Issue 10 NEWSLETTER Autumn 2016

The charity that protects, preserves and promotes the nation’s Mackintosh heritage for the enjoyment of future generations. in this issue Feature

Issue 10 Autumn 2016 GSA Mackintosh Restoration Glasgow School of Art Progress Report 3 News in Brief 4 Progress Report Liz Davidson Creating a Future for the Willow Tea Rooms 6 Senior Project Manager, Glasgow Restoration, Glasgow School of Art Society People 8 In July 2016, contractors Mackintosh in Crail 10 Kier Construction Limited AGM Trip 2016 11 started on site after a lengthy, EU procurement process. Kier demonstrated that they had the necessary strength 4 in depth and logistical ability Cover image: The Music Room, House for an Art Lover to manage the project at the Mack, bringing in experienced and highly skilled sub- East stairwell. Stripped out former ‘junior 3 8 11 Opposite: Plaster casts salvaged from architecture’ floor. contractors and working to the building, now in off site storage. achieve best value and the highest quality on specialist clamped to the stone piers of Elsewhere on the top floor contractor designed elements the Library windows whose of the former professors of the restoration works. frames are now removed. studios - the new timber The programme will extend Once complete the work will framework of the flat roofs to January 2019 when the commence to take down all the is being constructed and the School hopes to enter a careful stone that once framed these temporary roof being modified commissioning phase and then windows. Already, the close to allow the lifting shortly be able to open to the public inspection that the scaffold of the first of the new steel for a number of months prior Published by The Charles Schedule for your Society publications allows us is revealing hairline beams that make up this to full student occupation Rennie Mackintosh Society Please send us news, reviews and articles to meet the following timetable: fractures on the stone, as a space. On reopening the top in September of that year. Mackintosh Queen’s Cross The next Journal will be the spring 2017 issue, copy deadline result of the extremes of heat floor will be used as studios 870 Garscube Road 9 December 2016. Main works at present are and the stresses put upon the for the design school so whilst Glasgow G20 7EL We are always interested to receive features, articles and new research for concentrated on stabilising structure by the expansion the form of the professors T: +44 (0) 141 946 6600 inclusion in Society publications. Please email the Director with notes of E: [email protected] interest and a short abstract summarising your intended submission. the west tower facade of the and rapid cooling of metal studios will largely be building prior to selective element; the effort to retain recreated, they will be put to ISSN: 0141 559x Registered in Scotland Company No. SC293107 dismantling next month. as much of the carved and a new, student-focussed use. www.crmsociety.com The CRM Society has Charitable Status Ref. No. SCO12497 www.mackintoshchurch.com Massive, specially fabricated tooled original surface of the steel braces have been masonry will be a challenge.

