The History
Originally starting life as a woodside lodge, a modest summer residence, built in 1863 for Donald MacVean, a Glasgow plumber, The Lodge is an excellent example of the Arts and Craft movement in Glasgow and occupies a truly spectacular position on the west shore of Loch Goil.
The Lodge was originally styled in the manner of a Scottish villa but a second storey balcony was added by architect William Leiper around 1870.
The
surrounding mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, while the front of
the house has gardens running down to a deep sea loch, where there is
an old jetty. To one side of the house a burn, tumbling from the hills
to the loch, provides the constant, soothing sound of running water;
to the other stands the Victorian greenhouse.
We treasure the Arts and Crafts style found in our rooms and furnishings. They demonstrate more clearly than words the power of simplicity and the rich design possibilities of patterns abstracted from nature.
The Arts and Crafts movement originated in Britain and spread through Europe and America; it covered the period around the 1890s until the beginning of the first world war in 1914. William Morris, one of the founders of the movement in England, believed that the house and everything within should be aesthetically pleasing but also have a function. Everything produced within the movement was hand-crafted, the furniture was usually made of oak and the clean simple lines were adorned with hand-carved motifs, leaded-glass or repoussé metalware. the movement in Scotland was carried forward by Fra Newbery, Director of Glasgow School of Art, who provided courses in an effort to facilitate women's entry into the arts, and it worked. Charles Rennie Macintosh is recognised as the father of the Scottish movement and he was surrounded and supported by many others in the movement.
If you are interested in expanding your knowledge of the Arts and Crafts movement, there are many internet sites and splendid illustrated books which give a detailed history of the movement. The Studio also carries a range of reference books.
The Studio, established in the west End of Glasgow for 11 years, specialises in Arts and Crafts, particularly Glasgow Style pieces. The Lodge has worked with Liz Mckelvie, who owns the Studio, for over 5 years finding specific pieces to keep the Arts and Craft feel alive at The Lodge.
The Studio, has customers world-wide and stocks a wide range of Glasgow Style furniture, lighting, ceramics, Scottish watercolours, embroidery, jewellery, books with decorative bindings, glass and metalware. Not all of the stock is on display and customers are encouraged to indicate their "wants". The shop also provides a personalised shopping service as well as a "search and sourcing".
Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 10 - 5.30
Sunday 12 - 5
“Good fishing!”
Chris Grout-Smith, Photographer, UK
