Yorkshire Philosophical Society

Event Information

Friday 30 Sept 30 – Sun 2 October (3 days 2 nights) £185 p.p. couples, £36 single supplement

Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868 – 1928), architect, artist, and designer, and his artist and designer wife Margaret Macdonald (1864 – 1933), lived and worked in Glasgow for much of their lives at a time when Glasgow industry, commerce, and the arts were burgeoning. He has become a figure of world renown, and the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society ( founded in 1973), now has members in 29 countries, and has headquarters at Queens Cross church, Glasgow.

Much of CRM’s work is in the Glasgow area, and is a blend of Scottish traditions, Art Nouveau, and simple Japanese forms, which often create a sense of light and space. He and his wife also designed much of the interior decorations and furnishings of his buildings. Charles, Margaret and Margaret’s sister Frances with her partner Herbert Mac Nair, all met at the Glasgow School of Art, where they became known as “the four” and collectively created the “Glasgow Style”.

Prospective itinerary

Friday 30 September

8.00 a.m. departure by Stephensons coach from Memorial Gardens, Leeman Road, York, heading for Glasgow with an included coffee stop at Appleby Manor Hotel before continuing through the Scottish Lowlands to the wonderful Kelvingrove Gallery and Museum to see their displays about “the Glasgow Style”, and the paintings by “The Glasgow Boys”. We then proceed by coach to the “Mackintosh Church” at Queens Cross – his only example of church design, before continuing to our hotel at Erskine Bridge just West of Glasgow. If time, weather, and inclination permit, it may be possible to include a short visit to Glasgow Botanical Garden en-route.

Saturday 1^st October

The morning will be spent walking in the City Centre looking at examples of Mackintosh work at the Old Glasgow Record Offices (exterior), and the Mackintosh displays in the “Lighthouse” design centre, built for the Glasgow Herald newspaper to CRM designs in 1893/5. There will be an opportunity to purchase mid-morning refreshments at the CRM designed Willow Tearooms en-route. Another Mackintosh tour de force, the Glasgow School of Art, is currently undergoing massive restoration work following a major fire which has destroyed much within and led to the exterior currently being shrouded in sheeting and scaffolding. If the situation changes by September we shall include an exterior viewing on our walk route. There will be ample free time to purchase lunch in the centre before we rejoin our coach and drive past the end of Loch Lomond to one of CRM’s best works at Hill House, Helensburgh (Nat. Trust of Scot.). Note. Participants must be fit enough for gentle downhill walks of 3 x 300yds and 1x 800 yds.

Sunday 2 October

A late start to The House for an Art Lover, a glorious 1996 reconstruction in Bellahouston park from drawings entered by CRM in a competition held by a German publication in 1901. Gardens and café to be enjoyed. We then drive to Scotland Street School (1903 /1906) to examine the interior and exterior. The building has now been turned into a Museum of Education – and may evoke memories. Finally we drive to the nearby famous Burrell Collection where lunch can be purchased and where amongst the many other items on display are works by CRM. After that we head back to York, where we expect to arrive about 7.30 p.m. after an intermediate stop en route.

Our bed, breakfast, and dinner accommodation in Glasgow will be at the Erskine Bridge Hotel, a modern building standing in 15 green acres by the river Clyde. All rooms en-suite with tea/coffee facilities. There is a pool and fitness centre in the hotel. Admission included to sites visited except to Hill House (NTS) as a majority of YPS members are usually National Trust members. Non-NT members £7.50 conc.. Please remember to bring any NT membership cards.

If  you would like to join this tour, please complete the form below and return it to the Lodge along with a deposit cheque for £50 / person (made out to Yorkshire Philosophical Society).

Catherine Brophy  Tour Organiser  (Tel.  01904  331273)

The YPS accepts no responsibility for any loss or injury suffered while taking part in one of its visits.  Participants are advised to consider taking out appropriate travel insurance, which should include cancellation cover. It is the responsibility of each individual participator to ensure that they are fit enough to take part. To see the full terms and conditions, click here: YPS BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS REV. C.

To YPS,  The Lodge, Museum Gardens, York YO1  7DR

Please reserve ………places for me on the YPS CRM Glasgow study tour.

Preferred accommodation –            Double           Twin               Single        (pl. circle as appropriate)

Deposit cheque for …….. (£ 50/ person, made out to Yorkshire Philosophical Society) is enclosed

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Reservations will be acknowledged by email. Please enclose a SAE if a receipt is required by post