The Empire Exhibition of 1938 – A Glimpse into the Scale and Spirit of the Event.
The Timeline
- Held: May to October 1938 in Glasgow.
- Context: The last public showcase of the British Empire; WWII began just nine months after it closed.
- Construction: Started Oct 23, 1936. It took only 10 months to build.
- Official Opening: May 3, 1938, by King George VI and Queen Mary at Ibrox Stadium.
Design & Workforce
- Architect: T S Tait FRIBA led a massive team including Basil Spence and JA Coia.
- Staff: 876 employees, from the General Manager to car park attendants.
- Engineers: Crouch & Hogg (Civil) and J Campbell Murray (Electrical).
12,593,232
Total Attendance
The Tait Tower
- Visitors: 1,312,392 people paid to take the lifts to the top.
- Capacity: 600 people could view the city simultaneously from the summit.
- Heritage: The commemorative stone unveiled by the King remains on the hill today.
Entertainment
- Exhibitors: 716 in total showcasing British industry.
- Concerts: Featured Sir Thomas Beecham and Paul Robeson.
- Seating: 13,000 folding and deck chairs were distributed throughout the park.
The 12-Acre Amusement Park
The largest in Britain at the time, featuring:
Mountain Railway, Lakins Rocket Ride, Octopus, Ghost Train, Water Dodgems, Mont Blanc, Whirl, Whirlwind Racer, Waltzer, High Flyer, Dodgems, Air Sport, Big Wheel, Juvenile Speedway, Petrol Speedway, Noah’s Ark, Over the Falls, Crazy House, Stratoship, Caterpillar, Electric Speedway, Rocket Speedway, Wall of Death, Miniature Railway.
Logistics & Safety
- Policing: 44 officers (36 constables).
- Fire: 29 firemen. Remarkably, there were no serious fires.
- Parking: Provision for 9,000 cars.
- Catering: 5,240 seats in restaurants and snack bars.
Weather & Records
- Rain: Only three Saturdays were dry. Rainfall was 50% higher than the 35-year average.
- Best Day: Oct 29 (Closing Day) with 364,092 visitors.
- Dogs: Not allowed. Kennels were available at the Mosspark Boulevard Entrance for a fee.