Thursday 13 November 2014

Walking Through Partick, Past and Present

Walking Through Past and Present Partick


Last year I took myself on a tour of Maryhill in Glasgow, guided by old photographs. As I moved home away from Maryhill when I was 12 years old I thought it was time to come up to date and do the same thing around Patrick where I stay now. As before my plan was to search out some old photographs and see what changes have occurred since they were taken. What was immediately obvious was that the past century has been less cruel to Partick than it has been to Maryhill, with many old buildings and street layouts surviving. The gap sites that are scattered throughout Maryhill don't seem to exist in Partick, at least not for very long before a block of studio flats or student accommodation is thrown up. 

Meadowside Granary, Glasgow, with Partick laid out behind it

Whilst there are more and more flats being built in Partick now, all traces of industry are vanishing. A major employment in Partick for centuries were its mills, initially using the power of the lower River Kelvin. Grain mills were such an integral part of Partick life that millstones feature in the Partick coat of arms. There were so many mills down here, supplying flour to Glasgow, that Europe's largest brick-built complex of buildings, Meadowside granary, was constructed to supply the grain. Meadowside granary has now been demolished, replaced by the Glasgow Harbour flats. 

Old Mill of Partick, on Old Dumbarton Road
Also, within the last few months, the last mill in Partick, the huge Rank Hovis one on Dunaskin Street which produced flour for their Duke street factory, has been demolished. I think there is now only one mill building standing, and that is one of the oldest, the Old Mill of Partick, sometimes called Bishop's Mill, now converted into flats. This handsome building (on what is now the Yorkhill side of the River Kelvin) is recognisable for its wheat-sheaf sculpture atop the chimney stack. In the old photo you can see the channel or lade taking the water away from the mill's water wheel.

The shipyards and riverside industries on the Clyde are also long gone, even the scrap yard on Beith Street has closed. Prior to it being a scrap yard, this was the site of a train station and Partick Foundry, producing metal castings until it closed in the 1960s. Where Benalder Street crosses the River Kelvin here there used to stand an entrance down to Partick Central Station. This last remaining building of the old train station mysteriously vanished one night in 2007, before the owner of the land at that time, Tesco, had yet got planning permission to develop the site, but were clearing the ground. Tesco have now abandoned there plans to open a store here and a huge block of flats is emerging from the ground on this site.

The last active mill in Partick, the Rank Hovis mill on Dunaskin Street,
ground down to dust within the past few weeks

Even the Western Infirmary and Yorkhill Hospitals are in the process of shutting up shop and moving to new premises. In 1878 Glasgow University sold the land to the hospital authority where the Western Infirmary was built, but a clause in that deal stated that if the hospital ever moved out, the university would be able to reacquire the 14 acre site. This they have now done, to expand the University campus. Yorkhill Hospital's site I'm guessing didn't have such a clause, so I suspect a tsunami of new flats can be expected to rise over the hill there soon (although the Health Board are apparently thinking of keeping the site going as Western Infirmary out-patient clinics and day surgery wards). The danger is that Partick is becoming a big middle class/student housing scheme, with all signs of its long past and industrial history being erased. A walk down Dumbarton Road on a Friday night shows that there is still plenty of life in Partick yet, but gentrification is creeping down the road.

St Simon's Church, Partick
The oldest Catholic church in Partick is also the third oldest Catholic church in Glasgow. It lies just north of the Old Mill, across the River Kelvin on Patrick Bridge Street. It was opened in 1858 as St Peter's. The first priest was Irishman Daniel Gallagher, who apparently taught Latin to the the young David Livingstone, allowing him to get away from the mills of Blantyre and gain entry to medical school. The church closed when the new, larger St Peter's opened on Hyndland Street in 1903 but 20 years later it re-opened as a church due to the rising population in the area and became St Simon's (the original name of the apostle Peter). I had always known it as "the Polish church" and this was due to soldiers of the Polish Armed Forces based in Yorkhill barracks during the Second World War using it for worship. After the war it continued to have mass in Polish for those who ended up staying here, and with the more recent influx of Poles to the city it has had a new lease of life in this role. I guess it shows that it you stick at something long enough the world will catch up with you.

Plaques at St Simon's church marking its Polish connections
Just around the corner on Dumbarton Road is found the entrance to Kelvin Hall subway station, called Partick Cross station until 1977. Merkland Street subway station became Partick station at this time too. Regarding the overground train stations, I've already mentioned Partick Central station (which became Kelvin Hall station in 1959) just south of Partick Cross. There was also Partick West near Meadowside granary and Partickhill station.

