Spring Issue 59
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CELEBRATING THE ORIGINAL, THE BIGGEST AND BEST-PRESERVED PLANNED GARDEN SUBURB IN THE UK Pollokshields SPRING 2010 HERITAGE ISSUE 59 Pollokshields Retrospective PROUD OF POLLOKSHIELDS AFTER 150 YEARS, memories play a significant role in the record of our heritage, colouring perceptions of Pollokshields as it is today. Before 1850 and for several decades afterwards, the whole area was farmland and much of it poor, agriculturally. But by 1900 the neighbourhood was well-established with both villa and tenements in ‘middle class’ occupation. There was no question of Pollokshields tenements being slums – these ‘flatted houses’ had their own toilet and bathroom facilities unlike many of their contemporaries elsewhere. The high-ceilinged apartments were as spacious as many in villadom; the fittings and fixtures of as high quality; stained glass and elegant plasterwork, Access lane behind Knowe Terrace ornate woodwork, cast ironwork and mosaic floors as rich in craftsmanship. – after a clean up They were conscientiously maintained both inside and out by Factors employed Local environmental group activity is by the landlords. growing. Concern about the amenity of email [email protected]. She hopes to our neighbourhood greenspaces and hear from people who moved into the area back lanes is generating community recently as well as those who may have moved interest in ownership of these valuable away, or have stayed here for a long time. open spaces, too often the victims of There are many other community places and litter lout abuse. There are now both formal and informal groups engaged in shared spaces that also reflect the social developing environmental improvement changes that have taken place. Over the last projects and doing cleanups. fifty and more decades, for example, the swimming baths in Leslie Street, with an There’s an opportunity to find out more impressive range of diversions, were the first about the local groups, about environmental of our local amenities to go; then music and services and how to tackle eyesores and improve amenity on sporting activities in Maxwell Park, followed Sunday 6 June at the by ice-skating and curling at Crossmyloof, and third annual READY most recently The Lord Darnley and Honours STEADY GROW event Three pubs. Of the original ten churches only taking place at some four are still used for worship. of the parks, gardens and greenspaces in the area. Contact [email protected] for more details. Currently pursuing an oral history project about tenement living in particular, is SUE GIOVANNI – the great grand-daughter of the original dairy Annual General Meeting owner at the corner of Albert Drive and Forth at the Pollokshields Burgh Hall Street, who lived with his son and his family MONDAY 26 APRIL 2010 at at 100 Forth Street. 7 for 7.30 p.m followed at 8 p.m. by an Illustrated Talk on Family memories and her own fascination with visits to these capacious tenements prompted her interest in recording stories and experiences of other residents sharing closes and communal spaces; how community activities Sue with one of her first interviewees – Margaret have changed over the decades; the interaction Boyle – who has lived all her life in the locality. of neighbours, the sounds that identified them, Sadly too many of our tenements are in a the gasman lighting the stairlamps, the coal poor state, with broken plaster and missing The New Riverside Museum deliveries, the passing trams, the staircleaning railings, damaged or inappropriate windows, rotas and the back court. by ROSEMARY WATT unsafe stairs, and security doors that are senior curator for the Museum of Anyone who might be willing to share memories incompatible with the buildings; the ravages Transport, formerly Keeper of the of their years spent in tenement housing - to of less economically stable times. But it is Burrell Collection & Curator of be recorded in audio and not video – and heartening to hear that the welcome and European Art & Design. would like to find out more about the project interest Sue experiences from the people living ALL WELCOME should contact Sue on 07956 861052 or in them is across the board! Specialists in manufacturing traditional and modern stained glass Restoration and Repairs • Acid etching and embossing Church commissions • Corporate buildings • Hotels • Private Consult Moira Malcolm on 01292 474279 or visit www.rainbowglass.biz Back in the 1920s HANNAH FRANK was the rising star of the Art MAXWELL PARK STATION Department at Albert Road Academy. Last year, on the anniversary of her Passenger Focus selected Maxwell Park Station as death, aged 100, in December 2008, a runner-up to Scotland’s Best competition was launched to promote Adopted Station of the Year and celebrate her long and successful 2009 for our refurbishment of career as an artist and sculptor – in the former booking office as the former art room where Hannah’s a community