Blythswood Hill

After the Reformation the vast Lands of Blythswood, extending west and north to the River Kelvin and south to the River Clyde, were owned by the Glasgow merchant family Elphinstone; one descendant George Elphinstone became an MP of the Scots Parliament. Through his daughter it changed to the Douglas-Campbell family during the 17th century. Archibald Campbell, whose son became Lord Blythswood, setting about feuing the lands to developers. Sitting on the western side of Buchanan Street, and starting at West Nile Street, rising to Sauchiehall Street and Blythswood Square it proceeds to the Charing Cross area. To its north is Garnethill. Blythswood Hill contains the area from Renfrew Street, Sauchiehall Street and Bath Street south to Bothwell Street and Waterloo Street. The first new street to be opened up for housing was Sauchiehall Street, followed by Bath Street in 1802, by textile manufacturer and merchant William Harley (1767-1830). He also formed his indoor public baths, pioneered the first hygienic dairy in Europe, and a bakery at the eastern end of Bath Street. His planned Blythswood Square sits partly on his extensive pleasure grounds, viewing tower, orchards and bowling green which he opened for the public, next to his house of Willow Bank. Glasgow Art Club continues in its duo of townhouses in Bath Street. St. Vincent Street is the longest street and contains the largest number of buildings across the Hill, starting at the south west corner of George Square next to Buchanan Street. Rising westward it passes the summit and descends further west, crossing over the sunken M8 motorway to its junction with Argyle Street at Finnieston, where now stands the city's first statue to architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh. == Notable buildings ==

• Blythswood Square Category B listed terraces on each of its four sides (c.1823 – 1829) frontages by John Brash for the trustees and successors of William Harley • Blythswood Square Hotel (2009) conversion of the Royal Scottish Automobile Club, remodelled 1923 by James Miller • St Vincent Street Church (1859) by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, St Vincent Street, one of Glasgow's significant ecclesiastical buildings in architectural terms after the Cathedral • '''St Columba's Church''' (1904), St Vincent Street • '''St. Stephen's Renfield Church''' (1852) by John Thomas Emmett, corner of Bath Street and Holland Street • Elgin Place Congregational Church (1865) by Sir J.J. Burnet, corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street (demolished 2005) • Adelaide Place Baptist Church and Centre (1876), Thomas Lennox Watson, corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street • '''King's Theatre''' (1904), for Howard & Wyndham Ltd by Frank Matcham, corner of Bath Street and Elmbank Street • Glasgow Art Club (1840s), 185 Bath Street, opened as a club with gallery in 1893 designed by John Keppie with assistance by Charles Rennie Mackintosh • Willow Tearooms (1903),from 2026 known as The Mackintosh Tearooms, Sauchiehall Street near Blythswood Street, Charles Rennie Mackintosh for Catherine Cranston • Sovereign House (1893 onwards), 158/160 West Regent Street at West Campbell Street, formerly Institute for Adult Deaf & Dumb, and Church for the Deaf • Commercial Bank former, (1930s) by James Miller, 92 West George Street, at corner of West Nile Street • James Sellars House formerly the New Club, (1880), James Sellars, 144/146 West George Street • '''''' at corner of Wellington Street, (1820s) self contained example of original townhouse • '''''' (1927) bank headquarters by James Miller, 110 St Vincent Street, corner of Renfield Street • 200 St Vincent Street, formerly insurance headquarters (1929) by Sir J.J. Burnet, at corner of West Campbell Street • Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow (1821 onwards), 242 St Vincent Street, with its College Hall added by Sir J.J. Burnet • '''''' (1850) by Alexander Kirkland, 4-28 Bothwell Street, corner of Hope Street, first and original buildings in new street and first purpose-built speculative offices in Glasgow • '''''' (1900) by James Salmon, 35-69 Bothwell Street • Scottish Legal Life Assurance Building (1927) by Wylie, Wright & Wylie, 95 Bothwell Street, entire street block ==References==