The House and Surrounding Area

‘Blairtamnock’ first appears on Pont’s map of 1583-96,but the earliest confirmed piece of construction is the skewput stone which is inscribed with the date 1721.  As mentioned  on the Interior section of this website, there are some pieces of carved stonework within a (now internal) wall which are thought by archaeologists to date from the 16th century.  The older parts of the fabric are in the style of a plain 18th century farmhouse which was extended and altered in the 19th century, and then radically remodelled in 1904.  It is thought that the building has been extended and altered at least seven times since 1858.

Glasgow City Council Parks Department maintained the house from the time of their purchase in 1954, using it as offices until it became surplus to requirements in 1999.

It is an unusual survivor of a type of country house once characteristic of the Monklands, most becoming homes for local industrialists.  Many were altered and embellished to reflect the rising fortunes and status of their owners, and Blairtummock was no exception.   The house is associated with former resident Professor James McCall, founder of the Glasgow Veterinary College, but perhaps reached its heyday in the early 20th century under the ownership of Colonel Andrew Lamberton.  

With the construction of the Easterhouse Local Authority housing area, the setting of Blairtummock changed fundamentally.  For many years Blairtummock House would have appeared as a bit of an anachronism within that setting.  However, it is now clear that the 20th century landscape around Blairtummock, and the survival of the house within it, has social and architectural significance which should be respected.

 

Blairtummock is a unique building in the context of Easterhouse, and its age and complex history makes it of regional importance for the  East End  and Greater Glasgow area.   The panelling and plasterwork of the original public rooms of the house have been carefully restored and these grand rooms and are available for hire for social and business functions, such as meetings for community groups, seminars, conferences and other social events. The remainder of the building has been restored as offices for business use, including start up businesses and local enterprises, and a new extension to the rear has been built to make this purpose economically viable.

Outside the building, an engraved granite plinth provides an introduction to the history and significance of Blairtummock in the context of Easterhouse for visitors.