Glasgow - City of Sculpture
By Gary Nisbet
Morrison & Mason Ltd
(fl. 1870-1921)

Glasgow firm of building contractors originating in 1870, with John Morrison (1836-1919).

Thomas Mason (1844-1924) joined him in 1876, becoming a partner in 1879, and thereafter they traded as Morrison & Mason.

They specialised in building waterworks, docks, railway construction, tenements, villas and public and commercial buildings.

Among these are, the General Post Office, George Square (1875-78); Her Majesty's (now Citizen's) Theatre, 121 Gorbals Street (1878, facade destroyed, 1977); the Clyde Navigation Trust Building (now Clyde Port), Broomielaw (1882-1908); Great Western Road Bridge (1895); Ruchill Hospital (1895-1900) and extensions to Rottenrow Hospital (1905).

In 1886, they were responsible for relocating and rebuilding the Old College Gateway as the Pearce Lodge, University Avenue.

Their most important building in Glasgow is the City Chambers (1882-90).

Outwith Glasgow, the firm constructed the George A. Clark Town Hall, Paisley (1882-85); Mugdock Tunnel (1886) and Birmingham Corporation Water Supply (199-04).

They also built their own residences at Craigie Hall (Mason, 1872) and Sherbrooke House (Morrison, 1896).

Knighted in 1909, Mason managed the firm after Morrison's death and entered public life as a Councillor and served on the Boards of the Merchants House, Trades House and Clyde Trust.

Sources:

  • The Bailie, vol. 23, no. 573, 10 October, 1883;
  • A [Obit, Morrison], vol 30, 16 April, 1919;
  • BA [City Chambers], vol. 20, 20 July, 1883, p. 34;
  • BA , [Clyde Trust Building], vol. 20, 7 September, 1883, p. 118;
  • Morgan, Nicholas J, in Slaven & Checkland , vol 2;
  • GCA : AGN 1698;
  • Pollokshields Monthly, June, 1983.
 
