Remembering the world-famous Glasgow concert hall destroyed by fire

One for older Times Past readers, this one, as the Charing Cross landmark burned down 60 years ago.

The halls were located beside the Mitchell Library (which was only saved because of a firewall which had been erected during the war to save the building from incendiary bombs).

Lord Provost Jean Roberts on the scene, 1962. (Image: Newsquest)

In October 1962, the Evening Times reported: “Glasgow’s St Andrew’s Hall was wrecked today in a blaze which will have cost the city millions of pounds.

“At dawn the smoke pall could be seen 20 miles away…The paintwork on cars parked in streets around the world-famous building was bubbling in the heat before they could be pushed clear. A motor cycle actually caught fire.”

Glasgow fire chief, Mr John Swanson, had narrowly escaped serious injury, said the report, “when he was literally blown out again by an explosion.”

A dropped cigarette at a Scotland v Romania boxing tournament the night before was believed to have started the fire.

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St Andrew’s Hall was built in 1877 for £100,000 and had a striking classical façade. It also had some of the best acoustics in Britain, attracting world famous stars, such as classical singer Dame Nellie Melba and operatic legend Enrico Caruso, and leading politicians, including Lloyd George and Winston Churchill.

LLoyd George addresses the crowds at St Andrew's Hall. (Image: Newsquest)

It was home to the then Scottish National Orchestra (now the RSNO) and our reporters spoke to a very anxious Leonard Fish, who had built up the orchestra’s music library.

“It is worth thousands of pounds,” he said. “And certain pieces which are now out of print and cannot be replaced are beyond value.”

As he spoke, two firefighters brought out a basket containing music which Mr Fish was relieved to find had not been as badly damaged as he had thought.

During the First World War, it provided shelter to Belgian refugees and in the Second World War, it was a centre for the Royal Army Pay Corps.

After the fire only the Granville Street facade remained and the council, which received a £1m insurance payment after the fire, was not keen to rebuild on the site because of poor parking. It was years before the replacement Concert Hall at the top of Buchanan Street was constructed.