I WAS encouraged by the sight of enthusiastic and observant foreign tourists in Glasgow city centre during my shopping visit last week. They were clearly impressed by a city taking responsibility for the huge legacy the Victorians bequeathed to us in the shape of assets of unique and outstanding architecture.
I felt however they would be less impressed if they continued their stroll down Buchanan Street towards the river and saw the sad state of neglect the city Custom House now endures. Built in 1850 I am surprised that this imposing building has not been put to an appropriate use. Perhaps as a hotel or as a Museum of the Clyde, comprehensively tracing its vital role in Glasgow’s development both socially and commercially.
Overshadowed on its west side by the huge modern Euro Hostel it abuts on its east side with an even more dispiriting sight. The once grandiose and elegant Victorian townhouse and tenement at the bottom of Dixon Street now looks to my layman's eye to be largely beyond saving. I suspect another bit of the city's dwindling Victorian built heritage stock with soon disappear. We should consider ourselves privileged custodians of Glasgow’s character, proud to maintain and hand these on as a gift to the next generation as we do with other buildings.
Increasingly wetter weather patterns means that such unoccupied buildings are now even more at risk of irreversible decay. We can be sure that tourists will not come from around the world to Glasgow to marvel at the concrete and glass boxes which are usually thrown up in their place. I am certain they can often find enough of these at home.
Bill Brown,
46 Breadie Drive, Milngavie.
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