Websters Theatre, Glasgow facts for kids
 |
|
| Former names | Lansdowne Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Address | 416, Great Western Road |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°52′28″N 4°16′42″W / 55.874513°N 4.278454°W |
| Public transit | |
|
Listed Building – Category A
|
|
| Designated: | 15 December 1970 |
| Reference #: | LB32205 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1862–1863 |
| Opened | 1863 (as a church) 2014 (as a theatre) |
| Closed | 2014 (as a church) |
| Construction cost | £12,400 |
| Architect | John Honeyman |
| Website | |
| Website | |
Websters is a cool theatre in Glasgow, Scotland. It's not just a theatre; it also has a bar and a restaurant. This awesome building used to be a church called Lansdowne Parish Church, built way back in the 1800s.
The Church's Early Days
The building started its life as the Lansdowne United Presbyterian Church. It was built between 1862 and 1863. The church was designed by a famous architect named John Honeyman. It cost about £12,400 to build, which was a lot of money back then!
The church was built in a style called Neo-Gothic. This style looks like old medieval castles and cathedrals. A very tall spire was added, reaching 66.5 meters (218 feet) high. This spire is now a famous landmark in Glasgow. It's even known as one of the slimmest spires in Europe!
Over the years, the church changed its name a few times. In 1900, it became Lansdowne United Free Church. Then, in 1929, it joined with the Church of Scotland and was renamed Lansdowne Parish Church.
Beautiful Art Inside
The church had many beautiful artworks. In 1865, three amazing stained glass windows were put into the apse, which is a curved part of the church. These were designed by Ward and Hughes. More windows were added in 1873.
Later, in 1913, Alfred Webster added more stained glass windows. His son, Gordon Webster, also added some in the 1950s. There was also a special war memorial frieze (a long strip of art) made by Evelyn Beale in 1923. In 1911, a large pipe organ, made by Norman and Beard, was installed.
From Church to Theatre
The building worked as a Parish church until 2014. That year, the church joined with another local church, Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church. They decided to use the Kelvin Stevenson building for their services. So, the Lansdowne church building was sold.
Websters Theatre Today
In 2014, the old church building was bought and turned into a theatre. The church halls were also changed into a bar and a restaurant. The new theatre was named Websters. This name honors Alfred Webster, who designed some of the beautiful stained glass windows.
In 2017, the theatre had to close for a short time. Some stone fell from the tall steeple, and it needed repairs. Today, the main theatre can hold up to 188 people for concerts and shows. There's also a smaller Playhouse that seats 55 people.
As of Summer 2025, a famous comedy club called The Stand moved into Websters. They signed a 25-year lease. This means Websters will be a hub for comedy for a long time!
