Castlemilk
Stables
Background Castlemilk
Stables is an important Georgian remnant of the old Castlemilk agriculture
estate established in the 15th Century by the Stuart family. This
extensive stable complex, dating from around 1790, surrounds an
open stable yard and features a walled garden and a wildflower orchard
and is topped with a startling octagonal tower with clock and onion
dome. The building, which was designed to be seen across the Clyde
valley from miles away, was an assertion of the importance of the
old estate and the Stuart family.
This
project is a perfect example of the benefits of finding new uses
and life for our marvellously rich built inheritance. The building
contributes to the fantastic rejuvenation of modern Castlemilk,
a major housing estate at times struggling, but now with ever increasing
vitality and confidence.
New
uses for an old building To save a building you must
find a viable and long term new use. For this building the answer
was:
- offices of the local housing
associations
- a children's nursery
- a base for Carr Gomm, which
provides support and care in the community
- a base for Castlemilk Environment
Trust
- training rooms with state of
the art equipment for community, school and college use leisure
space to use for meetings, clubs and countless activities and
events
Any
surpluses generated by the building will be ploughed back into the
building fabric and support for the activities that take place.
Architect
The original Architect of the Stables is not known
with certainty. However, during the course of the work to the building
a very exciting piece of evidence came to light. A number of architectural
historians had suspected that the stable block had the trade marks
of the hand of David Hamilton. Whilst the remodelling and extension
of Castlemilk House in the 1830's had been attributed to David Hamilton,
there was no definitive documentary evidence to substantiate that
the stable block could have been an earlier project by this talented
young Architect. However, a perspective watercolour signed by “D
Hamilton” of the stable block with the House in the background,
was made available to Cassiltoun Trust and GBPT. A number of leading
architectural historians have now had sight of the painting and
it is their opinion that the signature is indeedthat of this renowned
Architect.
The
restoration, started in 2005 and completed in July 2007, was placed
in the hands of Elder and Cannon, the Glasgow-based award winning
architects. They have worked to find a way of restoring the historic
fabric of the Category B Listed building and at the same time give
it the new floor area required for viable social enterprise. The
answer has been to repair the external elevations very much as they
were, and add a simple glass and steel cloister and inner foyer
which allow the original fabric to be viewed whilst enabling the
creation of a modern multi use space.
Highlights
Sustainable
and innovative heating system : The building has a
new sustainable heating system - a ground source heat pump. This
makes use of renewable energy stored in the ground, providing one
of the most energy-efficient ways of heating buildings. Suitable
for a wide variety of building types and particularly appropriate
for low environmental impact projects, the system installed in most
locations uses a borehole (as in the case of this Castlemilk example)
or shallow trenches or, less commonly, by extracting heat from a
pond or lake. Typically they cost more to install than conventional
systems; however, they have low maintenance costs and can be expected
to provide reliable and environmentally friendly heating for in
excess of 20 years.
Traditional
skills : The main
contractor for this project was Chard Construction who are increasingly
involved in working on historic buildings. Complex restoration projects
of this kind need traditionally skilled stone masons, lead workers
and slaters, and time plus a great deal of patience! The best way
to repair a building is to use the identical materials and techniques
originally devised. Chard brought all this to bear to achieve a
marvellous result. Perhaps the most challenging task was the reconstruction
from a 1902 photograph of the original slated onion dome, with doocot,
which was long gone but is now meticulously recreated.
The
Battle of Orleans Castlemilk Fireplace : Once dominating
the main hall of Castlemilk House and one of the few treasures saved
when the house was demolished in 1969, the fireplace now takes pride
of place in the main foyer of the Stables. An outstanding piece
of 19th century workmanship, of great historical significance, it
depicts the Siege of Orleans in 1429 where Sir William Stewart (Stuart)
of Castlemilk and his brother, Sir John, both died in the service
of the Dauphin who later became King Charles VII of France. Joan
of Arc's victory at Orleans was her first battle within three months
of her initial meeting with the Dauphin and is regarded as one of
the decisive battles of world history. Carvings of the Lennox Coat-of
Arms are incorporated on the fireplace to mark the connection with
Mary, Queen of Scots when she married her second husband, Henry
Stuart, Lord Darnley.
