Sunday 29 June 2008

Glasgow’s East End Tourist Gems (2): Parkhead Cross and Tollcross Park

In July 2005, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) approved a £1.4 million grant to conserve and regenerate Parkhead Cross. The HLF grant is part of a £4 million funding package for the Cross, which includes money from Glasgow City Council and Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.




The Parkhead Cross Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) is a grants programme aimed at regenerating the historic heart of Parkhead. The scheme, which runs to the end of 2010, is an example of heritage funding working within a broader strategic context of regeneration and economic development.

The aim of the Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) in the Parkhead Cross Conservation Area is to regenerate key buildings, bring vacant floor space back into use and improve the public realm. The THI project will improve the character of this exciting area and transform it into an attractive destination for shopping and cultural pursuits as well as a popular place to live and work.

Less than a mile a way from the cross is the elegant Forge Market and Forge Shopping Centre , the land in which the glass pyramids stand belonged in the past to The Parkhead Forge; the largest steelworks in Scotland, specialising in the manufacture of armaments and armour plate for warships; a family business that was established by Reoch Brothers & Co c 1837 and acquired by Robert Napier in 1841 to make forgings and iron plates for his shipyard. William Beardmore became a partner in the business in the 1860s and was joined by his brother and son, William Jr, who became sole partner and then founded William Beardmore & Co in 1886.

"An aerial view from the north-west of the vast iron and steel works of William Beardmore & Co at Parkhead Forge, 1950."


Parkhead Forge was a major employer in the East End, the number of workers reaching a peak of over 20,000 during the First World War. There was a slump during the 1920s and 1930s, a revival during the Second World War and then more hard times as the world-wide demand for warships and armaments declined. The Parkhead Forge finally closed in 1976. The Forge shopping centre was later built on the site, opening in 1988 and subsequently joined by a retail park and a market hall.

Parkhead Library is an example of exotic architecture; as the case of all library buildings round Glasgow. It was built circa 1906 as part of a grant to the city of Glasgow to build a series of branch libraries, given by Andrew Carnegie; a Scottish ex-pat in the United States.


The two-storey red sandstone library was built to a well proportioned asymmetrical design with a dome over the north-west corner.
The central entrance has a pedimented portico with Ionic columns flanking the doorway and a group of statues above.
The library is a striking example of the libraries constructed with Carnegie's 1901 gift to Glasgow. It was designed by the Inverness architect, James Robert Rhind. In the closing years of the 19th century Rhind had practised in Montreal, Quebec, for a decade before returning to Scotland. This is perhaps the source of the French Beaux-Arts influences evident in his Glasgow libraries.

Tollcross Park includes a magnificent piece of architecture known as the Mansion House, which dates back to the year 1843, when James Dunlop commissioned by the Architect, David Bryce, to design a new mansion house in the Jacobean style for the estate. The new 'A' listed Scottish baronial house with crow stepped gables, corbelled turrets and pointed roofs was set on the summit of the estate and approached by a drive off Tollcross Road.



Prior to that, the lands of Tollcross Park were recorded as far back as 1290 when Roger Corbett, a local baron, lived in the area. In 1580 a “Gabriel Corbart” was granted land in Towcorse.
Towcorse was originally an area of countryside separating the village of Tollcross from Shettleston. James Dunlop was actively involved in landscaping the surroundings to the Mansion House, particularly in the design of the sweeping Lime Tree Avenue leading to the house and the introduction of exotic tree species into the Glen.

Monday 23 June 2008

Robert Burns and the Rights of Women


Burns documented the Scottish transitional society of 1792, when he portrayed how the women should be treated and respected in his famous poem (The Rights of a Woman); although mainly addressed to male recipients. It should convey some of his deep admiration for women and their rights against the shadows of the revolutions in Europe and the state of chaos that changed monarchies and states, women were taking the lead along side men in this delicate times of revolution from the 1790s onwards.

Here are the full verses:
-

The Rights Of Woman
Spoken by Miss Fontenelle on her benefit night, November 26, 1792.

