Pearce Institute, 840 Govan Road, Glasgow

Sir R Rowand Anderson, designed 1892, built 1902-5.

Early 17th century Scots Renaissance style; ashlar.

W elevation of MacLeod Hall: tall 6-bays with columned

and richly pedimented exit inscribed "Quit ye like men".

Modern door, in keeping with the original. Octagonal

projecting stair tower with bipartites and ogee roof. 4

tall transomed bipartites with rich pediments between

buttresses. Slate roof and central louvred timber belfry

under lead cupola with balustrade. Big curvilinear gables

to N and S.

Govan Road, S elevation: advanced end of MacLeod Hall

fronted by curvilinear gable with a fully rigged carvel

finial and obelisks. Ground floor; 3 tripartites with

"The Pearce Institute" inscribed in tympana of segmental

pediments. Large mullioned and transomed pilastered

window with a corbelled cill and ornate strapwork

pediment with 2 flanking canopied niches.

2-storey central block (tea room and Lithgow Hall); 5

ground floor bipartites. Corbelled balcony over with

cast-iron railing, reached by 2 small doors. 1st floor, 4

pedimented dormer heads and central wallhead stack with

segmental pedimented clock projecting on consoled

bracket. Ridge stack. Main entrance richly carved with

obelisks in advanced 2-storey and attic gabled bay.

Small ground floor window; 1st floor ogee-capped oriel,

small strapwork headed windows in 1st floor and in

crowstepped gable topped by stack.

Pearce Street elevation: stepped 2-storey and attic and

3-storey. Large mullioned and transomed stair window.

Pedimented dormers and dormer heads, crowstepped gable

and stack. Pend bay links the northern crowstepped

gable block with "the cottage" at ground floor, Stephen

and Fairfield Halls above, having canted oriel with ogee

cap.

N elevation ashlar, with walls facing court of yellow

brick.

Interior: simple entrance hall, large main stair with

modern mural. Simply tiled and panelled corridors;

MacLeod Hall, high panelled dado, gilded armorial

pediments over windows in transverse arches. Barrel

vault panelled ceiling. Organ centrepiece with fine wood

and metal work. Lithgow Hall, 1st floor on Govan Road,

frontage, medium sized, panelled dado, fireplace inscribed

"Welcome", and pointed vaulted ceiling. Fairfield Hall,

1st floor at rear, Pearce Street, panelled dado and

ceiling, stone fireplace, oriel. Stephen Hall above,

identical but with mansard roof and oculus. Gym, plain

with large windows to yard. Restaurant, panelled dado,

simple fireplaces. Billiard Room, top-lit from high

mansard roof, panelled dado and original art nouveau

suspended light fittings. Many smaller committee rooms

and others of social history interest, particularly the

Demonstration Room, with large fireplace and steep rows

of school benches to teach female Govanites cooking

skills.