Old Glasgow subway map with Merkland St and Partick Cross staions

At the time of the redevelopment of the subway system in the late 1970s, Partickhill station was closed down and moved about 100 yards south to become Partick station and share a site with the subway on Merkland Street. Partickhill station was on the north side of Dumbarton Road and above the old Woolworths here. A metal door still covers over the stairway that led up to it from Dumbarton Road, and it you are waiting for a train from Partick, look northwards 100 yards and you can see the remains of Partickhill station's platforms.

Entrance to the station formerly known as Partick Cross,
now Kelvin Hall station
When I was young the F&F Bingo used to stand diagonally across the road from this subway station. Before then it had been the F&F Ballroom, which also accommodated roller skating. In the 1980s I wasn't down here for the bingo, but started many a Saturday trawl around the local record shops at West End Records a couple of doors down from the F&F. Then it was a walk up to Realistic Records on Dowanhill Street (or later Music Mania at the bottom of Byres Road), Echo and Woolworths on Byres Road (also later the upstairs record shop in John Smith's bookshop that became Monorail) and Lost In Music upstairs in De Courceys Arcade. By then you were halfway to Firhill and a few pounds poorer. I can still list off albums I remember buying in each shop, but I'll save you from that.

The F&F on Dumbarton Road, now Carlton Bingo
Recently all the other low shops either side of the old F&F building have been cleared, and replaced by a block of modern flats, but throughout the building work you could see them building around the bingo hall and it is still going strong, just less obvious. Is that grey cladding meant to echo the old shape of the building which the flats have swallowed up?

Dumbarton Road, looking west from Dowanhill Street
In the old photo above you can see the low shops on the left which have now been cleared, and on the right hand side, one block on, is a block of three storey tenements which are long gone, with Mansfield Park now here. The post box is still in the same position though, which is nice.

Looking north up Hyndland Street from Dumbarton Road
Above, these photographs are looking up Hyndland Street from Dumbarton Road, with the Quarter Gill pub on the left. You can see the three storey tenement building in the old photo, which was cleared to create Mansfield Park, where the Farmer's Market sets up its stalls every fortnight. At the bottom corner of this block you can see the shop is run by William McColl. The tower of Dowanhill Church, now Cottiers bar/restaurant/ theatre, can be seen at the top of the street and St Peter's church halfway up on the right. The offices of the Glasgow Gaelic Centre are on the other side of Mansfield Park. Partick has always had a large community of Gaels. This dates from the days of drovers coming down to Partick from the Western Highlands with their animals, on the route into Glasgow. Later there was an influx of people from the Highlands and Islands coming to find work in the city.

Over 130 years ago, my ancestors arrived in Partick from Alness and Kilmonivaig,
John McPhee, Kate Henderson and their children.
My great-granny McPhee was born in a flat on Dumbarton Road just west of Partick Cross in 1888. Her mother had come to Glasgow from her home in Alness, Rosshire as a domestic servant, working in a flat just off Mansfield Park here. Her husband was living in Partick, at this time working as a hotel servant. He had come from Kilmonivaig, near Fort William.

The Heid o' the Goat, now Keith Street
In the days when my family arrived in Partick there would still have been traces of old Partick cottages hereabouts. The centre of pre-industrial Partick was 'the Goat', an old Scots name for a small burn, which ran down where Keith Street is now. The "heid o' the Goat" was the north end of this burn. These photos are at the top of Keth Street where it meets Dumbarton Road at the bottom of Hyndland Street (it always annoyed me that when a pub opened calling itself "The Goat" it was about half a mile away from the Goat). These cottages weren't demolished until the 1930s, and where Comet used to have a shop now stands a shiny new block of student flats.



Another view of Keith Street. Note the Criterion Ices shop 

Society of Friends Burial Ground, Keith Street, Partick
At the bottom end of Keith Street lies what is surely Glasgow's smallest graveyard. A plaque shows that this is the Society of Friends (Quakers) Burial Ground. Although it is still neat and maintained, no gravestones still mark the plots. John Purdon, who gifted the land, is remembered in nearby Purdon Street (where The Smiddy pub is) and his wife was apparently the first person to be buried here.

Society of Friends Burial Ground, Keith Street, Partick

There is evidence of a bishop's residence in the village of Partick dating back to the 12th century and old pictures record the ruins of "Partick Castle" down by the River Kelvin. For centuries the main importance of Partick was as a ford to cross the River Kelvin when travellers moved between Dumbarton and Glasgow.

