History Gorbals

gorbals appeared in 2006. of area has been redeveloped, , has modern library , learning centre. tower blocks of social housing remain; city plans redevelop , demolish others.

after protestant reformation, in 1579 church granted land ground rents (feued land) sir george elphinstone, merchant provost of glasgow (1600–1606). barony , regality of gorbals confirmed in 1606 charter of king james vi, vested elphinstone , descendants. these powers descended sir robert douglas of blackerstone, in 1650 disponed (legally transferred) gorbals glasgow s magistrates benefit of city, trades house, , hutchesons hospital. magistrates on collected rents , duties , divided them: 1 fourth city, 1 fourth trades house, , remaining half hutchesons hospital.

in 1790 lands divided lots development; city acquired old feus of gorbals , bridgend, , kingston portion of barony of gorbals. trades house obtained western section; , remaining section lying east , south allocated hutchesons hospital. hutcheson s trust sub-feud portion of lands ambitious builder, james laurie. (his grave, along of many other builders of gorbals, marked well-carved masons implements, indicating master status. gravestones visible @ burial ground, established in 1715 , called gorbals rose garden). laurie built first house in st ninian street in 1794.

the districts known gorbals, laurieston, tradeston, kingston , hutchesontown. little govan estate, including small village of same name, replaced eastern parts of hutchesontown , oatlands. gorbals successful industrial suburb in late 19th century, , attracted many catholic immigrants ireland , italy, jewish immigrants russian empire , eastern europe. @ 1 time of jews in scotland resided in area. industrial decay , over-population overwhelmed area, became centre of poverty in 20th century. gorbals railway station opened on 1 september 1877. changes in area meant decrease in business, , closed passengers permanently on 1 june 1928.

main street, gorbals, 1911



eglinton street, gorbals, 1939

the gorbals has long had reputation gritty , rough area of glasgow. in 1870s, city improvement trust cleared away old gorbals village , redeveloped area form new gorbals cross, @ same time developing new workers tenements around former oatlands square. later, industrial restructuring meant loss of jobs, , abandoned factories , support buildings fell ruin. in 20th century, problems of concentrated poverty , lack of jobs contributed high levels of crime. people managed advance in education , economic status left area newer housing , work elsewhere.

throughout 1930s, gorbals referred dangerous place in uk. street gangs , casual violence rife, particularly famous glasgow razor gangs.

glasgow corporation s replacement of old, outdated , crowded housing new high-rise towers of social housing in 1960s did little improve area. lack of awareness of effects of concentrating families resulted in poor design, , low-quality construction of concrete, 20-storey flats led innumerable social , health problems among residents. many of blocks developed mould , structural problems. designs prevented residents visually controlling internal , external spaces, adding issues of social dysfunction. queen elizabeth square flats, designed sir basil spence, demolished in 1993 make way new generation of housing development.

in 2004, glasgow housing association announced plans demolish more of decaying high-rise blocks, , comprehensively refurbish , re-clad others. 2 of area d blocks, entire area e , laurieston high-rise estates, demolished between 2002 , 2016. 2 surviving area d blocks, , entire area b or riverside estate, designed robert matthew, high-rise flats left in gorbals. new housing has been developed @ lower density, design elements encourage residents , public safety.

the queen elizabeth square flats demolished in 1993.

much of area, particularly hutchesontown, comprehensively redeveloped third time, providing mix of private (market rate) , social housing. earlier phases of recent redevelopment tended toward yellow-brick reinterpretations of traditional tenements, in post-modern style. more recent phases, masterplanned piers gough, have employed noted modern architects such page/park, elder & cannon , czwg, resulting in more bold , radical designs, accompanied innovative street plans , high-quality landscaping. incorporated many pieces of public art. gorbals leisure centre opened in january 2000, , number of shopping facilities in area on rise. in 2005, fire destroyed catholic church of blessed john duns scotus result of fallen candle. church restored , reopened worship in september 2010.

with of hutchesontown area of gorbals improved, urban , social-regeneration program expanded neighbouring laurieston area west.

since 1945, citizens theatre has been based in area @ former royal princess s theatre, historic victorian building. area has local newspaper local news southsiders. area served bridge street , west street subway stations , numerous bus routes. plans unveiled in march 2007 provide subway station, in heart of redeveloped hutchesontown.

a controversial pub in district brazen head, located @ northern end of cathcart road. formerly railway pub known granite city, has been associated irish republicanism. pub near caledonia road church, derelict mid-victorian structure designed alexander greek thomson.