People's Palace exhibition celebrates Glasgow Green's history

A NEW exhibition at the People's Palace celebrating the history of Glasgow Green is to be unveiled today.

The People's Palace

The Doulton Room will host On The Green, which explores the origins of the Doulton Fountain that sits outside the People’s Palace.

James Templeton & Son’s carpet factory, a building based on Doge’s Palace in Venice, will also figure significantly in the exhibition, the venue’s first permanent gallery space in a decade.

Besides the Doulton Fountain, built by London-based firm Doulton & Co, On The Green will also display several treasures made by the pottery company. These include a stoneware vase from 1888, which Queen Victoria once saw the decoration of and a souvenir jug that features a rhyme about Glasgow’s coat of arms.

The glasshouse of the People's Palace and the Nelson Obelisk can be seen in this photo of Glasgow Green. Picture: Robert Perry

Other objects in the exhibition include textiles from Templeton & Son made for the Mitchell Library, and a horn made in 1700 used by Glasgow’s last Town Herd, John Anderson, whose job it was to look after livestock.

Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor Archie Graham, said: “Glasgow Green has had a long history as a leisure and recreation space, but also as a place of work, debate and learning and protest. On The Green includes stories relating to many activities on the Green and the River Clyde, with particular attention given to the iconic Doulton Fountain and Templeton’s carpet factory.”

Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “This is an exciting new phase for the People’s Palace. The new gallery space will augment the visitor experience and will really encourage people to engage with the local heritage.”

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