Balshagray Farm, Partick. Not much farming goes on now in Partick
and Balshagray Avenue is a dual carriageway into the Clyde Tunnel.
You can see the tenements of Partick in the background of this picture, marching towards the farm

With industrial expansion in the 19th century a village of 1,235 people in 1820 had grown to over 10,000 people by 1860. By 1911 over 66,000 people lived in Partick. To cope with the changes Partick became a Police Burgh in 1852. The original Burgh Hall and police station can be seen at the back of Morrison's car park, on Anderson Street. Everyone knew this building as "Partick Marine" as the police force had a marine division, although they were only responsible for the quay and warehouses and didn't take to sea.

Partick Marine. Former Police station and courtroom.You can
see the barred windows of the cells on the left and a rooftop exercise yard here

In 1872 the Burgh Halls moved to larger premises opposite the West of Scotland Cricket pitch, where Partick Burgh Halls still stand. As Glasgow continued to expand, Partick was eventually absorbed into the city and in 1912 Partick was a burgh no more.

Partick Burgh Halls on the left, opposite the West of Scotland Cricket Club pitch

Partick Burgh Halls is a grand old building, designed by Scottish architect William Leiper, who also designed Dowanhill Church/ Cottiers and the Templeton Carpet Factory at Glasgow Green. In the picture above you can see the Burgh Halls peeking out between the modern flats on the far side of the cricket pitch. Cricket has a surprisingly long history in Glasgow. The West of Scotland Cricket Club which still plays here was formed in 1862, before that the Clutha Cricket Club played on the northern part of this land. On the right hand side of the picture above the houses on Peel Street run down towards Dumbarton Road. You can see that the street here is a mixture of old tenements and modern flats. This was because this row was badly damaged by German bombers during the nights of the Clydebank Blitz. On March 13th 1941 a land mine dropped from a plane struck this block, killing 50 people here. Another landed on Lauderdale Gardens and a third on Dudley Drive in Hyndland, killing 36 people.

Before houses stood on Peel Street, a map from 1861 shows that a curling pond and bowling green were to this side of the cricket ground. Between 1883 and 1885 Partick Thistle played at Muir Park to the south east of the cricket ground (see here). And whilst were still on a sporting theme, I'm sure that everyone knows by now that the world's first international football match was played upon the grass of the West of Scotland Cricket Club? Scotland and England played out a 0-0 draw here on St Andrew's Day, 1872. A crowd of 4,000 paid a shilling each to attend.

Looking north up Merkland Street, now the
site of Partick train and subway stations

The other side of Dumabrton Road from Partick Burgh Halls, Merkland Street is now home to a large Morrisons, Partick train station and underground stations and the bus "interchange". However in the old picture above you can see none of that. Even the Merkland Street subway station is hard to make out in the old picture, the entrance was in a close on the left hand side just under the railway bridge (which is no longer there). The flats coming down the right hand side of Merkland Street in the old photo have been cleared after one block. You can see the painting of the netball player, done for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games on the remaining gable end.

Looking east along Dumbarton Road from Peel Street
Continuing westwards along Dumbarton Road the photos above again show that material changes have been minimal. I think that all you can learn from these two pictures is that the air is now clearer to allow you to see the University tower at the end of the street. 

Bridge over Dumbarton Road to Partickhill Station
Going onwards another 100 yards and looking back west towards town you can see that the rail bridge shows the way to Partickhill train station, which was up the stairs on the left hand side of the road, above the old Woolworths shop. Elsewhere in the picture trams have been replaced by traffic jams and fish shops by Credit Unions. 

DM Hoey and the Rosevale Bar on Dumbarton Road
On the block across the road from the train station as we continue to move west there used to stand DM Hoey's at one end and the Rosevale Bar at the other end, only the pub has survived. In the 1960s there were six braches of Hoey's in Glasgow (Dumbarton Road, New City Road, Maryhill Road, Ibrox, West Nile Street and Argyll Street) for all your men's casual clothing needs. In the 1980s I used to get my school tie at the branch in Knightswood shopping centre, and the first time I bought my dad a Christmas present it was a box of three cotton hankies from the Partick branch. The company was founded in 1898. I thought that there was still one going on Victoria Road, but I can't find it on Street View so maybe Hoey's is no more. The nearest thing to it now is Man's World which still inexplicably manages to keep trading on Byres Road. So where a fishmonger has been replaced by a Credit Union across the road, a clothes shop has been replaced by a bookies. Other than shifting the entrance, The Rosevale hasn't changed.

