Tait Tower

Tait Tower (also known as Tait's Tower and officially as the Tower of Empire) was a tower in the art deco style constructed at the summit of Bellahouston Hill in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in Scotland as part of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938.

It was designed by Thomas S. Tait, stood 300 feet high (91.44 metres) and had three separate observation decks which provided a view of the surrounding gardens and city. Due to both the height of the tower and the hill it was built on, it could be seen 100 miles (160 km) away. The tower was the centrepiece of the Empire Exhibition and its image featured on many of the souvenirs that could be bought at the exhibition site. Although it was to have been a permanent monument to the exhibition, the tower was demolished in July 1939, allegedly because it would provide a beacon for enemy bombers although it has been claimed this is an urban myth. The University of Glasgow's Gilmorehill building was at least as prominent and was not demolished. The order to demolish the tower was actually given in July 1939, three months before the war started. ["Glasgow's Great Exhibitions", P & J Kinchin, White Cockade Publishing.)] Only the foundations now remain.

Thomas' son Gordon Tait also worked on the project.

References

External links

* [http://www.arthist.arts.gla.ac.uk/int_ex/exhibitions/1938glasgow/38tower.html Information about the tower and picture]
* [http://www.scotland-guide.co.uk/ALL_AREAS_IN_SCOTLAND/Glasgow/Areas/South/Bellahouston_Park/Bellahouston_Park_-_1938_Empire_Exhibition.htm Information about the 1938 exhibition and the tower]