While Europe's eye is fix'd on mighty things,
The fate of Empires and the fall of Kings;
While quacks of State must each produce his plan,
And even children lisp the Rights of Man;
Amid this mighty fuss just let me mention,
The Rights of Woman merit some attention.

First, in the Sexes' intermix'd connection,
One sacred Right of Woman is, protection. -
The tender flower that lifts its head, elate,
Helpless, must fall before the blasts of Fate,
Sunk on the earth, defac'd its lovely form,
Unless your shelter ward th' impending storm.

Our second Right-but needless here is caution,
To keep that right inviolate's the fashion;
Each man of sense has it so full before him,
He'd die before he'd wrong it-'tis decorum. -
There was, indeed, in far less polish'd days,
A time, when rough rude man had naughty ways,
Would swagger, swear, get drunk, kick up a riot,
Nay even thus invade a Lady's quiet.

Now, thank our stars! those Gothic times are fled;
Now, well-bred men-and you are all well-bred-
Most justly think (and we are much the gainers)
Such conduct neither spirit, wit, nor manners.

For Right the third, our last, our best, our dearest,
That right to fluttering female hearts the nearest;
Which even the Rights of Kings, in low prostration,
Most humbly own-'tis dear, dear admiration!
In that blest sphere alone we live and move;
There taste that life of life-immortal love.
Smiles, glances, sighs, tears, fits, flirtations, airs;
'Gainst such an host what flinty savage dares,
When awful Beauty joins with all her charms-
Who is so rash as rise in rebel arms?

But truce with kings, and truce with constitutions,
With bloody armaments and revolutions;
Let Majesty your first attention summon,
Ah! ca ira! The Majesty Of Woman!

Friday 20 June 2008

Glasgow’s East End Tourist Gems (1) : Scottish Industrial Treasures

There are no more than 5 miles stretch between Parkhead and Uddington, and yet this part of the east end of Glasgow is home to some Scottish world-famous-enterprises. Some are more than 150 years old.
While the east end of the city is stereotyped as the home of neds, Billy Boy sectarianism and some of the worst deteriorating housing schemes in Europe. It is without a doubt rich in its history, and the true sense of the declined Industrial Glasgow magic.

The famous Tunnock’s factory is situated on Old Mill Road in Uddington - Birth place of the famous Tea Cakes, Wafer Thins and Caramel Bars.



The BARR's IRN-BRU company factory - sadly now demolished - was in Parkhead’s Gallowgate.


Dewar’s Scottish whiskey factory is located on London Road, Parkhead. Dewar’s is a Scotch whiskey brand created by John Dewar in 1846.

McVitie's Biscuit factory works are also located in Parkhead’s Maukinfauld Road. While taking a stroll in Parkhead; one can still smell the mouth-watering baking aromas of yummy McVitie & Price original products - that were founded in 1830.



It’s amazing how such an enormous portion of Scottish and Glaswegian heritage is present on the streets of the East End, and yet no governmental active involvement is taking place. Although, some individual initiatives, mostly charitably or privately funded do exist now, but their extended efforts are not translated into actual benefits yet.

Sunday 15 June 2008

The True Song of Scotland?!

The two most popular Scottish songs you'd most likely hear at sport ceremonies and other local or international events to represent the national anthem of Scotland; are "Flower of Scotland" and "Scotland the Brave", a new version of which can be found here. Although there are so many other patriotic Scottish songs; like "Loch Lomond" for example, but the media apparently, tries to cut down on the ultra patriotic ones, especially these songs that convey direct hatred towards English monarchy, with stories of historical bloodshed and fighting, which are more likely to be pro-referendum chants. The trend is to popularize Scottish songs that call attention to Scottish natural beauty; like glens, lochs and rivers, and to overlook the real patriotic tunes of the Scottish highlands and glens.
Although the finale verses of the English or British national anthem (also overlooked by the media) speak proudly about the English attempts at suppressing the Scottish rebellion in:

“Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!”