ON the lands of Gilmorehill, the magnificent new buildings for the University are nearly completed. The mansion represented at great disadvantage in the photograph, and now entirely removed, faced the south. Its precise position was close to the south-west angle of the common hall within the western quadrangle of the University. The house was erected by Robert Bogle, junior, West India merchant, about the year 1802, and from its elevated position, as well as imposing style of architecture, formed a conspicuous and attractive object. The lands around the mansion extended to about sixty acres, and were purchased by Mr. Bogle from different proprietors in 1800 and 1803. The general boundaries were the river Kelvin on the east; partly a bend of that stream, and partly the road to Partick on the south; the "Byres Road" on the west; and the lands of Hillhead on the north.
Mr. Bogle laid off a large portion of the grounds in the vicinity of the mansion, in ornamental plantings, shrubberies, and walks; while extensive walled gardens contained grape, peach, and greenhouses, besides other accessories to a gentleman's country residence. An extensive court of offices was built on the northern side, screened from view of the house and entering off what was the cross-road from Hillhead, now "University Avenue." The approach to Gilmorehill House was from the new Partick road, a few yards west from the bridge over the Kelvin, with handsome gate and lodge. In its prime, Gilmorehill was a beautiful place, and the residence of Mr. Bogle, a great many years, till his death.
A short review of its previous history may not be undesirable. What has been generally known since Mr. Bogle's proprietorship as "Gilmorehill," includes also the lands called "Donaldshill" lying immediately to the west of, and bounding the former property. But, when both became united in Mr. Bogle's person, he gave the name of Gilmorehill to the mansion he had erected, as well as to the whole estate.
During the protectorate of Cromwell, the Duke of Lennox granted a charter of "Gilmour-hill" in favour of John Hamilton. After several intervening owners, these lands became the property in 1720 of Walter Gibson, formerly Provost of Glasgow, well known in old Glasgow story. In 1742 Gilmorehill was purchased by Hugh Cathcart, one of the leading Glasgow merchants enumerated by M'Ure as connected with "the great company which arose, undertaking the trade to Virginea (sic), Carriby-islands, Barbadoes, New England, St. Christophers, Monserat, and other colonies in America" - a singular enough conglomeration. Mr. Cathcart's town residence was the curious looking, antique edifice, now removed, on the east side of Stockwell, near the north end, figured in Stuart's views. After this old merchant's death, his eldest son, William, a merchant in Jamaica, sold Gilmorehill and other lands in the vicinity in 1771 to Thomas Dunmore of Kelvinside, another extensive Glasgow merchant, whose son, in his turn, nine years later, conveyed Gilmorehill to Dr. Thomas Lithan of the East India Company's service, who had become also owner of Kelvinside about the same time. Finally, Gilmorehill was purchased by Mr. Robert Bogle, junior, as already stated, in 1800.
When Mr. Bogle acquired the lands, they were occupied partly as a farm, and partly as a printfield, under leases nearly expired.
Donaldshill anciently belonged to the old family of the Grays of Dalmarnock, and was formerly called "the Brewlands." This property carried right to "the salmon, or cruive-fishing, and other fishings, in the water of Kelvin." In 1786 John Gray, the last of that family in Dalmarnock estate, granted a feu charter of Donaldshill to the widow and to the sister of William Ross, farmer in Stobcross, who soon after disposed of the lands to William Robb, printer and bleacher at Meadowside and Dalsholm. In 1702 he became unfortunate. His trustee was Mr. Walter Ewing M'Lae, father of the late Mr. James Ewing of Levenside, who sold Donaldshill the year following to Mr. John Mair, merchant in Glasgow, afterwards of Plantation. From this gentleman, the lands were purchased by Mr. Robert Bogle, jun., in 1803, and, as already said, incorporated with his previously acquired property of Gilmorehill adjoining.
