The Mackintosh Society visit Fairfield

This year's AGM weekend began yesterday with a tour of Glasgow Museum's Resource Centre in Nitshill.

Today we had a special tour of the offices of Fairfield Shipyard in Govan by Pat Cassidy, Rosemary Swords and David Robertson.

The Fairfield building has special significance in the history of Govan. At a time when shipping was the sole means of overseas trade and communication, Govan (the 'shipbuildingest burgh in the world' in 1901) emerged as the elite workshop for the construction of metal propulsion ships. It produced the finest, largest and most beautiful ships of the era. The Fairfield shipyard was the jewel in the crown and these offices were the nerve centre of the yard.

Designed by John Keppie and built to a style and specification that reflected the status of what was then arguably the most prestigious shipbuilding concern in the world, it has been described as architecturally the finest shipbuilding office in Britain. It has iconic significance not just for Govan but also for Glasgow and for Scotland's shipbuilding heritage.

The site is currently undergoing a major refurbishment programme by Govan Workspace Ltd.