Looking east from junction of Crawford Street onto Dumbarton
Road, this junction no longer exists. 
These photos above are a further 100 yards west from The Rosevale and the tenement block on the right hand side was demolished to re-arrange the junction at the bottom of Crow Road and has been replaced with modern low houses. The Ettrick pub which the couple are walking past as they cross Crawford Street has gone from here, and for a while there was an Ettrick Bar on Dumbarton Road at the bottom of Gardner Street, but it has now been re-branded as Heisenberg's. If you are trying to track down an old Glasgow pub can I point you in the direction of oldglasgowpubs.co.uk.

After coming this far along Dumbarton Road I walked up Crow Road to Broomhill Cross, then up Clarence Drive and down Hyndland Road to head back to Partick via Byres Road.

Looking north up Byres Road from the junction at Dowanside Road

Grosvenor cinema on Byres Road 1980
Looking north up Byres Road again the changes over time are fairly minimal. Hillhead subway station is still up on the right, just past the old Grosvenor Cinema. Atop the tenement on the left, (above what is now Nardini's cafe) is the sign "Victoria Cross". Previously the road  north of here was called Victoria Street and Dowanside Road continued straight over at this point towards the university, before the junction was reconfigured to take it across at Highburgh Road.

The cinema here opened in 1921 and used to be entered from Byres Road. It has now been refurbished and is entered from Ashton Lane. The first time I went to the pictures without my parents was here, and I remember standing outside on Byres Road waiting for them after I'd seen a Disney double bill of Dumbo and A Spaceman In  King Arthur's Court. I've just checked and this means that me and my brother were 7 and 9 years old! The old cinema foyer here is now the Masala Twist Indian restaurant, and the stairs to their toilet used to take you to the cinema balcony.

The next pictures below are again looking north up Byres Road, from the end of Havelock Street this time. Other than the trams and the old cart in the foreground, little has changed.

Looking north up Byres Road from Havelock Street
Since we are the end of Havelock Street now, let's wander down to Dowanhill Primary School, which is now Notre Dame Primary School. After years of poor maintenance by the council they proposed closing Dowanhill Primary and flattening it to build a new school to house pupils from Notre Dame Primary, St Peter's Primary and Anderson Street Nursery. Local parents were savvy enough to contact Historic Scotland and get the old building listed. This forced the council to refurbish it, and build a fancy extension. This has created a school which has since won design awards which the council are happy to crow about on their website (without mention that this wisnae their plan).

Dowanhill Primary School and Dowanhill Church in the background,
now Notre Dame Primary and Cottiers Bar in the background
Pupils from Dowanhill Primary School were moved to the newly built Hillhead Primary School, which the council built on land at the edge of Kelvingrove Park (eg it was free) whilst closing and/or selling Hillhead, Dowanhill, Kelvinhaugh and Willowbank Primary schools and Willowbank and Dowanhill nurseries. Despite local parents campaigning against this ill-conceived plan (I know, because I was one of them who told them their plans did not have sufficient capacity) they went ahead and Hillhead Primary is now bursting at the seams. This was entirely predictable (and predicted). Still, I hope that they made lots of money for the council budget from the process, who cares about the children's education?

Looking west towards Partick Cross
Anyway, crossing Byres Road again and heading down Church Street (which no longer has a church on it) we arrive back at Dumbarton Road and can look west towards Partick Cross again. The stonework is cleaner now, the tramlines have gone, but otherwise it is all instantly recognisable. In the old picture you can see The Kelvin House draper's shop on the right, a Partick institution. It opened in 1919 on Hyndland Road and soon moved to Dumabrton Road, where it stayed until it closed in 2005 leaving the people of Partick nowhere to buy their net curtains, bed jackets, knitted tea cosies and nighties. I might be thinking of somewhere else, but did it used to have a kind of Hornby train set in a glass case that did a few loops when you put in 10 pence? Maybe I'm imagining it.

Anyway these are my recollections and conjectures of Partick, the area of the city that gave its name to Glasgow's greatest football team. Please let me know if you think there is more that should be added.

Edit :- My mum has reminded me that she used had a summer job in the Grosvernor Cinema
"@grannygrandad I worked in the Grosvenor Cinema summer 1969. I watched the moon landing over and over on Pathe News wow!"