meeting room, talent was fostered. and for sustaining a floral presence on the platforms. Born in 1908 of Russian their awards in Glasgow on 23 In the course of the year we refugee parents, she went on August this year – her mounted a display with to Glasgow University and birthdate. Committee members Karin Currie contributions from other Glasgow School of Art, and was and Helen Barnard receiving the ultimately awarded a adopted stations throughout award at the station posthumous honorary Scotland (subsequently new purpose-built heritage doctorate in June last year. Her transferred to Wemyss Bay artwork embraced haunting Station), and a local heritage planters will soon be installed on black and white drawings, exhibition for Glasgow’s Doors the platforms, providing more resonant of the Art Nouveau Open Day in September. robust and permanent style, and sculpture which she Thanks to supporting contributions enhancement, in time for Ready began in 1950 and continued from the City Council’s Steady Grow on Sunday 6 June. to produce for the following 50 Pollokshields Area Committee Plans for the main section of the years. budget and First ScotRail, our building are being progressed. Meanwhile anyone interested in the use of the booking office as a meeting room please email The competition was [email protected] or phone 427 0531. launched by her niece, Fiona Frank, (pictured centre) also the author of ‘Footsteps on the Sands of The City Council has already Time’ written in honour of contributed over half a million pounds towards achieving a Hannah, who wants her viable development within the Images from the exhibition at aunt to be celebrated in shell of the original ‘A’ Listed Pollokshields Primary in December Glasgow and take her place building. in the corpus of artists The winners of the competition Planning Approval and Listed to write a poem inspired by one known and valued through Building Consent have been of her drawings will receive art projects in schools. granted for a museum, galleries, café, studios and serviced apartments to be developed on the overall site. MAXWELL PARK The Alexander Thomson Much ado about the pond ecology. Friends of Maxwell Park have been Society has launched a concerned over the last two years about the state of balance in the Public Appeal for pond. Ecologists think that carp are causing disturbance to the balance £500,000 towards the of the aquatic habitat. Oygenating plants are being destroyed while the predators thrive and proliferate. Land & Environmental Services first stage of the are finally on the case but it will be autumn before the pond is drained regeneration of ‘Greek’ and the problem tackled... Thomson’s Caledonia Road Church, which has languished as a deserted ruin since being destroyed by Built in 1856/7, this was arson in 1965. Thomson’s first public work and became not only a prominent landmark in the Gorbals and the southside, but a major feature of Glasgow’s heritage by one of its most outstanding and prolific architects. Meantime please! – only small amounts of bread etc should be fed to the ducks. Chucking food in the pond further damages the nutrient Several features of his level of the water. domestic architecture in Pollokshields and Strathbungo On the plus side LES have produced new interpretative signage for the are included in The Thomson pond and are shortly to instal a noticeboard at the Park gates to provide Trail. information for the general public, including the activities of the Friends’ group. Their next project is the regeneration of the George Forrest bed. Proposed redevelopment plan www.greekthomson.org.uk www.friendsofmaxwellpark.org.uk enjoy the red carpet treatment 10% discount on presentation of this newsletter 142 Nithsdale Road, Glasgow G41 5RB Tel 0141 423 8968 Design Matters Interior friezes – once the prerogative of temples and other imposing buildings with high ceilings – were a feature of much domestic architecture from the 18th century to the 20th. Lower ceilings have become the order of most present day residential The Murdoch Room in the main architecture, increasing the value Craigholme School complex and rarity of our rich heritage of boasts a substantial vintage friezes - in a variety of plasterworked frieze from around materials. 1899 when this extension to the original villa was added to accommodate a billiard room. The villa, ‘Holmwood’, was built around 1890 as the family home of James Weir whose son William became Lord Weir of Cathcart. The billiard room was subsequently used as the music room and assembly hall after the This painted Art Nouveau treasure School, founded by Mrs Murdoch has been saved for posterity by in the villa ‘Craigholme’ in Dalziel the owner of a Newark Drive villa Drive, was transferred to its who unearthed it when preparing current premises in 1924. his hall for redecoration. Persian Paradise in Pollokshields Of the prolific collection of Sir William Burrell, only 40% is ever on show at any one time.