Mr. Bogle died about 1822, leaving large estates in the West Indies, as well as in Scotland. His eldest son, Archibald, made up titles to his father, in Gilmorehill, (1) and in the year 1845, memorable for the mania which prevailed for all sorts of Joint-Stock Companies, he sold Gilmorehill, at a large price, to one of these speculative undertakings, for the purpose of a rural cemetery. This lugubrious association took the title of "The Glasgow Western Cemetery Company," afterwards modified to that of the "Gilmorehill Company."
But besides Gilmorehill lands, the promoters acquired a considerable slice of the adjoining grounds of Hillhead, chiefly for the advantage of a better approach from the north. (2)
The scheme, however, did not succeed. A sudden panic which took place in the money market, as a natural consequence of excessive speculation, caused the collapse of almost all the embryo companies, and stopped the prosecution of sepulchral Gilmorehill. No interments ever took Place there. But the grounds were thought likely to rise in value, and were placed under the charge of a committee of shareholders, who, during a number of years, let the house of Gilmorehill, and the lands, for various temporary purposes. The gradual extension of the city westwards, and the formation of the West End Park, gave an impetus to the value of the Gilmorehill property. This resulted in the sale of the whole, to the College of Glasgow, in 1865, at a very large increase beyond the sum paid by the Gilmorehill Company, eighteen years previously. On the other hand, the College authorities contemplated an arrangement with the Municipal Corporation, completed only some years later, whereby the latter were to take over at cost price, and under certain restrictions, as to their occupation by buildings, such portions of the lands as the College did not require for University purposes, thus relieving the Senate of the University of about one half of the sum paid to the Gilmorehill Company. The quantity of ground finally retained by the College is about twenty-one acres, including the summit of the eminence, and affording by far the finest site for the new University in Glasgow or its vicinity. Nearly at the same time, the authorities of the University made purchase of a piece of ground in the property of Clayslaps, lying to the south of the river Kelvin, and opposite the College grounds, as the site for a new hospital intended to supply curative relief to the sick poor in the western part of the city, and to be available for clinical instruction in the Medical School of the University. Subsequently, however, a more eligible site to the west of the College was acquired in excambion for the Clayslaps ground, and on it the new Hospital, now styled the Western Infirmary, has in part been erected according to plans of Mr. John Burnet, Architect, Glasgow, at an expense of about £80,000 sterling, raised by public subscription; the remaining parts of the building being expected to be completed by the generous aid of the late Mr. John Freeland of Nice, who, in addition to subscribing during his lifetime with his brother, Mr Robert Freeland, no less than £10,000, bequeathed other £40,000 for this purpose.
The turning of the first sod, to prepare the ground for the erection of the new University buildings on Gilmorehill, was performed by Professor Allen Thomson, chairman of the Building Committee of the University, on Saturday, 6th June, 1866, at twelve o'clock, in presence of a select party. The spot selected was a few yards from the south face of the fine old mansion, and in the place now occupied by the tower of the University.
Building operations were actually commenced in April 1867, and when they had already made considerable progress, the foundation stone was laid, below the entrance to the great hall, on Thursday, 8th October 1868, by their Royal Highness the Prince and Princess of Wales, before a concourse of no less than twenty thousand spectators, placed on a platform erected within the buildings.
The cost of this magnificent edifice, designed by the celebrated architect, Sir G. Gilbert Scott together with the professors' houses and accessories, and including a contribution of £30,000 to the funds for the erection of the new hospital, may now be stated at about £500,000. Of this large sum £117,500 is furnished by the University from funds accruing from the sale of the old College and other sources; £126,000 had, with unparalleled liberality, been contributed by the inhabitants of Glasgow and the neighbourhood when the first edition of this volume was issued; and £120,000 had been promised in aid by the Government, to be voted by Parliament in six annual grants of £20,000 each. To complete the whole undertaking, including the great public hall and staircase, about £136,000 was required. It was then expected that the sum considered requisite would be raised by further subscriptions from well-wishers to the Great Centre of Learning in the West, an expectation which is now in the fair way of being realized by the munificence of the present Marquis of Bute, who has expressed his willingness to contribute £45,000 sterling, being the estimated cost of the Grand Hall, while upwards of £62,000 towards meeting the deficiency has been promised in response to a renewed appeal to the liberality of the citizens of Glasgow, so that now on festive occasions the Senate and Members of the University can truly pledge the ancient and customary toast of the College - "Resurgat in gloria Alma Mater."