2 | Autumn 2016 Autumn 2016 | 3 NEWS IN BRIEF NEWSFeature IN BRIEF

Happy 20th Birthday to House for an Art Lover Mackintosh Buildings The Second Greatest Scot! Safeguarding the Legacy 78 Derngate celebrating Survey The public voted in a poll set up 100th anniversary House for an Art Lover The December programme The first-ever assessment of the by the National Trust for Scotland The Society took a stand celebrates its 20th is equally packed with Mackintosh built heritage of over this summer to determine the and urged others to protest The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Anniversary this year and festive concerts, recitals, the 50 buildings and monuments nation’s favourite historical figure. too when it learned of a House at 78 Derngate was there has been a whole annual Festive Fayre and was initiated by the Society last Five people were proposed by the planning application for an famously remodelled by charity: Mary, Queen of Scots, host of events taking place Hogmanay celebrations. year. The survey determines the unsympathetic development Mackintosh in 1916–1917 for current condition of a range of Flora MacDonald, Charles Rennie at the House to celebrate. at 294 Sauchiehall Street, his client W J Bassett-Lowke, New head chef, Andy Temple, prioritised Mackintosh buildings Mackintosh, Sir Hugh Munro and So far these have included Glasgow. The demolition of an also joins the team from and related works, including Robert Burns – each credited with though in fact the house was Mackintosh-inspired recitals, existing building to make way his position as head chef at interiors and gravestones, having left an enormous legacy. built 100 years prior to its talks, tours and special art for student housing would Cail Bruich so try out the within public and private The online poll was free to enter. transformation. 78 Derngate classes, with plenty still obscure the magnificent view new café menu soon. Set in ownership. The survey work is Mackintosh attracted 19% of the is open until 18 December or to come including murder being undertaken by Simpson votes, placing him as runner-up to of The Glasgow School of Art, the glorious surroundings of plan your visit for 2017 when mystery evenings! & Brown Architects and Page\ Robert Burns who secured 44%! enjoyed from Sauchiehall Bellahouston Park, House it re-opens on 1st February. Park Architects and is being led The result was most appropriate Street and Dalhousie Street. for an Art Lover offers by the Society’s director Stuart because the NTS used the The proposed new-build Check the website for an excellent day out. Robertson and board member campaign to raise donations would also affect the daylight opening hours and details at Pamela Robertson, former towards the repair of the Burns Book events online at www.78derngate.org.uk Professor of Mackintosh Studies Monument in Kilmarnock. to south-facing studios in the www.houseforanartlover. at the University of Glasgow. iconic Mackintosh Building. co.uk/whats-on/highlights Checking out the most popular Scottish artist Avril Paton painted a The first phase of survey work For more details and updates is complete and phase 2 is Great Scot at the Robert Burns piano at Mackintosh Queen’s Cross Birthplace Museum see www.crmsociety.com during the Mackintosh Festival. underway – the next issue of The Journal in 2017 will provide a fuller report. In the Spotlight Mackintosh Queen’s Cross “One of the best examples featured well in the STV of the Society’s value broadcast on 10 October and contribution to promoting Glasgow’s Scotland’s heritage is Mackintosh Festival 2016. the Mackintosh building The programme highlighted artist Avril Paton’s work and conditions survey, the guitar concert with Laura which is being delivered Browne and Lewis Dunsmore. with the support and generosity Glebe Place, London of The In Quest of Beauty Kelvin Hall Glasgow One of Mackintosh’s last Monument The fabulous temporary Refurbished by Glasgow City architectural projects has exhibition ‘Alphonse Mucha: Council, the University of become a popular tour for Trust.” In Quest of Beauty’ is on show Glasgow and National Library Society members only. A further Carol Matthews, at Kelvingrove Art Gallery of Scotland, Kelvin Hall is now 50 members will visit The Studio Chair, CRM Society and Museum, Glasgow until officially open, providing public House, Chelsea (1920–21) in 19 February 2017. access to 400,000 objects November. To book or reserve a including Mackintosh archives place on the next tour in 2017, The east window at Queen’s and tea room furniture. contact 0141 946 6600. Cross, one of the buildings in See www.kelvinhall.org.uk the survey project

4 | Autumn 2016 Autumn 2016 | 5 Feature Feature

Creating a future for the project de-risked and very Miss Cranston’s dress importantly the construction When the Tea Rooms closed in programme pulled forward to June 2016 the international and enable the project to complete local interest in the building from Mackintosh fans, tourists and the and open in June 2018, the general public was so great that Willow Tea Rooms 150th anniversary of Charles a ‘Pop Up’ information Centre Rennie Mackintosh’s birth. was set up for one month in the Willow Tea Rooms project office Celia Sinclair, Founder and Chair at No. 215 Sauchiehall Street. of The Willow Tea Rooms Trust This featured information panels and floor plans to tell the story There is huge excitement greatest and influential of the project to date and also about the announcement designers who is admired displayed Mackintosh furniture around the world. This project made in October 2016 and an original dress of Miss will rejuvenate and restore the Cranston, pictured. In just one that the Heritage Lottery Willow Tea Rooms so that their month, 1,717 people visited Fund has awarded a unique ambiance and design the Pop Up, meeting staff and Development Grant of can be enjoyed as it was first volunteers from the CRM Society. A further 560 people visited on intended.” £250,000 to enable the Doors Open day in September. Willow Tea Rooms Trust The Willow Tea Rooms Trust to progress its plans and has also secured £250,000 apply for the Stage 2 pass from Glasgow City Council, £200,000 from Glasgow City of £3.7 million to deliver The overall project cost is Trish Ingram Heritage Trust and £175,000 almost £10 million, the project This summer Trish was one of valuable insight into the level of the project. from Dunard Fund. Other construction and fit-out costs about a dozen volunteers who interest shown in Mackintosh This is a significant step Charitable bodies supportive are £6.8 million. helped the CRM Society to by visitors from around the towards the restoration of of the Trust are being deliver a Pop-Up Mackintosh world. The Pop-Up attracted a Celia Sinclair, Chair and the Category-A listed Willow approached to secure the 40% Information service with the total of 1,717 people from 37 Founder of the Trust, Tea Rooms at 217 Sauchiehall “Match Funding” required for Willow Tea Rooms Trust from different countries including 996 concluded; “This is a complex Street, Glasgow, to its original the developments scheduled their project office at 215 international visitors, 348 from and challenging project but Sauchiehall Street. The outcomes across Scotland and 378 from 1903 condition and the for 2017. with support from funders, of the one-month trial gave a elsewhere in the UK. additional development of Now that detailed planning Glasgow City Council and the Exhibition and Education permission and Listed The Willow Tea Rooms circa 1903 Scottish Enterprise we will “I’m amazed at the © University of Glasgow Centre in the adjoining building Building Consent has been meet that challenge and deliver fascinating mix of at No. 215. granted, advance works have a world-class Mackintosh people I meet when I’m The Heritage Lottery Fund’s commenced on the restoration venue with an enduring legacy volunteering for the Head of Scotland, Lucy of the entire external for generations to come.” Casot, said; “What better elevations of both 215 and 217, Mackintosh Society.“ Watch the website way to celebrate The Year of which includes roofs, chimneys Trish Ingram www.willowtearooms.org Architecture than devising a and windows. The building for news. plan to save the famous Tea will be wind and watertight, Rooms by one of Scotland’s the frontage restored, the

