Car Follies

[jamie allan]

Notice the car frontage below the statue

[Andrew Riddell]

Re: Car Follies

Well, that brings back some memories! My father ran the Alexandria Works of the United Turkey Red Company until CPA bought it and moved everything (us included) to Manchester. I suspect there's nothing left of the Works or Levenfield now.

Thanks,

Andrew

[Guest]

Re: Car Follies

Nice shots, and an example of the bravery of that era of industrialisation

A good account of the history of the company is here

http://www.scotiaweb.co.uk/argyll/page4/page4.html

An interesting read once you get into it.

Nick

[Ulfric M Douglas]

Re: Car Follies

Tremendous building, I'm glad it didn't get knocked down.

[jamie allan]

Re: Car Follies

Tremendous building, I'm glad it didn't get knocked down.

Ulfric,
I fear it is only time before they do. This is a rear view of the other end of the facade. If you look closely at the farthest support you can see daylight through the crack.



By the way the glazed tile internal walls were a feature of many west of Scotland buildings including workplaces, schools and tenement flat stairwells. They are know as wally tiles though where the name came from I do not know.

[jamie allan]

Re: Car Follies

Nice shots, and an example of the bravery of that era of industrialisation

A good account of the history of the company is here

http://www.scotiaweb.co.uk/argyll/page4/page4.html

An interesting read once you get into it.

Nick

Nick,
Thanks for the link. I got the information from the chain smoking doorman who wanted to know why I was taking photographs rather than shopping. When I expressed an interest in the history of the building he filled me in. Up until a couple of years ago there was a small private car museum within the building and they had Jackie Stewart's formula 1 car there ( he grew up just along the road in Dumbarton) as well as a host of other cars dating from 1905.

[gregles]

Re: Car Follies

Really nice shots Jamie

I have seen this building myself a few times and it looks fantastic. Amazing history too.

Greg

[Andrew Riddell]

Re: Car Follies

Absolutely! The date was 1905/06 and the architects were Halley & Neil. The building merits a full page in the relevant [I]Buildings of Scotland[I] volume.

Andrew

[Phill D]

Re: Car Follies

Very unusual building and a great story. I hope it survives the onslaught of the shopping centre.

[Andrew Riddell]

Re: Car Follies

By the way the glazed tile internal walls were a feature of many west of Scotland buildings including workplaces, schools and tenement flat stairwells. They are know as wally tiles though where the name came from I do not know.

Perhaps a reference to 'wally dugs' - these horrible glazed ceramic dogs who sat on great-grandma's dresser and much later started to become collectible.

Andrew