Bungo Mission hall will rise from the ashes
Strathbungo’s tiny Thomsonesque temple in Nithsdale Drive will be saved, despite being badly damaged by fire over the summer.
It’s thought suggestions for its restoration might include a community-based arts project of some sort.
According to the Heritage and Design Team at Glasgow Regeneration Services, the roof was burned off and the interior extensively damaged in the blaze on 21 July, but the Grade B listed facade was not affected.
Building Control confirmed on 9 August that the building was not dangerous and the Council has since put in support scaffolding to retain the walls.
Senior Planning Officer Mike Fraser said: ‘The Council is confident that a suitable community use can be found and discussions are taking place to determine its future. In short, the building is in no danger of being demolished.’
It was designed by Alexander Skirving in 1887 as a mission hall for Queens Park United Presbyterian Church. Skirving (c1846-1919) is best known for the Battlefield Memorial at Langside (with sculptor James Young). Nearby Skirving Street was named after him.
Just as Skirving would never achieve the stature of his mentor Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson, the wee hall was on a decidedly more modest scale than its illustrious mother church. Behind its classic sandstone front, gates and railings was a tiny structure made of humble brick — no doubt the elders of the kirk felt that would do for feeding and proselytising the urban poor!
Sadly, Queens Park Church, considered one of Thomson’s masterpieces, was destroyed by a German incendiary bomb in 1942. The Nithsdale Drive hall escaped that fate but fell derelict over time and eventually came into Council ownership.
Small and quirky, it’s latterly been surrounded by the modern sprawl of the Arnold Clark organisation.
Comments
Full text of letter from Councillor Malcolm Cunning to Robert Booth, Director of Land Services, Glasgow City Council
22 August 2005
Titwood Bridge Closure
Dear Robert,
I was contacted by residents today in the Strathbungo area raising concerns about traffic using Moray Place etc in order to avoid delays on Pollokshaws Road arising from the diversions caused by the closure of the Titwood Road Bridge.
I appreciate that Monday was the first working day after the closure and drivers will no doubt settle in to the new arrangements. However, can we arrange to monitor the situation over the next couple of weeks to see whether there is a significant increase in traffic in Moray Place as well as the “Squares” of Strathbungo? (The Strathbungo Society is happy to volunteer to provide figures over the next few days.)
According to local residents, much of yesterday’’s traffic was travelling at utterly inappropriate speeds for the narrow streets and there were a number of cars which ignored one-way signs.
If the problems persist, are there any measures which can be taken to discourage or minimise the number of vehicles attempting to cut through Strathbungo towards Nithsdale Road?
Regards,
Cllr. Malcolm Cunning
Comments
Bungo residents raise concerns about road safety during bridge replacement works
In a spectacular feat of botched timing, the Titwood Road railway bridge was removed on 21 August and traffic diverted to the Nithsdale Road bridge - despite traffic there still being restricted to single lanes while strengthening works continue - and all of this coinciding with the annual escalation of rush hour traffic as kids and teachers went back to school.
At 7pm on Monday, 22 August, the first night of what will be at least eight months before the new bridge at Titwood Road will be opened, Strathbungo was surrounded by traffic as cars were still stacked up on Nithsdale, Darnley and Pollokshaws Roads.
This followed a day in which frustrated motorists were using Strathbungo’s narrow streets for ill-judged shortcuts, only to find themselves thrown back into Pollokshaws Road due to our one-way system. Many chose instead to travel illegally up Moray Place to the Nithsdale Road roundabout or take the ‘rat run’ up the private cobbled lane behind Moray Place.
Residents in Queen Square, Vennard Gardens and Moray Place reported a steady stream of traffic throughout the day in these normally quiet streets - and many incidences of high speed, with scant regard for the safety of children and pets.
A spokesman for the Council’s Traffic Calming Section was sanguine about the situation, saying he expected things would ‘calm down’ (his phrase) when word got round to motorists that cutting through Strathbungo was not really an option.
Strathbungo Councillor Malcolm Cunning was more proactive, raising the safety and amenity issues in a letter to Land Services Director Robert Booth. ‘I have expressed local residents’ concerns and asked him to keep an eye on developments. Obviously, this work has had to go ahead and there will be increased traffic on the main roads around Strathbungo for the duration, but if necessary, we may have to look at measures to alleviate the pressure on the narrow side streets.’ (See full text of Councillor Cunning’s letter in following news item.)
In common with many other railway bridges throughout the UK, the bridges at both Nithsdale (at Susie’s shop) and Titwood Road (at Crossmyloof station) were found to be not up to European directives on bridge safety standards several years ago and traffic was restricted to single lanes each way at Nithsdale Road till money could be found to bring them up to scratch.
Much to the surprise of many locals, Network Rail has recently found some £6million to build a new bridge at Titwood Road and thus in July informed residents near the Nithsdale Road bridge that works to strengthen it would commence on 23 July, primarily taking place overnight. This would enable it to accommodate the higher volume of traffic during the diversion which could last up to a year.
Unfortunately, that work was still ongoing and single lane restrictions still in place when the Titwood Road bridge was taken down.
Given that Titwood Road serves as an access to the M77-M8 and more generally to Shawlands and the Southside - including major games and events at Hampden - it looks like a very long year ahead.
Looking on the bright side, Councillor Cunning said it is possible the new bridge might be lifted into place as early as April.
Any thoughts or concerns about this and its impact on access to and from Strathbungo, email the website editor.
Comments
Badly damaged building designed by Greek Thomson disciple Alexander Skirving
Strathbungo’s small, eccentric and derelict church hall which has provoked much curiosity over the years apparently came to the attention of firebugs on 21 July after a massive fire left the listed building virtually destroyed.
More than 30 firefighters were called to Nithsdale Drive just off March Street to tackle the flames amid fears there were people in the disused hall. That much, at least, proved to be a false alarm.
The hall was designed by architect Alexander Skirving (1865-1919), an apprentice to Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson. Skirving is perhaps best known for the Battlefield Memorial at Langside (in collaboration with the sculptor James Young).
The tiny structure was built in 1893 as a mission hall for the rather grander Queens Park Presbyterian Church. It has been derelict for a number of years and latterly has come into the ownership of the Council. The facade is Grade B listed.
Thanks to Jim Rae for the photographs which appear in the Strathbungo Today gallery.
Read more about the fire in the Evening Times.
Comments
Repairs to railway bridges will bring increased traffic to Bungo roundabout
Network Rail has commenced works to strengthen Nithsdale Road bridge (at Susie’s shop) to meet European directives on bridge safety standards.
Residents adjacent to the bridge were informed by letter that the current works would take up to a month to complete (from 23 July 2005) and take place at night!
When complete, the bridge will be reopened to traffic to travel in two lanes, each way. The strengthening of the bridge is to allow for the year-long closure and reconstruction of Titwood Bridge at Crossmyloof station.
Please note that Network rail is committed to providing a pedestrian - cycle - wheelchair access bridge at Titwood Road for the duration of the works. Given that Titwood Road serves as an access to the M77-M8 and more generally to Shawlands and the Southside-including major games and events at Hampden-this will inevitably see a large volume of diverted traffic using Nithsdale Road Bridge.
Any thoughts or concerns about this and its impact on access to and from Strathbungo, email the website editor.
Comments
