The Briggait is an integral part of Glasgow’s architectural heritage. Once the city’s fish market of over a century, the building’s now the headquarters of Scotland’s largest studio providers – Wasps.
Help us keep GDODF a free event – text DOORSOPEN to 70085 to donate £5.
Texts cost £5 plus one standard rate message.
You may have walked over Queen Margaret Bridge and been unaware that a hidden architectural gem was only a few steps away. This is the Sixty Steps, one of Alexander Greek Thomson’s last commissions and his only civic structure, built in 1872.
The Steps sweep around a magnificent retaining wall facing the original Queen Margaret Bridge site, known locally as Walker’s Bridge. Only the bridge piers remain after its demolition in 1971. The bridge and Steps were pivotal in developing the North bank of the Kelvin, which was largely rural. Walker was the developer who had big plans to change that!
As you walk around the Steps, you will see some of Thomson’s idiosyncratic designs, such as the mysterious doorway and the fireplace in the wall. Thomson was not known for his sense of humour, but his design of the Steps and the retaining wall has something playful as well as functional in it.
Once at the top, visit the restored pleasure ground, now a wildlife garden, and gaze down on the valley of the River Kelvin from the beautiful pillared viewpoint, the Belle Vue.
You will get a lovely surprise when you turn off Queen Margaret Drive and see the imposing wall.
Opening times:
No Booking Required
The Trust is a charity devoted to the restoration of Alexander Greek Thomson’s unique civic structure, The Sixty Steps.
All Trust committee members are local volunteers.
To date we have achieved the stabilisation of a large section of the wall and the restoration of the Belle Vue pillars which made it safe to recreate the garden which had been neglected for many years.
Improvement work has also been done at the east end of the wall and at Kelvinside Terrace West.
We have put up three interpretation boards.
Plans are underway to repair and replace the remaining damaged copings and railings .
You do not have the proper permissions to edit this form
The Briggait is an integral part of Glasgow’s architectural heritage. Once the city’s fish market of over a century, the building’s now the headquarters of Scotland’s largest studio providers – Wasps.
Fine late-Renaissance style church, with a 150-ft campanile, domed crossing and ornate marble-lined interior and painted ceiling.. Wonderfully restored. Now is the time to visit this beautiful gem.
The Revelator is Scotland’s only fully functioning Wall of Death, Clydebuilt with love by a group of dedicated volunteers. Handmade mainly out of recycled wood and wholly funded by public donations.
This is a fantastic opportunity to freely explore or be shown around Trades Hall full of architectural delights, historic paintings and artefacts with its own museum describing its fascinating history
Come and see inside of a traditional silk screen print studio, M.A.R.S in the Hidden Lane. Learn how screen printing works, see prints from M.A.R.S 40 year archive and try pulling a print yourself.
Founded in 1825, The Western Club, Glasgow’s oldest residential Private Members’ Club, is located centrally in Royal Exchange Square.
Baltic Chambers is surrounded by modern office blocks which highlight the grandeur of this impressive Victorian era building. It contains the studios of Glasgow’s longest operating radio station.
An exciting and unique opportunity to take a behind the scenes tour of the former M&S building on Sauchiehall Street, which is currently occupied by 80+ artists.
We’d love to keep in touch to send you updates, news and reminders about Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival.
Organised by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, Glasgow Doors Open Days is part of a family of Doors Open Days events taking place across Scotland throughout September, coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust.
Glasgow Building Preservation Trust
Wellpark Enterprise Centre
120 Sydney Street, Glasgow
G31 1JF
www.gbpt.org
Registered Company Number: SC079721 Scottish Charity Number: SC015443
© Copyright 2023 Glasgow Doors Open Days.