6 | Autumn 2016 Autumn 2016 | 7 Queen’s Cross is a truly unique building, offering Mackintosh Queen’s a stunning backdrop for your special day. Cross makes the Here, the simplicity of the design is inspiring. The Mackintosh Hall provides an attractive perfect setting for your venue for a Champagne reception and other celebrations. Wedding ceremony We also offer a unique partnership with House for an Art Lover making your day extra special by having the ceremony at Queen’s Cross, followed by the reception at the House in Bellahouston Park. Please contact us for further details.

Mackintosh Queen’s Cross 870 Garscube Road Glasgow G20 7EL T: +44 (0) 141 946 6600 E: [email protected] www.crmsociety.com www.mackintosh.org.uk © Mirrorbox Photography 8 | Autumn 2016 society people

Patricia Douglas MBE VOLUNTEERS Sadly, our Honorary Vice Charlotte Rostek joined the Thank you to Melanie Thomson President Patricia Douglas died Society’s Council this summer and who began volunteering her in August. Patricia was the said that coming back to volunteer marketing and communications mainstay of the CRM Society her services to the Society was skills last year by supporting the for many years, devoting time “like slipping on a well-loved production of the annual Journal and energy to the restoration of coat”! Many members will already and helping to set up and manage Queen’s Cross. Her commitment know Charlotte from her roles at a members’ event. Melanie is now was pivotal in ensuring we have The Hill House in Helensburgh and working on promotional ideas a Society and strong Mackintosh Dumfries House. She is currently for 2017 events and the wedding legacy to enjoy today. Head of the Glasgow division business at Mackintosh Queen’s Patricia’s family arranged an Cross. Another professional event at Mackintosh Queen’s offering help in 2017 is Colette Cross to celebrate her life and it Keaveny, a communications was a joy for so many family and manager who is completing friends to gather in her honour an MA (Distance Learning) on what would have been on Antiques and writing her Patricia’s 86th birthday. Roger dissertation on The Glasgow Style. Billcliffe and Pamela Robertson If you would like to volunteer shared warm recollections, to help out at events or in the giving real insight to Patricia’s office, please contact Sven talents, drive and humour. Her Burghardt, Heritage, Outreach achievements and contribution and Volunteer Officer on to our lives with Mackintosh 0141 946 6600. are totally remarkable – not just in Scotland and UK-wide, in particular by helping to establish of Lyon & Turnbull, the oldest 78 Derngate, but also through auction house in Scotland. her connections with scholars, We all want to shout a massive architects, designers and friends thank you to Ian McGee who has of Mackintosh internationally. volunteered his time and skills What gifts Patricia has given us. to the Society for over five years Our thoughts are with the family. (pictured right and on Page 2). For two days almost every week, Ian has contributed to each aspect of Patricia Douglas MBE administration and front-of-house Honorary Secretary, 1973–1985 Director, 1985–1998 & 2000–2001 services. He will be hugely missed Honorary Vice President, 2000–2016 as one of the welcoming faces at HQ but is moving on because of career progression. Having secured New volunteer, Matteo Fiore from a promotion at work, Ian can no the Light on the Path programme longer give so much time to the (left) with Ian McGee (centre) and Sven Burghardt, Heritage, Outreach Society but he intends to continue and Volunteer Officer supported by to enjoy Mackintosh evening The Voluntary Action Fund. events as a member. We offer our congratulations to him for his new role at Glasgow Museums and give heartfelt thanks for his fabulous contribution to the Society over the years.