113 comments:

  1. A third of the way down the page. Two pics at the bottom of Dowanhill St looking 'east' along Dumbarton Road ...... these pics are looking west!

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    1. You are quite right, and I've amended it. Cheers.

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  2. Any Picture house ,The Western on Dumbarton Road ,
    thanks ll

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    1. Are there any old photos of Partick Bridge Street. My Mother’s family the Breslin’s. We’re raised there. I emigrated from that street 1953

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    2. I have put some pictures of Partick Bridge Street on the FaceBook group Partick People

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  3. Dear Glasgow Punter, Please would you have a photo of 1171 Dumbarton Rd, Whiteinch, Partick , around 1897. Thank you

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    1. My Scottish ancestors lived at 1171 Dumbarton Rd for quite a while. Robert Wallace born 1806. I am currently looking for more information regarding my Wallace and Inglis family. My email is thefarmergirlnextdoor@gmail.com and my name is Valerie if anyone has more information.
      Glasgow Punter- your work is absolutely amazing-WOW!

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  4. Sorry, I don't have anything beyond what I pulled together for writing this.

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  5. Excellen & thoughtful blog. Well done

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  6. Hi excellent blog i am looking to see if you have any old ohotos of Purden Street in Partick my grandfather grew up there. Having trouble locating any.

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  7. Interesting blog. I was born in 87 Beith St and went to St Peter's Girls then Notre Dame. Left Scotland over 40 years ago so really lovely to see your photos and read the blog. Good work.

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  8. What happened to Clutha CC? And how long was Hamilton Crescent being used for sport before West CC started?

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  9. I have this memory of looking at houses off Dumbarton Road in the 70s. They were very unlike Glasgow houses, being built of a yellowish brick. I think I remember a small square of them. Am I dreaming or does anyone know where I mean? Thanks. I found this look around Partick fascinating.

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  10. Think I remember Birss department store on Dumbarton Road having a coin operated train set.

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  11. Great Blog. I was born in Dowanhill street and spent many a Saturday in the F&F bingo when I was wee with my nana then walked the length of Dumbarton rd for messages. Happy memories

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  12. Looking at the photo of Merkland Street does anyone remember a licensed grocers opposite side from the subway this would be early sixties

    Jean Cameron

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    1. Yes I lived in Russell Street as a child and can remember this shop in the 50s I have been away from Glasgow for 64 years but still have fond memories of it.

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    2. THE NAME OF THE SHOP WAS MCNIVENS

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    3. my Aunt Bessie McGowan Ran that shop. There was always a smell of wine in there as I think they used to fill the bottles from a big wooden cask.
      We lived above Frasers Pub at the corner of Vine St and Russel St where in the summer we would play rounders. Next to the church on Vine St there was a tenement building which had a Boxing club up on the top floor and I can remember Andy Stewart coming to visit and of course there was a big crowd to welcome him.
      I attended Sunday school at that church and they had a club in the back of the lane, I can remember making a little African village from cardboard and used raffia paper for the roofs. The worst part of having the church right across the street was every Christmas Eve they would broadcast the Service over a loud speaker which had been mounted above the door. I couldn't get to sleep so Father Christmas was delayed. so many memories

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    4. Here you go Russell Street http://www.mitchelllibrary.org/virtualmitchell/image.php?i=15817&r=2&t=4&x=1

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  13. Anyone remember the licensed grocers in Merkland Street think it was opposite side of subway early sixties could not quite see in photo looks like a bar on the corner

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    1. It was called McNivens. Corner of Merkland st and Russel St. Russel St ran through to Vine St which used to be called Orchard St.

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    2. My Aunt Bessie McGowan ran that shop, there was always a smell in there and I later found out there were barrels of wine and booze which would be tapped to fill bottles.
      She lived in Crawford St where many of my family lived and I believe she also worked in an off sales there too

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    3. Hi l do Remember Merkland Street Whole Family were born there l also Remember Zthe off sales too young though to take notice of names was my happy place loved Merklamd street my name is jean Cameron Dougan

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  14. Very evocative blog Punter, well done, but I'm left wondering if you never went to the movies, especially since back in the 50s you could have seen a different movie in a different cinema in the Partick area every night of the week (though not on Sundays naturally). Just off the top of Byres Rd. was the Grosvenor - the only one still existing; The Salon in Vinicomb St (sold the best orange ice lollies in the universe); The Standard, opposite the bottom of Church St.(used to show Superman series for the kids on Saturday mornings; The Western aka the Ranch or the Fleapit next to the F&F ballroom, specialised in cowboys and gangster movies;the Partick cinema in Vine St (went on fire one night after an Al Jolson movie and never re-opened. A notice left on the door warned - "Beware, 20,000 volts !"; The Rosevale (The Rosie) along from the bar of the same name; and finally just up Crow Rd. on the left was The Tivoli. Not bad for a mile walk.

