The Life and Work of James Sellars

Come and find out about the architect James Sellars and the many structures he designed in Glasgow through an illustrated evening lecture by Dominic D’Angelo, researcher and Chair of the Alexander Thomson Society

James Sellars was born in the Gorbals in 1843 and started his architectural apprenticeship aged thirteen with architects H&D Barclay. His career saw him design many of Glasgow's landmark structures: the Stewart Memorial Fountain in Kelvingrove Park, the Mitchell Theatre, Kelvinside Academy (including its railings) and Glasgow Victoria Infirmary.

His association with the renowned Wylie & Lochhead Upholsterers led to him designing numerous warehouses and showrooms for the firm, including the handsome Buchanan Street store (now Frasers). He designed the Wylie & Lochhead cabinet works in Kent Road, and had reached the pinnacle of his career when commissioned to create several buildings for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888. A tragic accident on site brought his hugely successful career to an abrupt end when he died just short of his forty-fifth birthday.

This talk is part of a free lecture series and educational outreach programme offered in association with the Glasgow City Heritage Trust