Scotland Street School Museum facts for kids
The Scotland Street School Museum is a special place in Glasgow, Scotland. It's a museum about how schools used to be. The building itself is very famous. It was designed by a well-known architect named Charles Rennie Mackintosh between 1903 and 1906. You can find it in the Kingston area, right next to the Shields Road subway station.
This amazing building has even appeared in music videos! You can spot it in the video for the Deacon Blue song Dignity and also in the Billy Mackenzie song “Baby”.
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Building History and Design
Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed the Scotland Street School. He took inspiration from old Scottish castles like Rowallan Castle and Falkland Palace. The school has two tall staircases that look like castle towers, with lots of windows. It also has a large hall with beautiful tiles.
Mackintosh's Unique Style
The school is a great example of the "Modern Style," which is also known as Art Nouveau. This was a popular design style in Britain at the time. Mackintosh often had disagreements with the school board while building it. They wanted a cheaper design, but he wanted to stick to his vision. In the end, the school cost £34,291, which was more than they planned!
From School to Museum
The school was built to teach 1,250 students. However, by the 1970s, fewer families lived in the area. The number of students dropped to less than 100. Because of this, the school closed its doors in 1979. But it didn't stay empty for long! It reopened in 1990 as a museum, so everyone could learn about its history.
Experience a Victorian Classroom
At the Scotland Street School Museum, you can step back in time! One of the most popular activities is visiting a Victorian classroom. Actors play strict teachers from the past, and you can experience what school was like over 100 years ago. It's a fun way to see how different things are today!
Documentary Film
In 2018, a documentary film called Scotland Street School Remembers was made by Margaret Moore. It tells the story of the school and its memories.
More to Explore
- Culture in Glasgow
- Glasgow School of Art