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  15. My great great grandfather owned Cross Park & Lang's restaurants.
    The mansion house in Cross Park was torn down sometime after WWI.
    Land is now a public park.

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    1. I've been researching the Crosspark mansion. It was used for refugees after WW1 and then yes torn down like a lot of other places... have you ever managed to see a photo of it? I have been trying to find photos of all the major houses in the area that were lost so that I can model them in 3d and bring them back to life... Would love to hear from you.

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  16. My grandmother used to take me shopping in Partick every Saturday,the shops were good and useful,what they have been replaced by are Bookies and cheap that shops. What a shame

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  17. I was born in 9 Walker Street in 1944, and went to Church Str. school I can remember gypsies living in a little cut out in Keith Street and Grants furniture shop in front of Walker Street in Dumbarton Road, I would love to see a photograph of where I was born

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    1. My Dad's family would have still lived in No12 Walker St then (from what I can establish, there were Cairney's living in Walker St since the 19th Century!!). They moved to "The Drum" in the late 50s I think. I would love to see photos too.

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    2. I was born 1947 and went to Church street school but emigration in 1953 to California. Went back for many visits.my Mothers family lived at 23 Partick Bridge street

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  18. I loved looking at all the old pictures of Partick. I went to Church street Primary school-then Hammy. We moved to Livingston in the 70's- but always came back to Partick over the years. I loved the pubs-The Criterion bar-Victoria bar was my fav. Im 58yrs now.

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    1. i also went to Church Street an Hammy!! you had to to be 9 years old to use the swimming pool. i was evacuated to Aberfoyle with classmates in early 1940 at 8 years old and when we came home years later the pool was being used to rehabilitate wounded soldiers so I learnt to swim crocodile marched from Hammy to nearest pool.

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  19. I remb the Call Inn pub. I was in it the night it opened. I was 17 yrs old. It a pub a lot of people forget about when talking about Partick pubs.

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    1. Great pub, although we used to jokingly call it the appauling!

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  20. Terrific memories,went to downhill primary from 68,love partick

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  21. Went to Call In pub many a time. Great memories of it and Partick when I lived there over 40 years ago.

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  22. Great read thank you.
    I have ancestors from Partick and am looking to visit the area in a few weeks. I have information that they used to live on Wood Street, Partick but can not find that street anymore. Would you have any information on this street if it still exists or has been re-named or built over?
    Thank you in advance.

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    1. The street still exists, but has been re-named. Wood Street was the eastern end of White Street. If you look at the old maps Wood Street was the part of what is now White Street, between Hyndland Street and Byres Road. In 1913 maps it is still Wood Street, by 1935 the whole street is called White Street on maps. http://maps.nls.uk/view/82891710

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    2. Thank you so much for this information. My Dad is going to be so excited.

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    3. Thank you again for that information. Just wondering if you have heard of The Manse, Partick Hill? It was where my ancestors got married?

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    4. Partickhill is a small area, of only a few streets. The only church there is the former Dowanhill United Presbyterian Church (now Cottiers pub/theatre). There is no manse alongside the church, the house where the minister lived, so presumably if it is still standing it was one of the villas further west along Partickhill Road. I guess whoever lives there knows which one is the old manse, but you would need to go into the Mitchell Library to look up the old directories I think to find it.
      http://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSD00516

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    5. I was brought up in a house at the corner of Partickhill Road and Turnberry Road. My mother regularly pointed out a large red sandstone Victorian house a little on the right as one walked up the hill. Her uncle used to live there. He was a minister in the CofS and quite a big wheel: he was Moderator and also on the governing body of the University of Glasgow. My mother said she was christened in the house around 1924. So my guess is that since the house was a manse and since the minister conducted ceremonies in it, this could be where your ancestors were married.

