Meet the original 'city centre task force' who had to sort out Glasgow

Around 1866, there was such a thing as the “City Improvement Trust”, who were tasked with reconstructing the insanitary quarters of the old city centre, re-aligning, widening or forming new streets and opening up squares and public spaces.

There is a fascinating story behind this early task force, part of the Office of Public Works, and three men who had a huge impact on Glasgow’s health, environment and engineering and architectural infrastructure.

One of them even wrote a history of the city.

North Woodside Baths (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

Glasgow had a Master of Works by 1574 and like that of City Treasurer, it was then held by one of the town councillors, annually elected.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, three holders of this great civic office left a physical  legacy, much of which is still visible today.

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James Cleland (1770-1840) is best known as a public official and statistician. He became a paid officer in 1814 when he was appointed Superintendent of Public Works, 1814 to 1834.

In 1816 he found the time to write a two-volume history of the city called Annals of Glasgow, comprising “an account of the public buildings, charities, and the rise and progress of the city.”

Cleland was responsible for the transfer of the city’s housing, jail and municipal offices from the Tolbooth to the newly built justiciary at Saltmarket. The building is now the High Court of Glasgow.

He was also responsible for the clearing and landscaping of Glasgow Green between 1817 and 1826, which transformed the public green into a public park.

In 1831 he produced the map of the “10 parishes within the Royalty and the parishes of Gorbals & Barony of Glasgow" in 1831 to accompany his enumeration of the inhabitants of the city and the county of Lanark, prepared for the national census of that year.

In 1844, John Carrick (1819-1890) was appointed with the new title of Superintendent of Streets and then Superintendent of Works in 1854. This was changed to Master of Works, in compliance with the 1862 Police Act.

John Carrick, the man with a plan (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

In 1866 he was also appointed City Architect. In these roles he had responsibility for laying out thoroughfares and building developments. His usual title from then until his death in office in 1890 was City Architect and Superintendent of Works.

After 1866 he was entrusted with the management of the City Improvement Trust's aforementioned schemes.

Carrick and his assistant Alexander Beith McDonald (1847 –1915) also drew up plans and specifications for the houses and other buildings erected by the Trust on the sites of former slums.

In 1878 the Trust sold land in Woodside to the Town Council for the erection of a washhouse. John Carrick designed North Woodside Baths and Washhouse which were built in Braid Square between 1880 and 1882.

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It had separate swimming pools for men and women, and 27 private baths - 20 for men and seven for women. There were 67 wash-house stalls in the "steamie".

On Carrick’s death in 1890, the council decided to divide the functions of his role. As police commissioners they appointed John Whyte as Master of Works, to be responsible for streets and sewers, and for the Dean of Guild Court, which was responsible for building control.

On the same day,  the town council  appointed Alexander Beith McDonald as City Engineer and Surveyor, to take charge of the architectural work (which was not to be trusted to outside architects.)

As City Engineer from 1890, McDonald was responsible for planning and designing most of Glasgow Corporation's public buildings and works .

He designed many of Glasgow’s most iconic buildings, including Springburn Winter Gardens, People’s Palace, Central Police Office, Pollokshields Library and Botanic Gardens West Lodge.

People's Palace (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

The principal engineering project under his tenure was the completion of the sewage disposal works serving Glasgow and the adjacent local authorities. The condition of the river was markedly improved,  making a complete change in the river amenity, and it brought an improvement in public health.

In 1915 the Corporation agreed to recombine the two offices. The title of Master of Works and City Engineer lasted thereafter until 1975, although the appointment of a separate City Architect in 1951 made a substantial change to the work of the department.