DAVID
DALE COLLEGE
161, Broad Street, Mile End
The
complex of buildings which constituted the David Dale College remains between
Broad Street and Brook Street, with some buildings still bearing the “David
Dale Building” name. The College
was opened in 1949 to meet the increased call for further education facilities
after the Second World War, and received a significant part of its student
intake from the engineering works which then abounded in the vicinity.
It was named after the 18th century philanthropist, David Dale, in
recognition of the personal efforts made by him to advance the education of his
young workers by setting up a system of evening class instruction for them.
The original building had been occupied by the Corporation's Welfare Department, and was modified for the new purpose it was to serve. In 1952-54 St. Clement's Church of Scotland and hall were incorporated into the College, with the church itself becoming a gymnasium. The integration of this building has undoubtedly saved it from the fate suffered by so many other Victorian churches in the east end.
For a time, from 1959, part of the Tureen Street School was used by the College and 1965-67 saw the construction of the four storey extension to the main building. Soon thereafter, in 1974, the College closed partially as a consequence of the decline in heavy engineering in the vicinity, but also due to the increased provision of facilities in the city centre.
Ironically, it was one these new provisions which eventually took over the Broad Street complex; Glasgow College of Building & Printing, which formally came into being in 1972. Glasgow College eventually transferred to newly acquired premises in Redan Street, and towards the end of 2006 the buildings are now being developed to provide office space.
©Gordon Adams