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    6. The "Manse" was 71 Partickhill Road and it's marked on the maps.https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/swipe/#zoom=19.0&lat=55.8753&lon=-4.3097&layers=170&right=osm

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  23. I am doing my family research and discovered that my Nana Annie Swan sadly drowned in the river Kelvin, and workers from the paper mills ( I think ) found her, would anyone have any memories of that what must have been a terrible thing to discover

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  24. I worked at James Ritchie Ltd, in the 60,s they were at the corner of Byron St, and Sawmill road, also a pub called the friendly tavern all gone a round about there now. Any photos any one work there thanks

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  25. Worked in James Ritchie Ltd. Sawmill road Byron street,it went bust 1966, love to hear from anyone who worked there. Jim smith

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  26. Interesting. I'm tracing my grandfather Andrew Watson who lived at 2172 Dumbarton st in 1934.

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  27. Excellent, detailed work and an enjoyable read - thanks. As a local lad what chance a walk about Whytinche?

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  28. Brilliant article. I lived facing the Downhill church, now Cottiers. My great granny lived in the Goat. Then in the tenement at the bottom of Kieth street facing the Quakers graveyard.
    I wAs in Celino's today for lunch and remember it as a furniture shop in the sixties. I used to go down and pay my mumdm HP at the payment desk on the first floor. But I cannot remember the name. Perhaps you could help me, as it is annoying me. I was showing my son some of the landmarks. My great uncle had s workshop in Benalder st just before the bridge and it was known as the coal ree? He fixed all the glasgow taxis that had been damaged. Coal trains ran from it from the docks.
    From the Goat, there used to be sand running down to the river Kelvin. Keith at was known as Kelvin Street and myself still call it that because of my great granny. My grandparents, my parents, my sister and I all were married in At Simons. Made our first communion there too and all our children were christened there. Oh the memories.

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    1. The furniture shop was Lawrence of Partick

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    2. I've been struggling to remember this for years! Thank you. I remember going in there for my first three piece suite for our wee flat in Fairlie Park Drive.

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    3. The furniture shop that was built where Celinos now sits was Grants Furniture Shop Lawerence of Partick was on the opposite side

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  29. I lived in Thurso Street 1954 can’t find any old photographs Also attended Church Street Primary before we moved to “The Drum” At the top of Thurso St there was a pub on one corner & a sweetie shop on the other - I went to the Robins at the church hall in Church Street - it’s great looking at all the auld pictures, can you help ?

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    1. Pub was roost now a nightclub sweetie shop was mc kewans

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  30. My uncle Jack O'Brian was a cobbler working on byres road .husband of Anne mckeeve brother in law to Suzie ,Rena ,jack ,Michael ,may ,Patrick ,Joe mckeeve .anyone remember .stayed in chancellor street

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    1. I lived right across the street from the cobblers. Used to visit there frequently. I left Scotland in 1968 to come to Canada. These pictures are all amazing.

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  31. Do you have any photos of the swing park that was in Dunaskin St ? I lived in Partick Bridge St round the corner from it (1957-1970)

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    1. I don't have any photos but when I was young (1960s) we called that swing park "The American Swings". The play equipment was different from our usual swing park in Beith Street.

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    2. Yes I played in the swing park. We emigrated to California July 1953 but visited Glasgow many times over the years .my mothers family The Breslins lived at 23 Patrick Bridge Street. Last visited 1998. Big changes from when I grew up on that street- high rise flats now. My grandma had a fish n chip shop there back in the day. I have photos I took of the swing park in my photo album Will need to look them out

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  32. There is a photo looking up thornwood avenue on " Picture This " from 1955.
    What on earth is the modern looking building to the north east. Any ideas ?

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  33. Just recently found this sight. I lived at 12 Hyndland St. Moved to Yoker then back to Patrick, 44 White St. This was definitely a trip down memory lane. I have lived in Canada since 1968.

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  34. Thanks for posting this, will take the wee fella out and show him how the area has changed.

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  35. My mother's family were called Welsh, they lived on Castlebank street where that copula/ tower shaped roof was.

    A cousin by the name of Liz Rush married Jim Irwin who lived on Coopers well St and later moved to the US. Would anyone have a recollection of those names or photographs of that area?

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  36. Thoroughly enjoyed this walk down memory lane, thanks. The photographs are real treasures. I discovered your blog whilst trying to find out the name of the furniture shop that had, I think, three units on Dumbarton Road in the 70/80s, and, thankfully, one of your posters has confirmed it as Lawrence of Partick.

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  37. Trying to find an image of the dockers leaving the anchorline at the bottom of Merkland street, hopefully you can help

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  38. Excellent article. I lived in Russell St. and went to Rosevale St. primary school. My dad worked in Gardiner's the butchers on Dumbarton Rd. Been trying to find some pictures of Russell St but so far no luck. Thanks for trip down memory lane.

