surroundings, will also join Marco to chat about his time there.

Marco’s book, ‘Dining Tales’ will be available to purchase on the night.

Join us at our office on Bell Street or online – please select the appropriate ticket option for you below.

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Tour: The Pyramid at Anderston

Posted May 21st 2024

Friday 21 June 2024 | 18:30-20:00 | The Pyramid at Anderston, 759 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8DS

Step Inside the Pyramid: Where Community and History Meet

Have you ever wondered about the unique pyramid-shaped building in the heart of Glasgow? Now’s your chance to uncover its secrets! Join us for an exclusive tour inside this architectural marvel.

Back in the 1950s, the Church of Scotland promoted constructing less hierarchical church buildings, leading to an open-plan Modern design with Brutalist traits. This vision was brought to life by the architectural firm Honeyman, Jack & Robertson, resulting in the stunning Anderson Parish Church, now known as The Pyramid at Anderston.

Completed in 1968 as part of Anderston’s redevelopment, this distinctive structure houses twenty-two rooms used as meeting and workspaces, along with three spacious community halls, including the beautiful Sanctuary space with its distinctive shape and coloured stained glasses. From 1968 to 2019, the building operated as the Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church. In 2018, a new chapter began with the formation of The Pyramid at Anderston Trust, a community membership organisation. A year later, with a grant from the Scottish Land Fund, the Trust purchased the building, ensuring it remained a vital community hub.

In June 2020, the Trust secured a £1.1 million award from the National Lottery Community Fund, kickstarting essential renovations. GCHT also provided a grant of £90,000 to work on the iconic reinforced concrete bell tower, some of the deep concrete fascia bands, and to an area of roof that corresponds to the main entrance foyer.

Join us for a one-hour tour to discover the history, architecture, and vibrant community spirit of The Pyramid. Refreshments will be served afterward in the beautiful and atmospheric Sanctuary space.

Step inside and be part of The Pyramid’s ongoing story!

£16 per person, booking essential.

Workshop: Weave a Bird Feeder

Posted April 24th 2024

Wednesday 15 May 2024 | 6:30-8:30pm | The Wash House Garden, G31 4XA

Join us for a meditative outdoor weaving class. You’ll learn how to weave a fat ball bird feeder, using willow basketry methods dating back thousands of years. This is a perfect introduction to basketry.

Max Johnson is a longtime forager, community and market gardener and crafter. For Max, basketry is about connecting to our ancestral roots by weaving beauty out of what natural resources we have around us. Max is largely self-taught and believes basketry should be mindful, meditative, creative and fun. Max is a member of the Scottish Basketmakers Circle.

Suitable for beginners, no weaving experience necessary. All tools and materials are provided. Please note this event will be outdoors (although under a canopy), so please dress appropriately for the weather!