Pollokshields MAY 2005 • ISSUE 52HERITAGE PUBLISHED QUARTERLY Talking Rubbish! Calling all residents who want to be ‘Proud of ’ to this year’s big clean- up day on Sunday 5 June! All welcome to join the work party from 10 am at Maxwell Pollokshields Square. All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. The Environmental Protection Strawberry Services are giving their support with sponsorship from the Community Sunday Council, Pollokshields Pollokshields Hall & Maxwell Park Heritage, Churches ~ 1.30pm–4.30pm, Sunday 12 June ~ Together, CSV and the Southside Housing Association. And there’s a fun finale with Horse & Dray Rides, Red Cross First Aid Demonstrations, Cricket Coaching, a barbecue being organised for all helpers Football Fives, ‘Dr. Bike’ Clinic, DJ Workshop, Circus Skills, in conjunction with the New Victoria Gardens. Mounted Police, Gardening Advice, New Victoria Gardens Plant Sale, Stop Press – Plant Sale at New Victoria Treelovers’ Society, & featuring: Gardens on 29 May: 2–4 pm! The Glasgow Wind Band Pavla’s Puppet Shows, Old Records, Books, Baking, Bric-a-Brac, AGM 2005 Health MOT’s – and special feature: Chair Denise Greaves Vice-chair Iain Dyer Treasurer Hilary Stanger ‘Hung , Drawn & Painted!’ Secretary Janet Lamb – show of artwork by senior school students. Committee: Ann Laing, Anne Laughland, Cordelia Oliver, Evelyn Lennie, Gill Tearoom & Café by En Croute Catering. Stewart, Helen Barnard, Helen Norman, Karin Currie, Kenneth McLaren, Niall Co-ordinated by Pollokshields Murphy, Sheila Ogilvie. Liaison group and supported by Ann Laing will continue as Pollokshields Cultural Heritage representative on the Community & Leisure Services, and Liaison Group; Niall Murphy Police, Community Health will continue to participate on the Glasgow Partnership, Southside Housing Urban Design Panel; Helen Barnard will Association, Churches Together, continue as local Planning Convenor, and Pollokshields Heritage & Karin Currie will continue as managing Pollokshields Community editor of the newsletter up to and including Council. this year’s November issue. Conservation of property values There is no doubt that the primary factor With the intrinsic high quality of our substantial stone influencing the value of a property is — buildings and their setting, even if they need to be completely location! says Hugh Campbell of Murray & re-slated and leadwork replaced – probably the biggest challenge in maintenance outlay! – the value is not Muir, Chartered Surveyors. significantly diminished. The cost of this can be written down over the years. Pollokshields is undoubtedly a highly prized location, So if ‘location’ is the outstanding factor in determining uniquely spacious, so close to the city centre but with all property values, how best can we protect it? the amenity value of a garden suburb, and the protection “Conservation may be more expensive in the short term, of conservation area status. Where the original features of but the traditional materials and methods will always pay a villa or – cornices, fireplaces, woodwork, tiles back over time, and preserve the unique character of an and parquet flooring for example – are still in place, the outstanding neighbourhood.” market value is dramatically enhanced. The more the integrity of the fixtures and fittings is maintained the more the property is valued, although whether or not the building is ‘Listed’ does not generally affect its value. Clydesdale puts the clock back UPVC has the most detrimental effect on a property; the introduction of any inappropriate materials both internally and externally damages not only the character of the house, but can affect its value – and that of surrounding houses. It is also prohibited by the adopted conservation policies of Glasgow City Council. Pollokshields 1894 – old Ordnance Survey map Take a fascinating trip into the past courtesy of the Old Ordnance Survey Map of ‘Pollokshields 1894’, published by The Godfrey Maps with the permission of the National Library of . Of particular interest are the earliest villas (built by 1865) along St Andrew’s Drive, backing onto the , subsequently replaced by the Paisley Canal Railway line; the villas with exceptionally large grounds, like Lindholme, Woodlands, Ferndean and Nile Park (latterly has completed its celebrations of 100 years The Knowe), which with the exception of The Knowe, were demolished at its current ground in Pollokshields with the restoration in the 1960s to make way for blocks of flats; the Pollokshields Baths of a clocktower to the ridge of its roof, to the original 1904 design located near Maxwell Square; the bandstand in Maxwell Park; the by H E Clifford, the Burgh architect at the time. sheer size of the Tramway Depot! The £1,500 project was supported by a grant from the South Area It also includes some extracts from the PO Directory 1892–3 committee of Glasgow City Council. giving the names of people resident in some of the streets, and relates The clocktower, clearly visible in various old team photographs in something of the history of our suburb which takes its name from the pavilion, was removed around 1959, for unknown reasons, when the farm of the Shields, located near the intersection of Shields Road the roof slates were replaced by felt. Architect and club member and Albert Drive until demolition in the 19th century, and from the Frank Hurst produced measured drawings, from which a fibreglass Estate, established around 1270 and owned until this century reproduction has been manufactured, now sitting proudly where it by the Maxwell family. always should have been.

