Prior to the construction of the Royal College building in the early 20th century the institution, that would become Strathclyde, occupied various buildings on or around George Street, Glasgow.

Entrance to the Anderson's University building with signage for day and evening classes.
The new Anderson's University building completed in 1830. This photograph was taken just before it was demolished to make way for the Royal College building, around 1902.

Anderson’s Institution initially rented space for its classes in the New Grammar School Buildings in George Street and the Trades Hall. More space was soon needed and in 1798, friends of the Institution purchased a building on the west side of John Street known as the ‘fleshmarket’. This was formally purchased by the trustees in 1806. This building sufficed for several years but, in 1818, discussions about the possibility of a new building began. Plans were drawn up in 1828 and the foundations laid along George Street. The architects and main contractors were Robert Scott and James Watt. At the same time, the name of the institution was changed to Anderson’s University. Construction of the new building was completed in 1830. 

View a map of the campus in 1857 beside a present day map using the National Library of Scotland map finder.

Anderson's Museum

A museum displaying John Anderson’s ‘curiosities’, which included a large collection of coins, medals, Tassie gems and a valuable collection of fossils, had been in existence right from the foundation of the institution in 1796. The museum shown in the image, however, was only opened in 1831, following the relocation of the institution to its new building in George Street. The museum, topped by an impressive dome, was designed by James Smith of Jordanhill and was situated on the first floor above a lecture theatre. Smith also donated a large collection of coins and medals. Other exhibits were also acquired; Thomas Edington II presented mineral specimens, animals and birds from the Cape, Australasia and the South Seas and South America and, in 1830, 2000 stuffed birds were purchased from Mr Joseph Sabrine of London.

Painting of the interior of the Andersonian Museum showing the domed ceiling and circular gallery area, 1830.
Watercolour by John Alexander Gilfillan, Professor of Drawing and Painting (1830–1841) at Anderson’s University, depicts the interior of the Andersonian Museum.

The museum was not only used by the students of Anderson’s University: on Wednesdays, Sundays and certain holidays, admission was extended to the public. The normal cost of entry in the 1840s was 2 ½ d. and 1 d. on public holidays. The admission fees meant that it was mainly the middle classes who frequented the museum at this time. However, during 1852, a special Saturday evening charge of one old penny was introduced. This special price certainly increased numbers; between 5th November and 22nd December 1852, the museum attracted 5,391 visitors, an average of 770 a day.

The museum continued to attract a large number of visitors.  During the New Year holiday, 1869/1870, over 2000 people visited. However, the later decades of the 19th century witnessed its decline. A number of coins were stolen in 1870, indicating a slackness in security. Numbers of visitors also declined; by 1880 the average attendance (excluding holidays) had fallen to three per week.

The restructuring of technical education in Glasgow in 1887 resulted in a concentration on technical subjects in the institution. The museum items were no longer needed for teaching purposes, and items which were not used by the students were transferred elsewhere. The museum closed completely when the new Royal Technical College building opened in 1902.

Archives reference: OP/2/1/5 Photograph of Anderson's University building, George Street (looking east).

Archives reference: OP/2/1/14 Illustration of the interior of Andersonian Museum.