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Summary

Description

Circa 1840 (McPhail Street), 1872-3 and 1886 link by George Fyfe Boyd. Large industrial building with unusual Classically-detailed domestic tenement treatment to later Greenhead Street elevations on prominent corner site overlooking Glasgow Green. 3 ranges to Greenhead Street comprise 4-storey, 5-bay block to N and tall 3-storey, 3-bay block to S (at corner), both with balustraded wallheads; these flank roofless (2010) single storey, 7-bay link. 3-storey and attic, 14-bay McPhail Street elevation adjoining later 4-storey building at E. Sandstone ashlar ranges (Greenhead Street), channelled at ground, with base course, ground floor cornice and eaves cornice; voussoired semicircular-arched openings to single storey link; pilastered and corniced doorpiece, architraved windows, cornices, consoles, stone mullions and bracketed cills. Polychrome red brick range (McPhail Street) with ashlar base course, brick lintel bands and mutuled eaves cornice; contrasting cream brick dressings, ashlar cills.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: Greenhead Street elevations incorporate symmetrical outer ranges, that to left with centre door, flanked by single windows and outer bipartites, regular fenestration above; range to right with centre window and flanking bipartites at each floor. Single storey range with outer doors (that to right converted from window) flanking single windows. McPhail Street ranges incorporate 3 bays of ashlar range at left with centre door and flanking window, regular fenestration above. Regularly-fenestrated red brick range with vehicular entrance across 2 bays at outer right and semicircular stair tower at rear.

4-pane glazing pattern in replacement windows. Grey slate. Ashlar and polychrome brick stacks

Statement of Special Interest

Known as The Greenhead Works, the prominent siting of this well-detailed industrial building overlooking Glasgow Green accounts for the unusual dignified Classical tenement treatment given to the Greenfield Street elevations. The early brick range known as McPhail's Mill was built for Messrs Bartholomew circa 1840. The building was purchased by R and J Dick, gutta-percha merchants, in 1859 for the sum of £1,000. It was subsequently enlarged and renamed the Greenhead Works. Both of the Dick brothers died without heirs, and bequeathed significant sums to the city of Glasgow as well as for the continued development of their gutta-percha business. In 1908 R & J Dick's became a Public Company and was still in production in the 1960s.

The gutta percha industry was in its infancy when Robert and James Dick began experimenting with the newly discovered gum. Their success in creating hardwearing waterproof soles led them "to pioneer retail shoe shops in the UK" and "The Glasgow term 'gutties' for sandshoes or plimsolls is derived from the material used to make their successful range of cheap shoes" (Bridgeton Heritage Trail). The company continued in its successful pioneering work with patented designs which included 'Dick's' original balata belting, 'Ruberix' belting and 'Dixel' ropes.

The Dictionary of Scottish Architects records that George Fyfe Boyd who designed the link sections between to two tenement-like ranges "practised intermittently in Glasgow from 1894-1915". His other local works include a tenement at Shettleston (1902) and Rutherglen Burgh Halls (1906).

List description revised as part of the Glasgow East End listing review, 2010.

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