In Conversation with…Heritage Greats!

Those of us working to protect and promote Glasgow’s heritage today stand on the shoulders of some true greats that have gone before us, who worked tirelessly to establish the conservation movement we know today.

As part of our 10th anniversary celebrations in 2017 we interviewed some of the leading figures from the early days of conservation in Glasgow, highlighting the huge amount of work that was done in the 1960s and since to protect Glasgow’s heritage and impress upon the people in power how significant it is to the city.

We believe that these oral histories are an important part of our heritage, and that in understanding how we got to the present situation we are better prepared to continue to campaign to protect and enhance Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Below you can read a little about each of our interviewees, watch a short clip or the full interview or download a transcript of the interview for research use.

Professor John Hume, OBE, BSc ARCST, Hon FRIAS, FSA Scot

John is Patron of Glasgow City Heritage Trust as well as an Honorary Professor at both the Universities of Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was a lecturer in Economic and Industrial History at the University of Strathclyde. After a career with Historic Scotland as an Inspector of Scotland’s Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, John eventually retired as Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings in 1999. He lives in Glasgow and was instrumental in setting up many local heritage organisations such as the Forth & Clyde Canal Society and has written major reference books on Glasgow’s industrial heritage.

Download the full transcript.

Watch the 3 minute clip

Watch the full interview

Dr James Macauley

Dr Macaulay is an Honorary research fellow at the University of Glasgow, and was formerly senior lecturer at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. He has also taught at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture. Dr Macauley is a former chairman of the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland and the Society of Friends of Glasgow Cathedral and is a Trustee of the Glasgow Art Club, Medieval Glasgow Trust, Willow Tea Rooms Trust and the Dalrymple Donaldson Fund. He is the author of The Gothic Revival, 1745-1845; The Classical Country House in Scotland, 1660-1800; Hill House; and Glasgow School of Art, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and was instrumental in setting up the New Glasgow Society, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Strathclyde Cases Panel and the Glasgow West Conservation Trust.

Download the full transcript. 

Watch a 3 minute clip

Watch the full interview

Professor David Walker OBE LL.D FSA Hon FRIAS

Professor Walker joined the Scottish Office as Senior Investigator of Historic Buildings in 1961 and remained there until 1993, latterly as Historic Scotland’s Chief Inspector. He was Honorary Professor of Art History at the University of St Andrews from 1994 to 2001, and acted as an expert advisor to the Heritage Lottery Fund from 1995 to 1999. He is the author of numerous articles and volumes on Scottish architecture. The large quantity of material collected by Professor Walker since the 1950s formed the starting point for the creation of the Dictionary of Scottish Architects, launched in 2006.

Download the full transcript. 

Watch a 3 minute clip

Watch the full interview

Audrey Gardner

Audrey Gardner was Vice President of the Architectural Heritage Society for Scotland (AHSS), and chaired the Strathclyde Cases Panel with distinction, expertise and quiet good humour for many years. Audrey met her husband Tom while studying at Glasgow School of Art, and went on to become a teacher. Along with Tom, she was a founder member of the Strathclyde Cases Panel of the AHSS in the early 1970s and so commented on Glasgow’s changing built environment for 50 years. Audrey remained “very concerned about the continuing threats to the built environment” until her death in January 2020 at the age of 95.

Download the full transcript. 

Watch a 3 minute clip

Watch the full interview