NS5965 : Connal's buildings
taken 9 years ago, near to Glasgow, Scotland
A Category B Listed Link red sandstone building in Renaissance style by architect James Thomson Link in 1898-1900 whilst in the employ of John Baird 'Primus' Link. Built for Glasgow iron merchant William Connal Jnr by builders Alexander Muir & Sons.
The building is notable for the finely detailed carvings by James Charles Young Link which adorn the six storeys and attic. These carvings include roundels which depict famous locals who were involved in the iron business in and around Glasgow, plus industrial scenes which depict their large scale use of iron.
William Connal: Shipping magnate and a partner in the Cunard Line.
James Baird: Director of the Caledonian Railway Company and the Forth and Clyde Canal.
James Donaldson: Printer and newspaper publisher who founded Donaldson’s Hospital, the school for deaf children in Edinburgh.
James Beaumont Neilson: Inventor of the hot blast method of smelting iron (also was involved in early town gas lighting).
William Dixon: Ironfounder, colliery and railway owner.
The industrial scenes include steam locomotives, ships, cannons, steam boilers, gear wheels, ship's propellers and steam engines.
In addition, there are several mythological creatures, animals and garlands of flowers and fruit.