1 Moray Place finds new owner
by Lucy Bannerman and Stephen Stewart
(The Herald, 31 May 2004)
It is a tale of two buildings linked by an architectural genius.
It is also a story of different approaches to preserving the place of Alexander “Greek” Thomson in the city’s architectural heritage.
As the demolition continued of Thomson’’s former offices in Glasgow, politicians of all hues united yesterday to demand greater funding and stricter legislation in the battle to protect Scotland’s endangered built heritage.
Their comments came days after the the A-listed building on the corner of West Regent Street and Wellington Street, Glasgow, was deemed unsafe despite frantic attempts to save it.
However, across the city, a different story is unfolding. Andrew Greg of the history of art department at Glasgow University (and a member of the Strathbungo Society Committee) and Dr Charlotte Wright, his wife, are now the envy of architecture enthusiasts throughout Scotland after buying the grand Glasgow terrace house where Thomson lived and died.
The couple paid almost £400,000 — £125,000 over the asking price –for 1 Moray Place, in the south side of Glasgow. They are prepared to pay out still more money to continue the sympathetic restoration which was started by the previous owner, Professor Gavin Stamp, the respected architecture and Thomson expert who is leaving the city to take up a research post at Cambridge University.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Thomson famed for his love of classical styles, paid particular attention to the design of his own home, decorating the property with his trademark oriental motifs and cornicing. As well as buildings, Thomson designed doors, stencils, furniture and textiles.
One of the first restoration projects for the new owners will be refitting the 1980s kitchen and incorporating a cupboard designed by Thomson into the new look. The pictures of the kitchen dresser show that Thomson’s design was very plain and simple combining plain moulding in straight lines.
Although many of the period features, such as the wood panelling, the fireplaces and the grand skylight are already showcased within the house, the new owners are keen to revive details which have been hidden or neglected over the last century.
Mr Greg, 53, said he and his wife were looking forward to peeling back the wallpaper to search for traces of Thomson’s signature stencilling style.
He said: “What we plan to do is remove a lot of the modern decoration and wallpaper, in case there is any Thomson detail that may be worthwhile restoring. We hope to work on replacing the original doors, something which I know Professor Stamp had intended to do. We also found photographs of a cupboard which Greek Thomson designed himself which we would like to incorporate into the kitchen.”
Mr Greg said he could not resist viewing the property when he first saw the For Sale sign five weeks ago.
He said: “It will be very nice to feel you are living in a house once lived in by someone so famous. It has such an interesting architectural history. It is the jewel in the crown — head and shoulders above the average nineteenth-century house.”
Internal restoration work is expected to cost tens of thousands of pounds, while Mr Greg added that he would be looking into applying for grants for major infrastructure repairs.
Conservation experts were dismayed by the departure of Professor Stamp, who was the driving force behind campaigns to save threatened Thomson buildings, such as the Egyptian Halls and St Vincent Street Church, both in Glasgow.
Mr Greg said: “We are well aware of the previous owners’ sentimental attachment and its importance. It is a big responsibility, but I am sure we will be able to look after it in the way Professor Stamp would have liked.”
MSPs and councillors said yesterday important architecture was being lost at a worrying rate due to the lack of central funds to help meet the burdensome cost of repairs.
Donald Gorrie, a Liberal Democrat MSP with a keen interest in architecture, said: “This is an important issue which has two aspects.
“The first is financial. There has to be money available for repairs and maintenance of the historic buildings.
“There also has to be better planning regulations to protect these important sites. The two go together. There is no point having some sort of protection in place, if the building falls apart due to a lack of funds.
“A combined approach is needed. Money must be invested for restoration and to prevent these buildings from deteriorating further. People value these buildings when they are protected.”
Mr Gorrie said that Glasgow was architecturally very rich, leaving the city council potentially overwhelmed by the amount of buildings at risk.
Gordon Matheson, who represents the Merchant City area of Glasgow on the council, said: “There are great concerns that we are in danger of losing some of our best architectural heritage because of neglect by existing owners. There is also frustration from the council as the enforcing authority. A way out would be to strengthen the powers of the council to enforce the preservation of the buildings which are privately owned.
“The Scottish Executive could also provide substantial new monies to councils so they can staff enforcement services.”
An executive spokesman said Historic Scotland administered a grants scheme for the repair of buildings that were of outstanding architectural interest or were located in outstanding conservation areas.