The Cloisters – University of Glasgow

Tour of the Cloisters.

The University of Glasgow.

As promised in yesterday’s post, where we toured the exterior of the Gilbert Scott Building at the University of Glasgow, today we enter through the doors to see what was found on the other side.

I had a hard time narrowing down the photos as this was one of my favorite architectural locations…

So…

This post is more photo heavy than my normal posts.

I hope you enjoy the tour!

I mentioned that I saw some people enter through the open doors and thought I’d wander through as well to see if I could find some interesting architectural elements or doors for my Thursday Door friends.

Entrance.

Located at the entrance of the Gilbert Scott building is the tombstone of Thomas Reid.

Thomas Reid was the Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow from 1764-1791. He was the founder of the Scottish common sense movement in philosophy.

He was originally buried at the Blackfriars Church burial ground when the University of Glasgow was based on High Street. When the move was made to its current location on Gilmorehill, his remains were relocated to the Professors’ at the Glasgow Necropolis.

The tombstone serves as a memorial to his contributions to the University of Glasgow.

Continuing on through the entrance were a set of glass doors. I am an anal rule follower (to the point that I even annoy myself) and wasn’t sure if I was allowed to enter through them. The couple I came behind had disappeared, but I wasn’t sure if they had passed through the numerous side doors. But I could see that the arches above me were the architectural element I had seen online that I had been seeking.

I decided that the worst thing that could happen was that they would tell me that I wasn’t allowed to be there and I would apologize and remove myself.

So I went through the glass doors.

And saw a set of wooden doors up ahead.

I moved forward cautiously, hoping that I was allowed to be here and also that I wouldn’t have some irate security person come and yell at me about trespassing.

When I got to the doors, it was like the sky had parted and heavens had opened up with joyful singing.

I had found the part of the campus that I had hoped to find.

The Cloisters.

The Cloisters are also known as the Undercroft. I’ve also heard them referred to as the Arches at the University of Glasgow.

If they look familiar to you that could be because they were used as the film location used to represent Harvard University in the TV series, Outlander. It was also used in the film, The Outlaw King.

The Cloisters connect the East and West Quadrangles and the doorway leads inside to Bute Hall and the Hunterian Museum.

Hunterian Museum.

The Hunterian Museum was founded in 1807 and is Scotland’s oldest public museum and home to one of the largest collections outside the National Museums. While the museum has various venues throughout the campus, the displays housed in this area of the Gilbert Scott building, feature William Hunter’s collection with archaeology, paleontology, geology, and zoology being just a few of the fields of interest housed in this area.

Bute Hall is where graduation ceremonies are held at the University of Glasgow.

Memorial Chapel

The Memorial Chapel at the University of Glasgow is located on the West Quadrangle.

It was consecrated on October 4, 1929, and dedicated to the former students and staff who lost their lives in World Wars I and II.

The Chapel was designed by Sir John James Burnet and the stained-glass windows were created by Douglas Strachan.

The Memorial Chapel is one of the few locations in Scotland where marriages in the Protestant and Reformed or Roman Catholic faith can be celebrated.  Weddings conducted by humanist celebrants can also be held in the University Chapel.

Many graduation celebrations are hosted on the East and West Quadrangles.

It’s traditionally bad luck to walk on the grass prior to graduation so taking advantage of that with graduation goes along with their newfound freedom.

I highly recommend the University of Glasgow as being on your itinerary for any trip to Glasgow.

I’d recommend getting there earlier in the day to be able to take advantage of touring the museum.

It was a last minute decision for our visit. But it’s definitely on my list of return to spots when I next travel to Scotland!

Have you traveled to Glasgow? If so, what was your favorite spot to visit?

And what do you think? Would the Cloisters at the University of Glasgow be on your must see list?

 

Let your light shine!

Amy

WPC: textures

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