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Crown Circus Glasgow : West End Building

Glasgow West End Development: Architecture in Strathclyde, Scotland

Crown Circus Residents Association : news release

Circus back in town

15 Apr 2009

Crown Circus

Celebrating its 150th anniversary and after 10 years of planning, 5 years conservation work, 6 months behind scaffolding and £1.5 million investment, Crown Circus – a splendid piece of 19th century architecture in Glasgow’s West End – drops its protective coverings and reveals itself to the world, restored to its former glory.

“10 years ago at a talk organised by the Friends of Glasgow West we got together and began to dream about the possibilities of restoring our A listed circus,” said Residents Association Secretary, Eric Spencer. “3,000 emails later, and a lot of hard work by all, and we’ve done it with the work being completed at the beginning of April.”

“At the time this circus first appeared on city plans, there wasn’t much more than Gilbert-Scott’s new Glasgow University and the Observatory in the area,” said Residents Association Chair, Elaine Ross, one of the longest residents at Crown Circus. “This is such an important landmark, sitting on the hill above Byres Road, that we all felt it deserved a bit of love and attention.”

Crown Circus is a highlight on architectural trails of the West End as the only semi-circular ‘circus’ style terrace in the area. This jewel in the crown of the trendy West End was designed between 1857 and 1860 in stages by architect James Thomson (1835-1905), a contemporary of Alexander ‘Greek’ Thompson and architect of a number of Glasgow buildings.

The whole scheme saw communal gardens cleared, traditional railings removed in wartime restored, stonework stripped of peeling paint and columns restored. The entire project has cost around £1.5 million with approx 55% of the costs coming from Historic Scotland and Glasgow Conservation Trust West, and the balance paid for by the 31 owners. Glasgow City Council has reinstated traditional style lamp posts in keeping with the scheme.

“We have had lots of input and support in the project,” said Resident Association co-Treasurers, David Walls and Sharron MacCormick. “Glasgow architects PagePark, local builders CBC and Glasgow City Heritage Trust to name but a few. It’s very rewarding to know that working together we have preserved this beautiful building for future generations.”

Others employed in the project were Gardiner Theobald cost consultants; Pattison & Sim and T C Young lawyers, who helped with legal work associated with grants and to formalise who paid what; and Willis Insurance.