Works in our Database:
1: Bath Street (Charing Cross),
King's Theatre, 335 Bath Street
Five Profile Portrait Medallions, Heraldic Lion and Associated Decorative Carving (1903-4)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: F Matcham; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
#14 2: Battle Place (Langside),
In centre of traffic island
Langside Battlefield Memorial (1887-8)
Sculptor: J Young;
Architect: A Skirving; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
3: Bothwell Street (City Centre),
36-62 Bothwell Street
Profile Heads of Athena and Mercury, Masks representing different nations and Associated Decorative Carving (1891, 1898 and 1901)
Sculptors: McGilvray & Ferris; Architects: H&D Barclay; Masons: Morrison & Mason Ltd
4: Buchanan Street (City Centre),
16 Buchanan Street
Statues of Youths and Associated Decorative Carving (c.1910)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: J Thomson; Builder: Morrison & Mason Ltd
5: Buchanan Street (City Centre),
Former Stock Exchange, 159 Buchanan Street
Three Allegorical Statues (Industry, Commerce, Agriculture), Five Roundels (Science, Art, Building, Engineering, Mining) and Capital Figures (1875-7)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: J Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
6: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers,
80 George Square / George Street / John Street / Cochrane Street
Allegorical and Decorative Sculpture Programme (1883-8)
Sculptors: JA Ewing, Farmer & Brindley, E Good, CB Grassby, GA Lawson,
F Leslie, JP Macgillivray, JH Mackinnon, J Mossman, J Rhind, J Tweed;
Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
7: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
First storey, above entrance
Allegorical Frieze (1883-8)
Sculptor: GA Lawson; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
#112 8: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
In the spandrels of second-storey windows
The Trades and Industries of Glasgow (1883-8)
Sculptor: J Mossman;
Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
9: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
In the centre of the George Square façade
Jubilee Pediment (1883-8)
Sculptors: GA Lawson (modeller), JA Ewing (carver); Assisted by: J Tweed and others;
Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
10: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
On the apex of the Jubilee Pediment
Acroterion Group of Liberty, Riches and Honour (1883-8)
Sculptors: GA Lawson (modeller), JA Ewing (carver);
Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
11: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
On the upper stage of the central tower
The Four Seasons (1883-8)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
12: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
On the cupola of the main tower
Gilded Copper Finial (1883-8)
Designer and Fabricator: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
13: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
On the third storey balustrade
Eight Allegorical Female Figures (1883-8)
Sculptor: J Rhind; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
14: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
On the corner towers
Cherub and Lion Groups and related decorative carving (1883-8)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
15: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
Above side doors in inner loggia
Female Spandrel Figures (1883-8)
Sculptor: JP Macgillivray; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
16: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, West Elevation - George Square.
In the George Square entrance loggia
Two Pairs of Symbolic Caryatids (1883-8)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
17: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, South Elevation - Cochrane Street.
Above arched entrance to the quadrangle
Spandrel Figures (1883-8)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
18: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, North Elevation - George Street
Allegorical Figure Groups, Putti and Associated Decorative Carving (1883-8)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
19: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, East Elevation - John Street
Glasgow Arms, Datestone and decorative carving (1883-8)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
20: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, John Street.
On triumphal arches connecting the main building to eastern extension
Trophies and Coats of Arms (1913-23)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
21: George Square (City Centre),
City Chambers, Quadrangle
Armorial Panels and Putti (1883-8)
Sculptor: unknown; Architect: W Young; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
22: Kelvingrove Park (West End),
Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum
Sculpture Programme (1892-1902)
Sculptors: EG Bramwell, A Fabbrucci, GJ Frampton, J Keller, WB Rhind, AM Shannan, FD Wood; Carvers: WR Dick, McGilvray & Ferris, JH Mackinnon, JM Sherriff, W Shirreffs, W Vickers, JC Young;
Architects: JW Simpson & EJ Milner Allen;
Masons: Morrison & Mason Ltd (basement); Peter McKissock & Son (superstructure)
#246 23: Renfield Street (City Centre),
Castle Chambers, 59-69 Renfield Street
Four Allegorical Female Figures, Athena and Related Decorative Carving (1898-1902)
Sculptor: WK Brown;
Architect: Frank Burnet & Boston; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
24: Robertson Street (City Centre),
Clydeport Building,
16 Robertson Street, Broomielaw - First Phase
Allegorical Pediment Relief (1882-6)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: JJ Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
25: Robertson Street (City Centre),
Clydeport Building,
16 Robertson Street, Broomielaw - First Phase
Poseidon and Triton (1882-6)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: JJ Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
26: Robertson Street (City Centre),
Clydeport Building,
16 Robertson Street, Broomielaw - First Phase
Putti and Apprentices (1882-6)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: JJ Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
27: Robertson Street (City Centre),
Clydeport Building,
16 Robertson Street, Broomielaw - First Phase
Ship Prows (1882-6)
Sculptor: J Mossman; Architect: JJ Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
28: West George Street (City Centre),
Merchants' House Buildings, 7 West George Street / 30 George Square
Caryatids, Atlantes, Pediment Figures and Associated Decorative Carving (1875-7)
Sculptor: J Young; Architect: J Burnet; Builders: Morrison & Mason Ltd
 
Open Full Sculpture Database

Click here to return to the top.

All images and biographies are our copyright and may not be reproduced
in any form whatsoever without our express permission.

Home Page |  Sculpture Database |  Sculptors & Designers |  Architects, Builders & Foundries |  Quick Tour
Acronyms |  Glossary |  Bibliography |  Useful Links |  About Us |  Privacy Policy |  Copyright | 
For sculpture and architecture: we have over 300 biographies of sculptors and architects connected with Glasgow, Scotland.
Copyright 2001-2024 glasgowsculpture.com.