WEST BOATHOUSE

The West Boathouse has been a Clyde landmark since 1905, sitting on a prominent stretch of the river at the western edge of Glasgow Green. After a century of constant use, the structure of the innovative building was in a deteriorated state by the 2010s. Following a transformative restoration of the building, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust has helped to give this home for rowers a new lease of life for the local community. 

  • Completion Date: 2022
  • Project Cost: £3.2 million
  • Building End User: Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club and Clyde Amateur Rowing Club

History

The boathouse, designed by the city surveyor Alexander Beith MacDonald, opened in 1905. It has been home ever since to the Clydesdale and Clyde Amateur Rowing Clubs. Rowing was once the most popular spectator sport in Glasgow, in the mid 1800’s crowds of up to 30,000 would line the riverbanks to watch regattas. In 1901 a new weir was completed on Glasgow Green, to protect the bridges and riverbanks from erosion and to regulate water flow for the industries upstream. The weir created a perfect surface of calm, non-tidal water, offering the B-listed boathouse the ideal location for rowing on the river.

From the outside, the boathouse looks like a traditional stone-built building. But behind a facade AB MacDonald had designed a clever, lightweight timber frame. The building is pinned to the riverbank with deep timber piles, which could move and flex with the natural movement of the riverbank. Despite this inspired design, and the best efforts of the clubs carrying out ad hoc repairs, a century later the building had significant structural problems.

Black and white image of the boathouse from 1910.
Archive image of West Boathouse in 1910
View of the West Boathouse across the Clyde pre-renovation in a visible state of decline.
West Boathouse pre restoration. Photo: Alisdair Woodburn.
Close up view of the of the corner of the West Boathouse showing decaying timber.
Decaying timber frame at South West corner pre restoration.
View across the east balcony of the West Boathouse showing decaying timber struts.
East balcony pre restoration.
Interior of the West Boathouse pre-renovation filled to the ceiling with rowing boats.
Boatbay pre restoration. David Collie.
Interior of the West Boathouse.
Club room pre restoration.
Black and white image of the boathouse from 1910.
Archive image of West Boathouse in 1910
View of the West Boathouse across the Clyde pre-renovation in a visible state of decline.
West Boathouse pre restoration. Photo: Alisdair Woodburn.
Close up view of the of the corner of the West Boathouse showing decaying timber.
Decaying timber frame at South West corner pre restoration.
View across the east balcony of the West Boathouse showing decaying timber struts.
East balcony pre restoration.
Interior of the West Boathouse pre-renovation filled to the ceiling with rowing boats.
Boatbay pre restoration. David Collie.
Interior of the West Boathouse.
Club room pre restoration.
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The Project

In 2015, GBPT began working with the rowing clubs and Glasgow City Council to explore options to save the boathouse that could encourage new visitors to the river. Surveys of the building revealed that the timber foundations had almost entirely rotted away, the exterior cladding was collapsing and the roof leaked. Interior facilities were outdated and the building’s accessibility was very poor. 

After several years of hard work and thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Glasgow City Council and many others, the £3.2 million restoration project got underway in 2019. This included an extensive community engagement programme, with a focus on river and sporting heritage.

Over two years the capital works repaired and adapted the building, improving accessibility and providing new facilities and flexible, multi-use spaces. A new bespoke pontoon allows safer access to the river, while a platform lift has improved accessibility. The project has sensitively restored and future-proofed the building for many years to come. The unusual timber frame structure has been repaired, while concrete piles have replaced the decayed timber foundations.

In addition, the rowing clubs now fully share the building and take responsibility for maintenance with long-term lease provision of flexible multi-use spaces for external use.

GBPT worked with communities living and working along the river from Glasgow Green to the Cuningar Loop as part of an extensive three year engagement programme exploring the cultural and environmental heritage of the area. Learn more about the our programme of heritage engagement activities which ran in parallel to the capital project.

Interior of the West Boathouse including seating and kitchenette area.
Post restoration club room. Photo: David Collie.
Interior of the West Boathouse post renovation filled to the ceiling with rowing boats.
Post restoration boatbay. Photo: David Collie.
View of the West Boathouse across the Clyde post-renovation.
Post restoration West Boathouse. Photo: David Collie.
Interior of the West Boathouse including seating and kitchenette area.
Post restoration club room. Photo: David Collie.
Interior of the West Boathouse post renovation filled to the ceiling with rowing boats.
Post restoration boatbay. Photo: David Collie.
View of the West Boathouse across the Clyde post-renovation.
Post restoration West Boathouse. Photo: David Collie.
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Project Team

  • Architect: Elder and Cannon
  • Cost Consultant: Neilson Binnie McKenzie
  • Structural Engineer: Dewar Associates
  • M&E Engineers: Hawthorne Boyle
  • Access Consultants: Adapt Trust
  • Planning Supervisor: CDM Scotland
  • Clerk of Works: Clerk of Works Inspection Service Ltd
  • Main Contractor: Chard Construction Limited

Consultants

  • Architect: ARPL Architects
  • Cost Consultants: Gardiner & Theobold
  • Structural Engineer: David Narro Associates
  • Services Engineers: FLN Consultants
  • Business Planners: Community Links Scotland
  • WH Kirkwood

Funders

  • Adapt Trust
  • Architectural Heritage Fund
  • Castlemilk Partnership
  • Cassiltoun Trust
  • Communities Scotland
  • Cruden Foundation
  • Dean of Guild Court Trust
  • Glasgow Merchants House
  • Fresh Futures – New Opportunities Fund via Forward Scotland
  • Glasgow City Council
  • Glasgow Housing Association
  • The Monument Trust
  • Heritage Lottery Fund
  • Historic Scotland
  • Hugh Fraser Foundation
  • Landfill Tax Credit via Glasgow City Council
  • Leche Trust
  • Pilgrim Trust
  • Energy Saving Trust through Scottish Community and Household Renewables Initiative
  • Scottish Enterprise Glasgow
  • Scottish Power Green Energy Trust
  • Strathclyde European Partnership- European Regional Development Fund
  • William Grant and Sons

Awards

  • The Georgian Group Architectural Awards – Best Re-use of a Georgian Building
  • Glasgow Institute of Architects Supreme Medal and Conservation Award
  • Anthony Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award
  • Scottish Design Award
  • Civic Trust Award
  • RIAS Scottish Regional Award
  • RIBA Regional Award
  • Roses Silver Award
  • Herald Society Award (commendation)
  • RICS Community Award
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