Place:Pollokshields, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland

Watchers
NamePollokshields
TypeLocality
Coordinates55.8406°N 4.3262°W
Located inGlasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland     (1891 - 1975)
Also located inGovan, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland     ( - 1891)
See alsoCity of Glasgow, Scotlandnew designation, 1975 onward


the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Pollokshields (Scots: Powkshiels) is an area in the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. Its modern boundaries are largely man-made, being formed by the M77 motorway to the west and northwest with the open land of Pollok Country Park and the Dumbreck neighbourhood beyond, by the Inverclyde Line railway and other branches which separate its territory from the largely industrial areas of Kinning Park, Kingston and Port Eglinton, and by the Glasgow South Western Line running from the east to south, bordering Govanhill, Strathbungo, Crossmyloof and Shawlands residential areas. There is also a suburban railway running through the area.

Pollokshields is a conservation area which was developed in Victorian times according to a plan promoted by the original landowners, the Stirling-Maxwells of Pollok, whose association with the area goes as far back as 1270. The core of the area was constructed in two distinct and contrasting styles, with the western part consisting mainly of large villas with gardens along sweeping, undulating tree-lined boulevards, whereas the eastern part (once a separate burgh) is formed by three-storey sandstone tenements typical of many parts of the city from the era, arranged in a tight grid of streets on relatively flat ground.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Pollokshields was established by the Stirling-Maxwell family in 1849, and was set out or 'feued' by the Edinburgh architect David Rhind. Many well-known Glaswegian architects contributed to its development, and it contains villas by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson among others. There are several contributions by contemporaries of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, including a series of good 'Glasgow style' tenements by the architect Harry Clifford, who was also responsible for the 'A' listed Pollokshields Burgh Hall, in Scottish Baronial style which was inaugurated in 1890, with Maxwell Park. The ground for Maxwell Park was given by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell of Nether Pollok in 1888, and the park was formally opened at the same time.


Such was its early population growth, Pollokshields attained 'burgh' status in 1876. However, this ended in 1891 when, after being offered favourable tax terms, the residents of the burgh agreed for it to become a suburb of the growing city of Glasgow. The Victorian and Edwardian architecture and the parks of this area have remained almost untouched, leaving the feeling of a leafy Victorian suburb, while being well within the city.

In March 2004, local white youth Kriss Donald was abducted from Kenmure Street in Pollokshields, then tortured and murdered in a racially motivated attack. Five men of Pakistani descent, also from Pollokshields, were later jailed for the crime, four receiving life sentences.[1][2] The case drew attention to the issue of Asian gang culture and associated crime and violence in the area.

In May 2021, residents came out to protest an attempt from the Home Office to detain two men living on Kenmure Street. Hundreds of people surrounded the van in the street to prevent it from moving, with one man lying under the van for nine hours until it was confirmed that the detainees were to be released. With the help of a lawyer and politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon who discussed it with the UK Home Office, the men were released to the local mosque and allowed back into their homes. The protest led to significant news coverage.

Burgh Hall

Pollokshields Burgh Hall was designed by Harry Clifford during the Scottish Renaissance in the late 19th century and is currently listed as a significant building of Pollokshields. Built in Ballochmyle Red Freestone, it was opened in 1890 by Sir John Stirling Maxwell, whose coat of arms is depicted in the entrance porch in the stone of the Hall and is recorded in marble in the floor. At one end of the building there is a high tower with a balcony. Throughout the building there are detailed stained-glass windows from the town of Pollokshields. The lodge house adjacent comprises two flats; the Sanitary Inspector and the Park Gardener used these facilities as living accommodation, and they are currently privately let by the Burgh Hall trust. In 1891 the Burgh Hall passed into the hands of Glasgow Council when the city extended its boundaries. In 1938 the back of the building was enlarged; this meant that the last gallery in the spacious hall had to be sacrificed in order to permit the building of the extension.

By 1975 it was being used by the Social Work Department of Strathclyde Regional Council as an occupational day centre. In 1982 a decision was taken to sell it on the open market. This proved controversial—the residents of Pollokshields protested due to its connection to the heritage of the town and the historical significance to the area. Further protests ensued, so a charitable trust was formed to ensure that the building would continue to be publicly owned. The Trust acquired the building for £1 in 1986. Only in 1991 was the title transferred, with the condition that the derelict lodge house be restored within five years. Historic Scotland supported the heritage campaign, as well as other organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, Glasgow City Council, and the Glasgow Development Agency. The lodge house and the ground floor of the Hall were completely refurbished and reopened around 1997. The lower ground floor has since attracted further funding and what was once little more than cellar space has been converted to a contemporary conference room, which can be directly accessed from the outside.

Scottish Places also has an article on Pollokshields which provides a different emphasis on the history of the place. It also has a reprint of the article on Govan from Francis H. Groome's Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Survey of Scottish Topography, Statistical, Biographical and Historical, 1882-1885 (originally published in parts by Thomas C. Jack, Grange Publishing Works, Edinburgh) and a map of the local area.

Research Tips

Refer to Glasgow and also to Govan for references for parish records, vital records since 1855, and censuses.

This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Pollokshields. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.