The rise that has taken place in the value of these lands since the beginning of this century is very remarkable. In 1800, and 1803, the price at which Mr. Bogle purchased Gilmorehill and Donaldshill was £8,500; whereas, in 1865, the sum paid by the College for the same properties, without any buildings thereon except the old mansion house now photographed, was £81,000, or nearly ten times more.
(1) A younger son was the late Mr. James Bogle, Dean of Guild in 1847, so much respected, both as a citizen and a magistrate. While Dean, among other valuable services, he made a thorough revision of the Roll of Members of the Merchants' House, so as to ascertain and distinguish those deceased, the want of which had long occasioned much inconvenience. This Mr. Bogle did personally, at no small degree of trouble and labour, as the amended printed Roll, so constructed, testifies. He also made a peculiarly interesting contribution to local history, in a splendid folio volume of coloured representations of many curious edifices in the old districts of the city, with descriptive letterpress, for private circulation, titled, "Relics of Ancient Glasgow Architecture." This worthy gentleman died suddenly, 3rd May 1855, at his residence in Athole Place.
(2) The lands of Hillhead have since been almost covered with buildings, and now form an important suburb. A few words regarding their former history. About two hundred years ago these lands belonged to Robert Campbell of Northwoodside, Dean of Guild in 1679. He was second son of Colin Campbell, the first of Blythswood, and was twice married. His first wife was a daughter of John Napier of Kilmahew, Dumbartonshire, and sister of the Countess of Glencairn. By this marriage Robert Campbell had an only child, who became the wife of the second James Dunlop of Garnkirk, and had sixteen children. She died in 1709 at the early age of thirty-four. The second wife of Robert Campbell was eldest daughter of the first James Dunlop of Garnkirk, and granddaughter of Lord Bedlay. By this second marriage Mr. Campbell had again only one daughter, Janet, who became the wife of Thomas Haliburton, advocate, proprietor of Dryburgh Abbey and Newmains, Berwickshire, to whom she had a large family. Robert Campbell died in 1694, aged forty-seven, and was succeeded in Hillhead and other lands by this second daughter last referred to, under a special deed. In 1698, while she was in minority, a crown charter was carried through in her favour, embracing Hillhead, Byres of Partick, Keppoch, and Northwoodside. After her marriage to Mr. Haliburton she sold all these lands, and removed to her husbands estates in Berwickshire. The purchaser from her, of Hillhead and Byres of Partick, was Andrew Gibson, then the tenant, and the date was 17th June, 1702. These lands have continued with Mr. Gibson's descendants ever since, subject to the feus, which they have latterly given off. One other interesting circumstance is perhaps worth a niche. Robert Campbell's second wife survived him, and, in the third year of her widowhood, married Patrick Coutts, from Montrose, then "a merchand burgess of Edinburgh." She had several children to Mr. Coutts, the eldest of whom, John, was Provost of Edinburgh in 1742. His sons founded the celebrated banking-houses of Coutts & Co., in that city and in London. In the former Sir William Forbes and Sir James Hunter were fellow-apprentices, and succeeded to the business of Coutts & Co., of Edinburgh, which they carried on some years under that title, but changed it in 1773 to the well known firm of Sir William Forbes, J. Hunter, & Co. Their former partner, Thomas Coutts (youngest son of Provost John), carried on the London firm of Coutts & Co. independently, which is still extant, the chief partner now being his daughter. Thus, the widow of Robert Campbell, whose jointure lands were Hillhead, was grandmother of Thomas Coutts, the millionaire London banker, and the munificent Lady Burdett Coutts is her great-granddaughter.
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