Blythswood Hill

Blythswood Hill, crowned by the elegance of Blythswood Square, is the wealthiest part of central Glasgow, Scotland. It extends from the west edge of Buchanan Street to Gordon Street and Bothwell Street, Charing Cross, Sauchiehall Street and Garnethill. Developed as the city's wealthiest and healthiest residential area from 1800 onwards, its Georgian and Victorian architecture continues as a Conservation Area of international note. It started as the "Magnificent New Town of Blythswood" becoming an integral part of the city-centre's business and social life.

After the Reformation the vast Lands of Blythswood were owned by the distinguished Glasgow merchant family Elphinstone; one descendant George Elphinstone became an MP of the Scots Parliament. Through his daughter it changed to the Douglas-Campbell family during the 17th century. Archibald Campbell, whose son became Lord Blythswood, setting about feuing the lands to developers.''Glasgow Past and Present'', by Senex and others, three volumes published in 1884

Sitting on the western side of Buchanan Street, and officially starting at West Nile Street, rising to Sauchiehall Street and Blythswood Square it proceeds to the Charing Cross area . To its north is Garnet Hill. Blythswood Hill contains the area from Renfrew Street, Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street south to Bothwell Street and Waterloo Street.

The first new street to be opened up for housing was Sauchiehall Street, followed by Bath Street in 1802, by textile manufacturer and merchant William Harley (1767-1830). He also formed his indoor public baths, pioneered the first hygienic dairy in Europe, and a vast bakery at the eastern end of Bath Street.''William Harley:A Citizen of Glasgow'', by J Galloway, published in 1901 His planned Blythswood Square sits partly on his extensive pleasure grounds, viewing tower, orchards and bowling green which he opened for the public, next to his house of Willow Bank. Harley also owned much of the hill to the north which he named Garnethill in honour of Professor Thomas Garnett.

Blythswood developed due to the mercantile expansion of the city in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, housing the city's wealthy cotton merchants, chemical manufacturers and shipping magnates in Georgian townhouses and Victorian terraces. The whole area is on a grid-iron layout which started first around George Square in the 1790s, adopted by Glasgow Town Council, and continued for urban development west over Blythswood, and south over the Clyde to Tradeston, Laurieston, and Hutchesontown. The grid-iron system was later adopted in 1830 by New York, followed later by Chicago, and other cities in America.

Blythswood Square was the home of Madeleine Smith - a daughter of leading architect James Smith - who in 1857 was tried in the High Court for the murder by arsenic poisoning of her lover Pierre Emile L'Angelier. Although the case was not proven, to the delight of the public, the story scandalised Scottish society, and is recounted in Jack House's 1961 book ''Square Mile of Murder''.

Today, residential use is returning to Blythswood Hill, while remaining mainly prestigious offices, hotels, shops, restaurants and art organisations. The conversion of the former Royal Scottish Automobile Club building at 8-13 Blythswood Square to form the Blythswood Square Hotel continues the graciousness of the area. Glasgow Art Club continues in its duo of townhouses in Bath Street.

St. Vincent Street is the longest street and contains the largest number of distinguished buildings across the Hill, starting at the south west corner of George Square next to Buchanan Street. Rising westward it passes the summit and descends further west to its junction with Argyle Street at Finnieston, where now stands the city's first statue to architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.

Notable buildings

*Blythswood Square Category A listed terraces on each of its four sides (c.1823 – 1829) frontages by John Brash for the trustees and successors of William Harley
*Blythswood Square Hotel (2009) conversion of Royal Scottish Automobile Club, remodelled 1923 by James Miller.
*St. Vincent Street Church (1859) by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, St Vincent Street. One of Glasgow's significant ecclesiastical buildings in architectural terms after the Cathedral.
*St. Stephen's Renfield Church (1852) by John Thomas Emmett, corner of Bath Street and Holland Street
*Elgin Place Congregational Church (1865) by Sir J.J. Burnet, corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street (demolished 2005)
*Adelaides Baptist Church and Centre (1876) Thomas Lennox Watson, corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street
*King's Theatre (1904) for Howard & Wyndham Ltd by Frank Matcham, corner of Bath Street and Elmbank Street
*Glasgow Art Club (1840s) 185 Bath Street, with gallery added by John Keppie and Charles Rennie Mackintosh
*Willow Tearooms (1903) Sauchiehall Street near Blythswood Street Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Catherine Cranston.
*Sovereign House (1893 onwards) 158/160 West Regent Street at West Campbell Street, formerly Institute for Adult Deaf & Dumb, and Church for the Deaf
*Commercial Bank former, (1930s) by James Miller 92 West George Street, at corner of West Nile Street
*James Sellars House formerly the New Club, (1880) James Sellars 144/146 West George Street
*198 West George Street at corner of Wellington Street, (1820s) self contained example of original townhouse
*Lloyds/Union Bank of Scotland (1927) bank headquarters by James Miller 110 St Vincent Street, corner of Renfield Street
*200 St Vincent Street formerly insurance headquarters (1929) by Sir J.J. Burnet at corner of West Campbell Street
*Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow (1821 onwards) 242 St Vincent Street, with its College Hall added by James Miller
*Bothwell Chambers (1850) by Alexander Kirkland 4-28 Bothwell Street, corner of Hope Street, first and original buildings in new street and first purpose-built speculative offices in Glasgow
*Mercantile Chambers (1900) by James Salmon 35-69 Bothwell Street
*Scottish Legal Building (1927) by Wylie, Wright & Wylie 95 Bothwell Street, entire street block

References

{{Areas of Glasgow

Areas of Glasgow