West End School of Cookery
The West End School of Cookery, Glasgow,was founded in 1878 and opened to the public on 29 October of that year. The founder of the West End School of Cookery was Margaret Black (1830-1903), a widow who had been a teacher at the Glasgow School of Cookery.
Margaret Black (born MacKirdy), was one of the first teachers of the Glasgow School of Cookery. She was trained at the London School of Cookery, having been successful in her application to the post advertised in the Glasgow Herald:
“SCHOOL OF COOKERY - Lady willing to be trained in Kensington School as Instructress to Teach and Lecture in Glasgow School. Must be well educated and with good address."
She had been actively involved in the School of Industry at Anderston, Glasgow, which had been established by elders of the St Matthews’ Free Church, of which she was a member. The widow was friends with Bailie William Collins, the Glasgow Publisher, who was also a member of the Free Church and one of the Directors of the Glasgow School of Cookery. Margaret taught at the Glasgow School of Cookery from 1 June 1876 until 1878 when she left to open the West End School of Cookery.
Margaret Black wrote several books on cookery and household management which were published by Collins, including ”Household Cookery and Laundry Work”, “Superior Cookery” and “Hints to Young Housekeepers”. In September 1885, Margaret was created a Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland and in 1891 was elected on the the School Board of Glasgow as a temperance and free educationalist candidate.
The School’s first premises were in the Corporation Galleries at 2 Dalhousie Street, Glasgow. Initially the School provided private classes in cookery and although it had been running classes in Glasgow and Govan Board Schools, it was not until 1885 that the Scotch Education Department recognised it as a teacher training centre.
In September 1903 the School moved to larger premises at 346 Sauchiehall Streetand also at 1 Scott Street. The subjects taught at the School were extended and by 1905 teachers’ diploma courses were being offered in cookery, housewifery and laundry, along with certificates for housewives, housekeepers and cooks.
When Margaret Black died in March 1903 she was succeeded as Principal by her niece, Mary McKirdy (1874-1957).
Mary MacKirdy gained her diploma from the West End School of Cookery in September 1894, with both the Scotch Education Department and the Glasgow School Board granting assessments for her training. She taught cookery at the West End School of Cookery from 1895 until becoming its Principal.