Kibble Palace, Botanic Gardens, 703 Great Western Road, Glasgow

John Kibble, engineer. Originally erected 1863-6 at Coulport, Loch Long; removed here and enlarged 1873. Low ashlar base course; cast and wrought-iron, glass parabolic and domed winter garden, keyhole shaped on plan. To S elevation, centrally placed entrance porch with 2 pedimented timber doors. Long gallery to S. at right angles to main conservatory; centrally placed drum with hemispherical dome and cupola supported internally on ring girder and barley sugar cast-iron columns with foliate capitals and elaborate brackets. Arched passage leads to main conservatory; 150' in diameter spanned by saucer-shaped dome with cupola. Dome supported by 2 rings of columns detailed as above. Within 9 marble statue groups: King Robert of Sicily by G H Paulin, Cain by Roscoe Mullins. Eve by Scipione Tadolini, Ruth by Giovanni Ciniselli, Nubian Slave by A Rossetti. The Elf by Sir Goscombe John. Stepping Stones by W Thorneycroft, The Sisters by Bethany of Warrington Wood, Oriental Slave by Scipione Tadolini.