WITH the news last week that Glasgow's historic Hutchesons' Hall is to reopen to the public as a cafe and restaurant, once again we will be able to admire this forgotten jewel of the Merchant City.

Funded with money left in trust by George and Thomas Hutcheson, lawyers and land-owning brothers who thrived in Glasgow in the 1600s, it was built, between 1802 and 1805 to a design by the Scottish architect David Hamilton, as Hutchesons' Hospital. The building replaced an earlier hospital of 1641, situated in the city's Trongate.

Look up the next time you pass the Ingram Street landmark and you'll see statues of the Hutcheson brothers, carved in 1649 by James Colquhoun and the oldest portrait statues in Glasgow, perched in matching alcoves.

Needles to say, this being Glasgow, when the restored statues were moved to Ingram Street, the brothers were placed on the wrong plinths!

The brothers also founded the Glasgow school which bears their name.

Although today the building is painted a creamy-white, back in 1938 it was soot-blackened and slightly sinister looking. And we can't blame traffic pollution for the dirt and grime, as there are so few cars to be seen. Look closely at the picture, bottom left, and you'll spy a horse entering the scene.