Glimpses of old Glasgow

Part I. Historical

Glasgow (East)

MANY people believed, was at its best when I was a boy, and others prophesied that its trade would follow the City's wealth and growth, and move toward the setting sun. No doubt the prediction has partly been fulfilled, but not to the extent which the prophesiers of evil to the east-enders foretold. The west-end has grown, but the wealth of the east-end has not retrograded. With its varied industries, it still holds its own as a place of importance. To the teeming working-class population of the east-end have been added many thousands, who live in what may be called its aristocratic part. This increase is due to the feuing of the lands of Dennistoun. The chief Proprietor of this quarter was a merchant called John Dennistoun, who was at one time member of parliament for Glasgow. As a representative he was popular with and highly respected by all his constituents. To make his property an attractive urban district, Mr. Dennistoun utilised the services of the late Bailie Salmon, an eminent architect, who completed designs for the erection of villas, and buildings of a similar kind. The feuing plans proved so successful that in a brief term what was long known as the plain grounds of Dennistoun became studded with beautiful residences, owned or inhabited by the well-to-do lieges of our City. This transformation of the district had a great influence on the lands adjacent to Dennistoun. Building speculators were not long in following suit, and tenements of a large and attractive character were speedily built and tenanted by respectable citizens. In that "east neuk" of St. Mungo are now found church upon church, school upon school, and shop upon shop; and for the recreation of its inhabitants the Corporation, have provided the attractively laid-off Alexandra Park, with its swimming-pond and golf-course.

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Not far from Dennistoun new works have sprung and are still springing up. Although "Ichabod" cannot be written upon the industries carried on in this and the other districts comprised in the east-end of Glasgow, yet the changes are so numerous that if persons, who as boys ran about the east-end, were to revisit them nowadays, they would be astonished exceedingly at the transformation - not the least being its convenient railway stations and its accommodating service of cars.

CAMLACHIE. - Breathes there a native of "Bonnie Scotland" who has not heard of Camlachie, with its sturdy old radicals and earnest workers? I think not. In former days famed for its weaving, it is now as renowned for its iron and other industries. Indeed, it is studded with large and important public works, whose manufactures are world- renowned. The inhabitants at the present day are more law-abiding than in the days of old, when the Glasgow police dared not cross the Camlachie Burn while a dispute was being settled by the arbitrament of the "neeves." As a division of Glasgow it now returns a member of parliament for itself.

CALTON, formerly called Blackfaulds, not so many years ago was ruled by its own magistrates. It was made a barony of burgh by Crown charter on 30th August, 1817: its town council consisted of a provost, three bailies, a treasurer, and eleven councillors. At that time the village, with its toiling handloom weavers, formed an important industrial suburb of Glasgow. But, alas for Calton! Its giant neighbour absorbed it in 1846, and its town council meets no more to decide questions of importance to the Caltonians. Its representatives now share in the deliberations of the town council of "Greater Glasgow." With its mills, factories, and foundries it is a busy hive of industry, in which is invested large capital, backed by genuine commercial enterprise.

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In the earlier years of this century the district had only two churches. One was a chapel-of-ease in Tobago street, of which the Rev. Mr. Graham was minister. He was regarded as a faithful and devoted pastor, and greatly esteemed. His brother was Captain Graham, of the Glasgow police force - a chief constable very much respected by the community. Its other church was the Relief Church in Kirk Street, which had pew accommodation for at least 1,400 People. When the Rev. Alexander Harvey, an able and popular minister, was its pastor there was not an unlet sitting. At this day, under its present minister, I believe this is still the case.

The BRIDGETON, BARROWFIELD, and MILE END districts, with their extensive weaving and spinning mills, and other textile manufactures - their large iron industries - and until recently the Singer Company's Sewing Machine Works, form a very important factor in the industries of the City. Previous to the opening of Rutherglen Bridge in 1776, the ford at the suburb of Barrowfield was the only access for traffic between Glasgow and the ancient burgh of Rutherglen. After this the district was known as Bridgeton, and, until absorbed by the City, had magistrates and a town council of its own, like its neighbour Calton. Under the new regime, and with confidence in the steady progress of trade, for home and foreign markets, the plodding Bridgetonians pulled down old buildings and erected new and handsome ones in their stead. Specially is this, to be observed in and around Bridgeton Cross.

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Not long ago I saw it stated that, even about thirty years ago, beyond the London Road "were only the green fields;" and that "on a Saturday night one might walk right out from Barrowfield Toll without meeting one solitary pedestrian after nine o'clock." For commercial requirements encroachment on "the green fields" has not yet ceased. Long may it continue so! Within my own memory the district, owing to building ground for manufacturing purposes being got at reasonable rates, has extended and developed in a remarkable degree. Besides being convenient to their work, the locality is a healthy one, and consequently has a large working- class population. Fringing the district is Glasgow Green, "the people's park," with its broad expanse towards the Clyde, open to all for healthful and recreative purposes, and still one of the famed "lungs" of the city. Bridgetonians have jealously guarded and successfully resisted every semblance of encroachment on their favourite Green. I can remember young men and maidens resorting to "The Green" on the first of May to bathe their faces in May dew, and, before returning home, getting a drink of milk at a well-known house which stood at the south-west corner of Rutherglen Bridge.