In
1996, with grant assistance from Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Building
Preservation Trust was able to remove the fireplace from the water-damaged
warehouse of the former Strathclyde Regional Council where it had
languished in pieces after being submerged under 60 centimetres
of water when an adjoining river burst its banks. Fortunately it
is made of oak and therefore still in remarkably good condition.
From 2001 until 2007 it was cared for in the local Castlemilk Economic
Development Agency offices until the Castlemilk Stables restoration
was complete. Now in situ , a conservator is cleaning it
and developing a conservation plan to protect it for future generations.
OPENING CEREMONY 31 st
AUGUST 2007
The
Stables were officially opened by The Lord Provost of Glasgow in
the presence of Linda Fabiani MSP, Minister for Europe, External
Affairs and Culture on the 31st August 2007. In addition the great
grandson of the last Laird of Castlemilk, James Stuart- Stevenson,
has travelled from Seattle in the USA, to be present at this landmark
event.
AWARDS
We
are delighted to announce that Castlemilk Stables has received the
following awards :
•
2007 Georgian Group Architectural
Award Sponsored by Savills
Category:-
Best re-use of a Georgian building
•
Glasgow Institute of Architects
(GIA) 2007 Supreme Medal and Conservation Award to Tom
Connolly of Elder and Cannon Architects for Castlemilk Stables
•
The Civic Trust 2008 Awards
Castlemilk
Stables received a national award from The Civic Trust for the beautiful
renovation and restoration of this Georgian stable block to create
a valuable community resource
The
Stables have also been put forward for the Scottish Design Awards
and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) award later
this year
PROJECT
PROFILE
Project
Objectives :
Repair
and conversion of Castlemilk Stables, a category B-listed late Georgian
stables block, for community ownership and use as offices, training
facilities, meeting spaces and childcare facility.
Owner
/ client for the building contract :
Glasgow
Building Preservation Trust
Owner
Post Contract Completion :
Cassiltoun
Trust (a community ownership trust)
Design
Team:
Architect
Elder and Cannon, Cost Consultant
Neilson Binnie McKenzie, Structural Engineer
Dewar Associates, M&E Engineers Hawthorne
Boyle, Access Consultant Adapt Trust, Planning
Supervisor CDM Scotland, Clerk of Works
Clerk of Works Inspection Services Ltd, Arborist
McKay Consultants, Landscaping Kirklee Landscapes
Contractor:
Chard
Construction Limited
Funders
(in alphabetical order):
Adapt
Trust, Architectural Heritage Fund (including:- Loan, Working Capital
Grant and Project Organiser Grant), Cassiltoun Trust, Castlemilk
Partnership, Communities Scotland, Cruden Foundation, Dean of Guilds
Court Trust (Glasgow Merchants House), Energy Saving Trust (through
Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative), Fresh Futures
- New Opportunities Fund, Glasgow City Council (including:- Conservation
Grant, Capital Receipt Contribution, City Growth Fund, South East
Area Forum, Bridge Funding, City of Light Funding, Landfill Tax
Credit), Glasgow Housing Association, Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic
Scotland, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Leche Trust, Pilgrim Trust, Sainsbury
Foundation Family Trust, Scottish Enterprise Glasgow, Scottish Power
Green Energy Trust, Strathclyde European Partnership (ERDF Grant),
William Grant and Sons
Total
Updated Development Cost :
£4,183,755
Updated
works figure : £3,204,110
(this does not include cost of fire damage of £103,950)
PROGRAMME
•
Acquisition
29th July 2005
•
Site start
1st August 2005
•
Original completion date
10th November 2006
•
Actual contract completion 6th
July 2007
•
Official Opening
31 st August 2007
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