Autumn 2016 | 9 feature AGM TRIP 2016

The tours, talks and social hidden details of the rooms events of the Society’s and working towards evidence Mackintosh of collaborative work at No 40 AGMs are always from the Glasgow Four. Bruce, fascinating and fun. an architect, gave a marvellous This June, the Sunday trip and well-prepared talk and in Crail to Helensburgh and West it was a privilege to see a ‘new’ Mackintosh treasure at By Elizabeth Crawford Roseneath Peninsula was exceptional. this stage, offering so many insights and fresh theories. Architectural historian, Michael Like many other artists, The Jamieson’s plan to run Over lunch at Knockderry Davis, gave us a really enjoyable their architecture practice House, Cove, members enjoyed in Mackintosh’s early and informative guided walk in from the Mackintosh Club and talks on the B-Listed hotel years he kept notebooks Helensburgh before delivering intend to make the property from owner Beth MacLeod in which he made us to No 40 Sinclair Street, publicly accessible via venue and historian Michael Davis part of which was designed by drawings of architectural hire and special events. who spoke about William Mackintosh in 1894–5 for the and natural things he saw. Leiper’s work and in particular local Conservative Club. All is the major extensions to Several drawings were about to change for this little- Knockderry c1890. We had of tombs lining the walls known and rarely-seen building Nicola and Bruce Jamieson invited members to toast the Mackintosh Club a chance to explore the because its new owners, Nicola in Crail churchyard at at a champagne reception fine examples of stained St Mary the Virgin. glass (pictured on page 2), These tombs are amongst woodwork and fireplaces the finest in Scotland, and throughout the building. Mackintosh may have viewed Our final visit was to Craig Crail’s Anglo-Dutch sculpted Ailey Villa where owner Murdo stonework as worthy of his MacDonald gave a guided tour visit and sketches. Two were of his family villa from top to mentioned and reproduced bottom. Designed by Alexander in a book called ‘Beginnings: Thomson, the A-Listed summer Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s residence is a fine example of early sketches’, by Elaine Thomson’s early villa work and Grogan, National Library of Tomb of Bailie Patrick Hunter (died 1649), Tomb of Bailie Patrick Hunter, St Mary the Virgin, Crail, Fifeshire present day and Bruce Jamieson, have we enjoyed its magnificent Ireland, 2002. Elaine found © National Library of Ireland set about intensive research setting overlooking the Firth that Mackintosh had been sketched and I checked in the a point of interest there intended to put it firmly on of Clyde near Kilcreggan on to many rural villages in Crail museum for information which they hope to publicise the map. Now renamed the a gloriously sunny day. the east of Scotland and about the tombs. They had and will add a copy of the Mackintosh Club, the property in Northumberland. Join us at the next AGM on detailed information about book to their collection. is likely to have been one of the 3 June 2017 and ensure you As a frequent visitor to them but not of Mackintosh’s first key building projects that Elizabeth Crawford is Society book the special events. Crail, and to the churchyard, 26-year old Mackintosh took visit there. They were volunteer who manages the I became interested in the interested to hear of the Library and Research unit at charge of in 1894. Certainly, tombs which Mackintosh had connection so we now have Mackintosh Queen’s Cross. Nicola is unearthing previously Craig Ailey Villa

10 | Autumn 2016 Autumn 2016 | 11 Check out the festive events programme with its Christmas at lovely offer of a film night on 26 November; piano and violin recital on 16 December and the award- Mackintosh Queen’s winning Les Sirenes choir Christmas concert on Friday 9 December, when doors will open early to give you time to browse for Christmas books and Cross gifts in the Mackintosh shop. Membership of the Society is a wonderful Christmas or birthday gift for friends and families, to be enjoyed all year round. The benefits include many social opportunities such as visits, tours, concerts, private views and other events offered exclusively to members – plus 10% off at our shop – a great place to find special gifts of good Mackintosh Queen’s Cross design. 870 Garscube Road Glasgow G20 7EL Call Sven on 0141 946 6600 today T: +44 (0) 141 946 6600 to book your event tickets and purchase E: [email protected] membership gift packs. www.crmsociety.com [email protected] www.mackintosh.org.uk Have a very happy festive season. 12 | Autumn 2016