Now I always advise people to look up on their journey’s through the city.
The architects of the past were always adept at adding details which both enhanced the building and left their mark.
But here Andy has spotted the flaw in my advice, which is sometimes the history is at ground level.
In this case it is the name of the manufacturer of this pillar box on Charlton Drive in Sale.
They were McDowall, Steven & Co, Glasgow which Andy told me “have been in existence under various names between 1804-1964,”, adding “they made all things cast iron including bandstands”.
And the mention of bandstands drew me in, leaving me to go looking for them on Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History which told me “McDowall, Steven and Co Ltd, London and Falkirk, Ironworkers.
McDowall Steven had their roots amongst the founders of the cast iron industry in Scotland”.
There is lots more, but I am not in the habit of lifting other people’s research and passing it off as mine.
So, the full story of McDowall, Steven & Co, Glasgow is there to be read if you follow the link.
But that said, I can’t resist quoting the reference to the bandstands made by the company, “Several excellent bandstands of theirs are still to be found in Duthie Park, Aberdeen, West Park Wolverhampton, and in Shrewsbury. These show innovation in construction using wrought iron sheet with cast iron roof formers.
The quality of the bandstands in constructional detail is matched by the fine detail and quality of their castings. The façade of Central Station in Glasgow over Argyle Street is an impressive example, and many lamp standards are found with the McDowall Steven stamp, including some excellent examples in Cheltenham.
Their catalogue also notes exports of terraces and balconies to Australia. An excellent example of one of their drinking fountains is found in Kay Park, Kilmarnock, outlasting the grand Coalbrookdale fountain erected in the same park”.
So that is it ……….. always look down as well as up.
Location; Sale, Glasgow and lots of places
Pictures; a pillar box in Sale, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson
* Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History, https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/McDowall_Steven_and_Co
But here Andy has spotted the flaw in my advice, which is sometimes the history is at ground level.
In this case it is the name of the manufacturer of this pillar box on Charlton Drive in Sale.
They were McDowall, Steven & Co, Glasgow which Andy told me “have been in existence under various names between 1804-1964,”, adding “they made all things cast iron including bandstands”.
And the mention of bandstands drew me in, leaving me to go looking for them on Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History which told me “McDowall, Steven and Co Ltd, London and Falkirk, Ironworkers.
McDowall Steven had their roots amongst the founders of the cast iron industry in Scotland”.
There is lots more, but I am not in the habit of lifting other people’s research and passing it off as mine.
So, the full story of McDowall, Steven & Co, Glasgow is there to be read if you follow the link.
The quality of the bandstands in constructional detail is matched by the fine detail and quality of their castings. The façade of Central Station in Glasgow over Argyle Street is an impressive example, and many lamp standards are found with the McDowall Steven stamp, including some excellent examples in Cheltenham.
Their catalogue also notes exports of terraces and balconies to Australia. An excellent example of one of their drinking fountains is found in Kay Park, Kilmarnock, outlasting the grand Coalbrookdale fountain erected in the same park”.
So that is it ……….. always look down as well as up.
Location; Sale, Glasgow and lots of places
Pictures; a pillar box in Sale, 2020, from the collection of Andy Robertson
* Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History, https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/McDowall_Steven_and_Co
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