ourselves? And how well does conservation greenspace provision was countered by Regenerating status serve Pollokshields – with its clear the council’s apparent willingness to sell sense of itself as the UK’s original, biggest off land gifted to the community; concerns Glasgow and best preserved garden suburb? about the relentless development of blocks Subtitled ‘Creating the Future out of of flats without any infrastructure Cathy Johnston, Head of the Past’ – suggesting that the past could provision; the perception of the City Plan Environment and Design at Glasgow provide us with a clue as to how to regain as a developers’ charter rather than as City Council's Development and genius loci – the talk was couched more in empowering local communities. Regeneration services delivered this terms of Glasgow City Council’s City Plan The absence of nuance is evidently year's talk at the Pollokshields and how it anticipates delivering Glasgow’s keenly felt, with several comments that Heritage AGM. Niall Murphy reports... regeneration; more about procedure than slow progress on conservation area A pithy introduction effectively laid direction. appraisals is leading to erosion of local down the gauntlet: times were when The resultant debate revealed the chasm character. Food for thought for Glasgow knew what Glasgow was, but between local amenity groups and the city Development and Regeneration Services after the turmoil of the latter half of the council's template for the future. The claim and clearly something to be addressed in last century do we have a vision for that there is growing attention to the next City Plan... Design Matters: The end of an era at Elmtree Contacts

For almost 50 Planning Enquiries years the General Elmtree 287 8555 Nursing Home Development Control at 371 Albert 287 6070 Drive Enforcement (originally 50 287 6069 Dalziel Drive) was owned and Heritage & Design run by the Scott 287 8618 family. During —incl. Conservation this time it 287 8626 provided the Landscape services of a 287 8673 maternity unit, Land Services an x-ray room Parks and an 287 5064 operating theatre – for Roads many people Aerial photo taken in 1991 of Elmtree Nursing Home 287 9000 still resident in Environmental Protection Pollokshields today! This very large villa was “Recent changes in legislation Cleansing Distinctively built of snecked originally named ‘Clifton Hall’. requiring the provision of single 445 4200 red sandstone with rosemary (The Costigane brothers rooms with ensuite facilities Environmental Health tiled roofing in 1892 for William previously resided at ‘Clifton’ in would entail very substantial 287 6698 Costigane of ‘The Bonanza’ Nithsdale Road!) It first opened alterations being made to the Recycling Warehouse – silk mercers and its doors as a nursing home in property” says current owner, 287 2063 milliners in Argyle Street – it 1927, run by Miss Elizabeth Dave Scott. “Most of the original was designed by the Glasgow Clark. It was extended in the plasterwork and stained glass Fast track architect, John Gordon, who early 1970s and in recent years are intact and it probably now 0800 027 7027 himself resided in Pollokshields; became a retirement/care home lends itself more readily to Transport Police it was ‘B’ Listed in 1990. for the elderly. conversion into flats.” 332 3649 Community Police 423 1113 24-hour Police Behind Closed Doors Albert Road 532 5300 Crime Prevention The long- Academy abandoned Sgt Brian Hughes sawmill at the 1882-1962 552 5310 weir on the For a plain clothes police River Cart by Just published: A short history officer house visit: Pollok House of the former Albert Road Sgt Alan Shaw has been under Academy (now the Pollokshields 532 5313 wraps for many Primary School building) Community Council decades. contains some old photographs 423 1448 This water- of teams, photos of every City Council driven sawmill headmaster from its opening in by the Old 1882 to cessation of secondary Maxwell Park Ward Stable The turbines room of the Pollok Estate sawmill education in 1962, photos and Alan Rodger Courtyard – the accounts of sporting and 287 7013 site of the Laigh or Low Castle, – of which the late Sir John academic successes of FPs, info East Pollokshields Ward the seat of the Maxwells in the Stirling Maxwell was a founding on wartime efforts including Bashir Ahmad 15th century – also generated member – a project is being photos of two WW1 VC’s. 287 5894 electricity for the accumulator explored to recreate the sawmill Only 200 copies being printed. Scottish Parliament batteries used to light Pollok and demonstrate how woodland Price £5 inc. postage. Any funds Gordon Jackson QC House early in the 20th century is managed, harvested and remaining after distribution will 427 7047 – an eco-friendly system way worked. be donated to a suitable charity. Westminster Parliament ahead of its time! Meantime there s a celebration Cheques or PO’s made out to Mohammad Sarwar Glasgow City Council’s Land of traditional woodwork crafts at “ARA Reunion Club” and sent 427 5250 Services would like to restore on Saturday to Ian McDowall at 10 Tameside, Pollokshields Burgh Hall life to this disused resource, 21 May — with chainsaw carving, Stokesley, Middlesbrough TS9 423 8858 creating a sawmill visitor wood-turning and basketry 5 PE. Book also contains list of attraction, as part of their among the attractions at the everyone (so far as is known) Pollokshields Library heritage agenda. In conjunction Woodland Fair between 11 am who attended the reunion at the 423 1460 with the Forestry Commission and 4 pm. Burgh Hall in September 2003. Correspondence Titwood Tennis To [email protected] / PO BOX 3754 Glasgow G41 4YF Club Fete

