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Glasgow Green

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Drever
Drever
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4 out of 5
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Glasgow Green

  • June 5, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by Drever from Ayr
Glasgow Green

Glasgow boasts 70 public parks and open spaces, each with its own distinctive charm. On the north bank of the Clyde in the East End is its oldest, Glasgow Green. Originally common grazing land, it has served also for drying greens, bleaching linen, drying salmon nets, sports area, the site for Glasgow Fair, protest marches, hangings, markets, circuses, and theatres.

Its history begins in 1450 when James II granted the Green to Bishop William Turnbull for use as common grazing ground. In the nineteenth century, women gradually started using the area as a drying green and for washing and bleaching linen.

Between 1817 and 1826 unemployed weavers carried out the work to level and drain the land including running the Molendinar Burn, traditionally believed to be where St. Mungo baptised Christian converts in the sixth century, underground. Despite a bye-law introduced in 1819 outlawing sporting and leisure pursuits, golf, tennis, swimming and of course, football were all popular pastimes.

The most important leisure associated with the Green is the Glasgow Fair, which began in the 12th century. The fair originally included sales of horses, cattle, and hiring servants. In the 19th century it began to attract amusements such as theatres, circuses, and drinking booths.

As at Speaker's Corner in London's Hyde Park, the Green became the place to listen to religious and political speakers debating such causes as electoral reform, trade union rights and women's suffrage. Over the years it has seen off threats to its existence from proposed coal mines, railways, and motorways and remains a vibrant public space at the heart of the city.

Standing behind the People’s Palace is the largest terra-cotta fountain in the world and the best example of its kind. It has five tiers, is 46 feet high and 70 feet across the base – the third of the width of a football pitch. It was gifted by Sir Henry Doulton of the family know for fine tableware and collectables. A sculptural extravaganza, the fountain is designed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee of 1887, and celebrate Britain’s Imperial achievements. The fountain’s figurative groups represent Australia, Canada, India, and South Africa.

Across from the People’s Palace is an amazing building - the Templeton’s Carpet Factory. In the late 19th century, its owners wanted to build a carpet factory but the city council rejecting their design proposals. Finally architect William Leiper proposed modelled it on the Doge's Palace in Venice. It was built in 1892 in polychromatic brick - orange, yellow, blue, with turrets and arched and circular windows. It is now a business centre and well worth seeing.

Other items worth a look are: the imposing McLellan Arch at the entrance to the park, James Martin Fountain, Collins Fountain, the High Court of the Justiciary and Nelson's Monument. Standing 44 metres high this obelisk was the first civic monument in Britain to Nelson’s victories.

James Watt came up with his ideas for improving the steam engine here so visit and who knows?

From journal Exploring Glasgow

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