Welcome to our community podcast- a friendly chat with lots of laughs from behind the scenes of this beautiful historic building in Glasgow city centre. Every episode we will be investigating a certain aspect of 217 Sauchiehall Street and delving into the life of the city (and the world!) at the turn of the century. So put the kettle on!

musical sting by Scott Twynholm

Episode 1 | TIME FOR TEA 1903!

Join us for an informal introduction to the building, a sneak peek of future topics we will be blethering on about later in the series and our first time dipping our toes into some surprising historic recreational events of 1903.

Episode 2 | LOCKED DOWN, LOCKED OUT: EXTERIORS

This episode we take a closer look at Mackintosh’s iconic exterior, with its hybrid design drawing from Art Nouveau, Japan and Scotland. We discuss the well-to-do shopping mecca that was Sauchiehall Street at the turn of the century and some of the incredible historical buildings that remain today (and that can be visited.) Finally, inspired by the spell of snow we recently had, we end the episode stepping back to 1903 and taking a wry look at how the Scots of the day kept warm

Episode 3 | SPRING EDITION – ‘ART IS THE FLOWER’ : MACKINTOSH AND PLANTS

It’s Spring! This episode we look at how Art Nouveau embraced botanical forms,  admire Mackintosh’s floral watercolours and talk about why the building is called ‘The Willow.’ We also attempt and fail miserably to pronounce the iconic Mackintosh flower ‘Snakeshead Fritallaria’ and take a humorous look at the Victorian tradition of ‘insult bouquets.’

Episode 4 | ABC TEA: Activism, Brothers and the other Cranston Tearooms

This episode we learn about early salon culture and the suffragettes who inspired the Salon de Luxe colour scheme, Miss Cranston’s other tearooms (including the Oak room now at the V&A) and Stuart Cranston: coffee fiend and rival to our own Kate.  We round off by pondering Victorian cocktails and remain mostly unconvinced.

Episode 5 | HANDLE WITH CARE: STAINED GLASS AND BURLEIGH CROCKERY

This month we are showing you our delicates! Glasgow may have been the ‘second city of the Empire’ but you could also say it was the ‘first city of stained glass.’ What was a day in the life of Stephen Adam, Mackintosh’s stained glass man, like? Why didn’t his business pass to his son and how did that decision lead all the way to our 21st century stained glass restorer Brian Hutchison? Also, Isabella talks about Miss Cranston’s favourite crockery, Willow Burleighware, and we ponder some strange Victorian drinking devices.

Episode 6 | putting margaret macdonald back in the picture

This month we are thrilled to be talking about the ‘genius’ (Mackintosh’s word) that was Margaret Macdonald. We warm up by delving into Celtic mythology- a large part of Macdonald’s inspiration- then discuss her career and how some male critics disparaged her influence on Mackintosh. We each nominate an amazing Macdonald artwork to investigate further and finish by taking a whirl around the history of maypoles, thanks to Macdonald’s incredible May Queen.

Episode 7 | TAKE A SEAT: MACKINTOSH AND CHAIRS

This month we pull up a seat or two or three or 175! in the restored Mackintosh tearooms. It’s time to tick off a big topic- Mackintosh and chairs- and here at MATW we have some incredible examples of handmade pieces, all made in Scotland by expert furniture makers. Join us as we learn about ladderbacks, box armchairs, Salon de Luxe thrones and even the impressive Cashier’s Chair made for Miss Cranston herself. Did you know Mackintosh chairs feature in some very famous films? Because we do. We finish off by reluctantly considering other non-Mackintosh chairs that have caught our eye, and fangirl over Wick Heritage Museum (well, Jodie does) up in Sutherland and Caithness.

Episode 8 | 1903 festivities

It’s December which means all things festive here at Mackintosh At The Willow. This month we tackle head-on the historic reason why Christmas plays second fiddle to Hogmanay in Scotland (Christmas wasn’t even a public holiday until 1958.) We also ponder what Miss Cranston might have eaten for dinner, what she might have thought about creepy Victorian Christmas cards, marvel at the Dundonian Hogmanay tradition of dressing up herring in little outfits and learn how to cook swan!

Episode 9 | WALTER BLACKIE, TALWIN MORRIS AND MACKINTOSH BOOK DESIGN

Join us on World Book Day as we look at Mackintosh’s book designs for Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie (also owner of Hill House) and learn more about the ‘fifth member’ of the Glasgow Four, Talwin Morris. Isabella and I start by reminiscing about book covers of our childhood, then try and guess the plots of some Art Nouveau treasures (since the beautiful covers give no hint!)

Episode 10 | a day in the life at mackintosh at the willow

This month we have a very special guest, Caitlin, who is the Operations Manager at Mackintosh At The Willow. She’ll talk about what it’s like on an average day in the historic building and we’ll attempt to uncover the difference between cream tea, afternoon tea, high tea and low tea. Do you know?! Finally we’ll design our own perfect afternoon teas and share some funny stories about Tiffany lamps and bells.