With its giant Doric-columned portico and fluted columns the Justiciary Courthouse was one of the earliest and finest examples of a Greek revival building in Glasgow.
Built from 1807-14 it originally combined a courtroom, offices
and a gaol. The building was later remodelled and, in 1910-13,
completely reconstructed as courthouses only.
From 1814 to 1865 public executions took place in Jocelyn Square
outside on the Green, facing the Nelson Monument, thus giving rise
to the expression, to die 'facing the monument'. 67 men and 4 women
met this fate.
Architect William Stark
The architect, William Stark (1770-1813), died tragically
young. One of the formative influences on his career was a visit to
St Petersburg, which was built almost entirely in neo-classical
architecture. He entered practice in Glasgow in 1803. His
domed and porticoed design for the Hunterian Museum was much
admired but was sadly destroyed after the University of Glasgow
moved from its old site in the High Street to the healthier and
more spacious surroundings of Gilmorehill in 1870. You can now see
a model and some of the original furnishings and collections in
the Hunterian Museum. At the same time that
he was working on the Courthouse, he was designing St George's Tron
(1807-09) in Buchanan Street. He was also something of specialist
at lunatic asylums, designing them for Glasgow (1804-6),
Dundee (1812-20) and Gloucester (1813-23). He is now best known for
designing the Advocates' and Signet Library, Edinburgh (1812).
Also at Glasgow Green (Back to listing)