HeraldScotland reports that Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s famous creation, the Willow Tea Rooms in Glasgow, has had its future secured after being bought by a charitable trust.
The new Celia Sinclair Charitable Trust has acquired the Category-A listed building for about £400,000. The building, which needs about £900,000 of further repairs, will be gifted to the city by the Trust.
The Willow Tea Rooms were designed by Mackintosh and opened in November 1904 with the Room de Luxe as its main attraction, featuring silver furniture and leaded mirror friezes. Mackintosh had complete control over every design in the property, including the cutlery and waitress dresses.
Tragic fire at Glasgow School of Arts
Ms Sinclair said: “The Willow Tea Rooms is an iconic building and I couldn’t simply stand by and watch it deteriorate. I’m a proud Glaswegian and I want to see its heritage preserved for the generations to come.
“I started this project over a year ago. The recent tragic fire at the Glasgow School of Art has underlined to me, and others, that we really do need to act to safeguard what remains of Mackintosh’s work.
“The Trust will ensure that after the renovation work the building will be financially secure and that due care and attention will be given to the building forever.”
Work on the building is due to get underway next year.
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