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Martyrs Public School

M105 Martyrs Public School

Address: Parson Street, Glasgow G4 0PX
Date: 1895–7
Client: School Board of Glasgow
Authorship: Authorship category 1 (Mackintosh) (Mackintosh)

Colour view of Hall and light well, Martyrs' School

1895
18 January 1895: John Honeyman & Keppie appointed architects for new school. 1
11 July 1895: Plans approved by Glasgow Dean of Guild Court. 2
1 November 1895: Work commences on site. 3
1897
2 August: New school opens, though building work still in progress. 4
1898
25 January: Building is 'nearing completion'. 5
5 May: Discharged by Glasgow Dean of Guild Court. 6
1973–4
School threatened with demolition for proposed motorway interchange, having become redundant in 1973. 7
1984
Proposals put forward by the Forum Arts Society Trust for conversion to 'a forum for the Arts, offering a centre for participation and experience along with appropriate social facilities'. Design for conversion prepared by Assist Architects. 8
1985
Roadworks underway for Townhead interchange, involving construction of new road across site of playground. 9
1986
13 May: Emergency meeting organised by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society with representatives of Forum Arts Society Trust, Historic Buildings Council, Glasgow District Council and Strathclyde Regional Council. Ongoing deterioration of the fabric is discussed, and all parties agree that conversion of the building 'should and could go ahead at once'. 10
1987
Summer: Phase I of refurbishment programme, costing c. £430,000, is proceeding and scheduled for completion at the end of October. 11 Work appears to be limited to the exterior. 12
1993
Disused. 13
1996
June: Commencement of conversion into a conservation centre for Glasgow Museums by James Cunning, Young & Partners. 14
1998
Competition for redesign of Parson Street, won by RMJM Scotland Ltd. 15

Notes:

1: Glasgow City Archives Collection: School Board of Glasgow Property Department letter book, D-ED 1/1/12/14, G. W. Alexander to John Honeyman & Keppie, 18 January 1895, p. 294.

2: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Glasgow Dean of Guild Court Proceedings, D-OPW 19/14, p. 83.

3: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Glasgow Dean of Guild Court, Register of Inspections, D-OPW 25/48, pp. 53, 88.

4: P. Ballantine, 'Martyrs Public School', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 9, Autumn 1975, p. 5.

5: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Glasgow Dean of Guild Court, Register of Inspections, D-OPW 25/48, pp. 53, 88.

6: Glasgow City Archives Collection: Glasgow Dean of Guild Court, Register of Inspections, D-OPW 25/48, pp. 53, 88.

7: Architects' Journal, 158, 19 September 1973, p. 648; Architects' Journal, 159, 20 March 1974, p. 602; Alison Harris, 'A Report on the present and future condition of the remaining buildings of Charles Rennie Mackintosh', unpublished Dip. Arch. dissertation, Glasgow School of Art, 1976.

8: 'Martyrs School Visit', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 37, May 1984, p. 2.

9: The Hunterian, University of Glasgow: letter from Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society to Strathclyde Regional Council, 29 April 1985.

10: 'Martyrs School Initiative', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 43, Summer 1986, p. 4.

11: 'Martyrs Public School', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 46, Summer 1987, p. 12.

12: The Bulletin: The Monthly Newspaper of Glasgow City Council, November 1992, p. 13.

13: 'Doors Open Day and Martyrs Public School', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 63, Winter 1993, p. 9.

14: 'Martyrs Public School', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 71, Spring 1997, p. 8.

15: Paul Stallan, 'The Parson Street Project', Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society Newsletter, 75, Spring 1999, p. 4.