Hannah Clinch of Radius anyone can help please email: instruction for this to be dealt Titwood Glasgow – a creative [email protected] with at the earliest practical Tennis Club’s organisation promoting Ed Schwienbacher in opportunity. He adds: “In Fete is being sustainable community Fotheringay Road, who is general we encourage the held on development – writes: “As part concerned about refuse in the growth of reasonable lineside Saturday 18 of a regeneration initiative area, comments: “It would be vegetation as it acts as a June from 2 Radius Glasgow is developing helpful if Network Rail natural deterrent against pm. This will a shop space at 423 Shields attended to the overgrown trespass. However, I will ask be their 27th Road that will provide a thorny bushes which make it for this area to be inspected Annual Fete! gallery space, workshop facility near impossible to collect the and if there is a problem with Is this a record? and environmental litter without unwanted railway vegetation growing Can any other organisation information centre, involving lacerations from the outside our boundary, I will in Pollokshields beat that! local young people. Workshop thorns,which are also a ask for it to be cut back. It The club is also holding sessions will be facilitated by considerable danger to should also be noted that it is an Open Day on Saturday 7 art, architecture and design pedestrians. When will both illegal and unsafe to May, sponsored by the professionals. Network Rail actually have the attempt to access railway land. Scottish Lawn Tennis To ensure that the wealth embankments freed of litter I would stress to anyone who Association, between 1 and of information about the rich and cut down for the safety of has an issue with the railway 4 pm. It’s also open to both architectural history of the residents and passers-by?” lineside to report it directly to members and non-members area is integrated into the — Network Rail s Paul the Network Rail National during the school holidays project, I am looking for Ferguson thanks you for Helpline on 08457 11 41 41. from 10 am to 12 pm for ‘heritage’ input into the bringing this matter to their This number can be contacted children’s tennis Fun Days workshops and to advise on attention! – and has passed 24 hours a day and it is with coach Andy the development of resources. the information about the litter designed to ensure that your McKechnie. The sessions will be developed on the embankments on to issue will be processed through throughout the summer. If their contractors, issuing the proper channels.” Pollokshields HERITAGE OFFICE BEARERS 2003 - 2004

Curling Mystery Solved! CHAIRMAN DENISE GREAVES David Rutherglen of Springkell Gardens has identified the location of this photograph from the ordnance survey map of SECRETARY JANET LAMB 1913. P.O. BOX NO. 3754 GLASGOW G41 4YF The Curling Ponds, one very large and two smaller rinks, ran north from Shawmoss Road, not far from Shawmoss PLANNING CONVENOR Farm; the photographer of this view must have stood in Springkell HELEN BARNARD Avenue, looking due East over the site of Morrisons/Safeway; TEL: 423 1060 the mist-shrouded buildings in the frame were very probably Station or the railway signal box. TREASURER & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY The ‘Old Glasgow’ series of maps, dating from 1890, can be The mystery postcard HILARY STANGER seen in The Glasgow Room at the Mitchell Library. NEWSLETTER EDITED BY KARIN CURRIE TEL: 427 0531

“10 songs DESIGN & LAYOUT DAVID KELLY DESIGN OFFICE Pollokshields” Call 423 9126 or visit www.dkdo.co.uk PRINTED BY A workshop event at Tramway SALTIRE PRINT will feature a musical BROOK STREET STUDIOS, GLASGOW performance by Danish Final TEL: 554 4496 / 556 3722 Year Glasgow School of Art student, Molly Haslund, based www.pollokshields.demon.co.uk on the heritage of stories, experiences or songs Our newsletter is distributed free to 6,000 unearthed locally, from 10 – addresses throughout Pollokshields, 16 June, every day at 4 pm. & . Anyone interested in placing an advertisement in it – or in advertising in a Anyone who lives or works in possible local property section – should please Pollokshields and would like contact the Editor. We are very grateful for to contribute their tale or tape support that makes the publication possible is invited to contact her at but of course do not take any responsibility [email protected] or on for products or services advertised. © 2005 Ian McIlhenny 07963 823067.