A Quote from Frank Worsdall, “The City That Disappeared: Glasgow’s Demolished Architecture”, 1981

 

 

The final paragraph in the Introduction, on page 17, reads:

 

“It is astonishing to see how German and Polish cities have been

lovingly rebuilt according to the original designs, and even in the

Soviet Union, countless numbers of artists are employed to restore

the damaged buildings following World War II. Glasgow officials

destroyed many of the oldest architectural drawings in their possession

just after the war, and the number of buildings restored could be

counted on the fingers of one hand. This behaviour typifies the complete

lack of knowledge of, or interest in the city or its growth, past, present, or

future, and the destruction of the buildings is but a logical continuation

of this lack. The time has come for a radical change so that every possible

effort will be made to preserve, by the local authority as well as everyone

else, so that demolition will be the last measure considered instead of the

first as at present. Only then shall we be able to have any confidence that

future generations will bless us for the care we have taken in handing on

to them this unique and beautiful city.”

 

 

 

 

George Fairfull-Smith, March 2026.