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16 Bridges of Glasgow Blog

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South Portland St Suspension Bridge (A-listed along with Calton Place on the south bank) was completed in 1853 : Before the Sherriff Court was built   (photo also shows, to the right of Victoria Bridge the Glasgow Central Mosque, A-listed, built 1984, it is Scotland's largest mosque: The Smart pedestrian bridge is so called because it carries a range of power, IT and telecomms infrastructure to the nearby business parks.  Close by on Carstairs Street are the former Cotton Spinning Mill, built 1884-9, Cat B listed: And the former Strathclyde Primary School, built 1903, now a Business Centre: Here's an old photo of Dalmarnock Bridge, most of the housing has since been demolished: To get to the final bridge you will go through the Cuningar Loop.    This has been redeveloped as a woodland park since the mid 2010s. It used to house several reservoirs which used to supply Glasgow's water before the Loch Katrine aqueduct was built.  The park includes the "Evolve...

South Hills Blog (complete)

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The history of places you pass on the Hills of the South Challenge. ( Canmore checked )  As you leave Queens Park, you go past the Langside estate on Langside Avenue, part of which is shown in this photo: Built in the 1970s, the estate was once the largest co-ownership development in Europe. The first block in the estate was Tantallon Tower: The estate was built on the site of a row of villas, one of which - Holmwood (82 Langside Avenue) - was home to Charles Rennie Mackintosh's father in the 1890s. Charles himself lived there 1892-5. You then go onto Deanston Drive, here's an aerial view (Tantallon to left, Deanston to right): On the right as you enter Deanston Drive is St Helens Catholic Church. (1897, John Bennie Wilson). On your way from Checkpoint 1 to 2, you will probably choose to go through Cathcart Cemetery : Amongst those buried here are the suffragette Henria Leech Williams and Margaret Jefferson, actress and mother of Stan Laurel, who lived in Glasgow as a boy.  H...

West Hills blog (complete)

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HILLS OF THE WEST As you go out of Queens Park, you may pass Camphill House, built in 1806 as a private house, later a Museum of Costume and now flats: Then just outside the park is Langside Hall. This building was originally a branch of the National Bank of Scotland in Glasgow City Centre. Built 1847 and remodelled by James Salmon in 1856, it was dismantled and rebuilt in its present location in 1901. Currently derelict. A fountain, made in the Saracen Foundry, which once stood outside the Halls is now just outside Glasgow Green: Also overlooking the park is Camphill Gate on Pollokshaws Road. This 5 storey tenement was designed in the Glasgow Style by John Nisbet in 1905. It had major repairs in 2022-3. Then, depending very much on your route choice you may pass Nos 1-10 Moray Place, designed by Alexander Greek Thomson in 1859. It is arguably the finest 19th century terrace in the city. Bellahouston Park was bought  by Glasgow Corporation in 1895, and opened as a public...