Kibble Palace

Part of the original Kibble Palace with a  formed a conservatory at John Kibble’s home at Coulport, Loch Long from the 1860s to the early 1870s. Kibble began dismantling his glasshouse in 1872 and it was taken up the Clyde by barge and by cart to the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow’s West End where it was re-assembled and enlarged. For a few years it became a popular venue for musical concerts, public meetings, flower shows and a variety of other events including the installation of both Benjamin Disraeli and William Ewart Gladstone as rectors of the University of Glasgow in 1873 and 1879 respectively.

By the early 1880s further modifications were carried out to allow it to be utilised as a glasshouse for the cultivation of plants. It then became an integral part of the Botanic Gardens which were in private ownership at that time but were soon (1891) integrated within the parks and gardens of the City of Glasgow.

An important and unique glasshouse of its type, the Kibble Palace is one of the last major iron and glass structures in Britain to be restored. The building structure is of curvilinear wrought (malleable) iron and glass supported by cast iron beams resting on ornate columns, surmounted on masonry foundations. With a floor area of 2189 metres the Palace takes the form of a large dome and rotunda connected to a smaller dome by a link corridor. The small dome forms the main entrance area and attached to the north and south are extended transepts.

Coulport's Kibble Crystal Palace

Written by Michael Dryden

In the year 1871 Mr. John Kibble of Coulport presented to the Botanical gardens in Glasgow his very handsome Conservatory. It was originally offered to the Queen’s Park in Glasgow but rejected on account of the somewhat extraordinary conditions. At that time the Conservatory was one of the largest glass constructions in the country, it consisted of two domes rising to a height of 40 feet the largest dome was 150 feet in dia with a circumference of 450 feet.

Work started in May 1872 to dismantle the building with transportation to Glasgow by steamer. For many years it was used as a Concert Hall and had a capacity of between 6000 and 8000 people (in the days before health and safety). It was used by Lord Beaconsfield and Prime Minister Gladstone when they delivered their addresses to the students of Glasgow University. It was said that the acoustics were near perfect for this function. When the money was borrowed for the erection of the new hothouses a sum was also got to enable the Directors to add to the Kibble Crystal Palace as it was sometimes called and to convert it into a Winter Garden. It has up to the present day had a magnificent collection of Palms and other tropical trees which benefit from the building’s great height. There are moves afoot to convert part of the building back to its original use and hold concerts and lectures.

Back at Coulport it was also becoming a centre for concerts. On the Braes of Coulport on Friday 2 July 1886 an open-air performance of Handel’s ‘Messiah’ was held. Five steamers turned up: the ADELA – VICTORIA – MARQUIS OF BUTE – WAVERLEY and IVANHOE.

The last known call was in 1900 when the IVANHOE landed members of the Glasgow Orpheus Choir who gave a concert ashore as a special evening attraction. Sadly by this time Coulport pier had closed.

Photographs