Alexander Greek Thomson - Lorne Terrace

Lorne Terrace curving through East Pollokshields - Photographed by George Washington Wilson from Queens park Flagpole in the 1870's. By this time Thomson was living in No 1 - Moray place ( who's Roofscape can be seen in the photo ) across the Railway Track in Strathbungo. Nearing the end of his working life and looking at this every day as it was being built by his business partner James Turnbull. A less ornate, more pragmatic, modest and some might say modernist take on how 9 tenements might assemble, turn a civic corner and act sensitively as part of Glasgow City. A formative Terrace sending a refined ripple trammel lines and good manners through the East Pollokshields streetscape. The tenement format providing robust apartments for Industrial Families working a productive river city. Facilitating a dense and expanding population amidst necessary + welcomed immigration.

Street Elevation of 1/9th part of Lorne Terrace as it presents itself to Darnley Steet . Drawing - Copyright of A McAvoy

Survey + refurbishment works to one of the 9 A Listed -Tenements built as a related assembly by Alexander Greek Thomson as - " Lorne Terrace" in 1870 in Pollokshields- Glasgow. Measured survey undertaken by Andrew McAvoy and his 12 year old daughter Holly in December 2020 amidst lockdown. Thereafter preparation of Window Conditions Report + Listed Building Consent for refurbishment and replacement of rotting window Sashes, with replicas in - refurbished casements. Although - On an A listed Building it was very important to retain every detail and piece of original material possible, there came a point where 150 year old wood - where consistently exposed and wet - had rotted and required replacement. Large amounts of original single Glazing in tenements were sustainable when the apartments were heated + vented through fireplaces and windows commonly closed over with shutters to prevent condensation. This tenement however was late to the assemblage and had no Shutters fitted. Moreover - Decades of non porous paint and a lack of natural ventilation have caused increased amounts of interior moisture to condense on the original 1870s Maritime Pine framed - single glazed windows, The condensation commonly causing swelling and decay of the lower parts of the sashes and their casements. This in turn then causing windows not to close properly and for ingress of seasonal drafts and an increase of internal dampness. This combined with moisture from other domestic appliances do effect internal air quality and consequent heat and moisture management was commonly troublesome. Although A Listed and Heritage sensitive - the owners decided to follow the Local authority guidance and work with us todraw up and present the windows, represent their detail and context, to back a strong application for replica units incorporating Double Glazed Sashes. Listed Building Consent was granted in Feb 2021 on this very exposed upper storey of a tenement. Matters of increased street noise due to ever larger HGV traffic, constant nightly Rail track working and the applicants willingness to use a heritage sensitive refurbisher were taken into consideration. The Detailed Survey and schedules illustrated to Glasgow City Council, Historic Environment Scotland and their specialist Consultees what was to be respected. In effect if the work was undertaken on a like for like basis and the proportions of the window frames, glass pane pattern and sizes were not changed, then no one would notice the change and the situation would have been improved in line with contemporary Sustainability legislation. This in turn protecting the Historic fabric for decades to come and allowing a young family to remain and prosper within a Heritage Framework. A small but considered step toward a Carbon Neutral Glasgow. Drawings - Copyright of A McAvoy

SCHEDULE OF WINDOW SASHES - AS FOUND These windows all appear to be the originals and have lasted since the 1870s due to the careful detailing and the slow grown quality of the resinous maritime Pine from which they were constructed. Lower and meeting rails were commonly failing or not meeting. The sizes are estimated and subject to in places 5mm of paint layers disguising what lies beneath. Only windows 1 + 2 have retained their original Scroll handles. All original clasps drawing the meeting Rails together have been replaced over time. Window No 6 - The Kitchen window serves well with single Glazing offering services toward a Cooler Pantry and is to be considered for full renovation as opposed to replacement. Drawing - Copyright of A McAvoy

Darnley Street Window. - Non Invasive Survey of the windows as found in December 2020. Prepared for the purposes of a Listed Building Consent Application and to assist the Owners + their proposed manufacturer. Sash manufacturer asked to re take and double check all dimensions prior to any manufacture. This Survey adding a little recorded detail to the Heritage Record of Lorne Terrace and Alexander Thomsons City wide Tenement legacy which has been sadly neglected by a City seemingly intent on neighbourhood displacement and "great " Improvements, The measure up provides some insight into why Thomson window Sashes appear to be slender. When working - the way the meeting Rails come together and the tapering tightness in tolerance with the casement would have and will achieve a high degree of airtightness. They fail only in natural entropy of the base wood after 170 years, paint finish and the fact that they cannot support the weight or depth of contemporary double glazing . Give or take a few mm these details can be replicated with Double Glazing without replacement of casements or changes to the Elevational appearance of the windows. Careful survey and considered replica proposals introduced a visible Increase to meeting Rails of just. - ( 3- 4 mm ) Drawing - Copyright of A McAvoy

Darnley Street Window. - Non Invasive Survey of the windows as found in December 2020. Prepared for the purposes of a Listed Building Consent Application and to assist the Owners + their proposed manufacturer. Drawings - Not for manufacturing purposes. Sash manufacturer to re take and double check all dimensions prior to any manufacture. This Survey adding a little recorded Detail to the Heritage Record of Lorne Terrace and Alexander Thomsons City wide Tenement legacy which has been sadly neglected by a City seemingly intent on neighbourhood displacement and "great " Improvements, which were not great improvements - Rather blind civic vandalism. The measure up provides some insight into why Thomson window Sashes appear to be slender. When working - the way the meeting Rails come together and the tapering tightness in tolerance with the casement would have and will achieve a high degree of airtightness. They fail only in natural entropy of the base wood after 170 years, paint finish and the fact that they cannot support the weight or depth of contemporary double glazing . Give or take a few mm these details can be replicated with Double Glazing without replacement of casements or changes to the Elevational appearance of the windows. Rebates Increase and meeting Rails ever so slightly. ( 3- 4 mm ) Drawing - Copyright of A McAvoy

Back Court 12 Pane Window. - Non Invasive Survey of the windows as found in December 2020. Prepared for the purposes of a Listed Building Consent Application and to assist the Owners + their proposed manufacturer. Drawings - Not for manufacturing purposes. Sash manufacturer to re take and double check all dimensions prior to any manufacture. This Survey adding a little recorded Detail to the Heritage Record of Lorne Terrace and Alexander Thomson's -City wide Tenement legacy. Drawing - Copyright of A McAvoy

Curiously - On completing the Survey - who walked into shot to provide scale - Shetland Architect - Richard Gibson's RIAS ( EASA supporter.)- son Beadh. #Perfect timing

And then - A repeat of process for a different tenement component of Lorne Terrace

LORNE TERRACE - ALEXANDER THOMSON​Built -1873-1877

LORNE TERRACE - ALEXANDER THOMSON
Built -1873-1877