Scottish Tour Guide's Blog

John Knox Monument, Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland

Today, I escorted two guests on a short architecture themed tour of Glasgow.

We commenced with the famous necropolis near Glasgow Cathedral. Here there are some 50,000 burials dating from around the 1830s onwards. Many of the memorials commemorate the ‘great and good’ of Victorian Glasgow which at the time ranked as the second city of the British Empire and was home to wealthy business people.

Above is an image of the John Knox memorial which dates from 1825 and thus pre-dates the Necropolis. Knox was a 16th century Protestant reformer.

Here is an image of one aspect of the Necropolis.

Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland

Here is a typically elaborate mausoleum.

Monteath Mausoleum, Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland

Here is a view of Glasgow’s 13th century Cathedral taken from the Necropolis.

Glasgow Cathedral, Castle Street, Scotland

Next we drove across ther river to the Gorbals to view the interesting architecture (mainly domestic) which has replaced a once very deprived area.

After the Gorbals we drove round to visit Govan, an old shipbuilding area on the Clyde. Here we went to the water’s edge to view the scenery which included the Tall Ship ‘Glenlee’  moored opposite.

Tall Ship, Glenlee, Glasgow

Next we visited Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece, House for an Art Lover.

House for an Art Lover, Glasgow, Scotland

En-route to drop-off at Kelvingrove  we encountered this demolition in process at Govan.

Demolition in progress, Govan, Glasgow

Overall. a good day aided by bright, sunny weather.

Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland

This evening, I am focusing on Glasgow’s famous Necropolis which has become a visitor attraction in its ow right.

Necropolis means City of the Dead. There are two such burial grounds in Glasgow; the one under reference and the southern Necropolis close to the Gorbals area.

The Glasgow Necropolis is located on a high point close to Glasgow Cathedral (also a major visitor attraction).  The burial ground developed  from around the 1830s as a function of limited and unhygienic burial space elsewhere in Glasgow in turn a function of the city’s rapid population growth due to industrialisation.

The Necropolis evolved as a burial ground for the rich, famous and powerful in what at the time was a world class city known as the ‘second city of the (British) Empire’. Here can be found a collection of stunning and impressive burial monuments reflecting the wealth and importance of the persons venerated. There is even an official Heritage Trail guiding visitors around the extensive collection of monuments, vaults and mausoleums. At the pinnacle is 58ft high monument to 16th century Protestant reformer, John Knox which was erected in 1825 and thus pre-dates the Necropolis proper.

Overall, a fascinating place which, due to its elevation, offers good views of Glasgow City and the nearby Cathedral. I will be taking a small group to visit later in the month.  continue reading…

This afternoon, I went down to the Gorbals area of Glasgow to view and photograph the fascinating display of diverse architecture on view.

Gorbals Architecture

Gorbals has a long history with records dating back to 1285 and includes Tradeston, Laurieston and Huchesontown. The name may have Gaelic origin and mean ‘rough village’ or a Brittonic (Welsh) origin meaning ‘wide, spacious place’. Either way. the story of the Gorbals is reasonably well documented spanning 500 years as a village then 100 years of development during the industrial era culminating in a final period of decay and post war redevelopment. In the U.K. the Gorbals became a byword for social deprivation. However, extensive redevelopment during the period 1953-1996 has witnessed a transformation resulting a more confident community residing in a diversified and colourful architectural landscape-as evidenced in the images provided below. This collection includes the now ruined Caledonia Road Free Church design by Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson which dates from 1856. continue reading…