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    1. I lived in the same area and found a picture of what I think is Russell Street on the Mitchell Library site. Virtual Mitchell - search for Partick then results on page 27, item 215. I hope this is right.

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  39. The train set you mention could have been the one in Joe's toyshop window on Maryhill Road fairly near the Tramcar Vaults, junction of Hopehill Road and Maryhill Road. Think it took a penny pre-decimalisation.

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  40. I spent my childhood years in Partick during the War. I lived in Carradale Street, near Hayburn Street. During the War a bomb fell on the swing park adjacent to our tenement so must have missed it by a whisker! It was during the night so it was empty and no one was killed. My elderly Irish grandmother was shocked and terrified poor soul.
    We used to get the ferry across the Clyde to Govan to go to the Catholic church for Confession (I can't remember the name of the church!) But I do remember that we went to St Peters church in Hyndland road on a Sunday and then met up with auntie and cousins for ice creams at the local cafe.
    It was so good to come across this detailed account of the Partick area. I have often looked but could never find very much about Partick.

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    1. Was the cafe you mention the Criterion Cafe just a couple of doors down from the F & F Bingo Hall in Dumbarton Road, next to The Grain Store. Owned by the Riggetti family. Their ice cream was fantastic. Their sign always stated Milk ices rather than ice crream.

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  41. (I have already sent this info but it does not seem to have made it on to this site).
    I lived in Beith Street until 1970. At the back of the back court there was a large building known by us as "Tam Coopers" which I believe was really a cooperage. The entrance to this was in Sandy Lane which was accessed via Sandy Road. In the same lane there was a bakery where we bought morning rolls fresh from the oven (Langs baker). There was also a blacksmiths where people brought horses to be shod. In the lane behind the shops on Merkland Street there was a working creamery where ladies in white coats skimmed milk in wide flat trays and churned butter. as a teenager I thought this was a glimpse into a bygone age.

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    1. Great memories from childhood

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  42. My Granny MacKenzie lived at 2 Carradale St and I used to play in the swing park and she could watch me from ‘the room’ window. She did not have hot water or electricity but her house was always scrubbed clean. She was still there when we left in 1950 and went to Canada. We lived at 23 Apsley St. I went to Thornwood Public school and had just started Hyndland senior secondary school.

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    1. My family name is Welsh and our large family lived in 22, 26 and 47 rosevale street with cousins, aunts and uncles in closes in the surrounding streets, I also went to the same 2 schools you were in, a great place to be brought up in and I'm very proud to say I come from the centre of the universe

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  43. My husband's ancestor is noted as a lodging house keeper in Carmichaels Land, Dumbarton Road Partick on 1851 census. Any idea where in Partick this could be

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  44. My husband's ancestor is noted as a lodging house keeper in carmichael's land, dumbarton road partick in the 1851 census. Any idea where this was

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    1. Not a term I have heard and I don't see anything on the 1857 maps matching it.

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    2. Anonymous….in the 1851 census my G/G/Grandmother lived at 39 Dumbarton Rd (Carmichaels Land). I believe this was in the vicinity of the top of Thurso St (old Queen St) & Dumbarton Rd.

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  45. I'm trying to remember an electrical contract company from Patrick, did lots of work for Simon and lobnitz

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  46. Does anyone remember an electrical contractor from 1960s Patrick , did work for Simon and shipyard

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  47. Does anyone have a photo of the swing park in Dunaskin St, round the corner from Partick Bridge St. where I lived in the 1960s

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  48. Born 18 Byres Road on 1,1,38 Lived there until I went to sea onFebruary 1959 .I went to Dowanhill then onto Hammy/Victoria Drive and followed a technical/marine seagoing career.Completed an Indentured Apprenticeship with Harland and Wolff Finneston Now aged 83
    I stumbled on this site and having read this had a big lump in my throat by the time I was finished it .Keep up the good work !!

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  49. Can you help - in this area was there a fish factory in the Maryhill or balmore area , called SL NEILLS or AA GREEN

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  50. Anyone got pictures of the swingpark in Dunaskin St round the corner from Partick Bridge St where I lived 1957-1970

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  51. Great blog(?) I'M Jack and I was born in Thurso St when families congregated in streets probably with the same rent man.Then moved to England at an early age,but your words and pics. Evoked memories,very well done and appreciated.

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    1. Hi Jack I'm Frank Logan born at 5 Thurso st (formerly Queen st) in 1936 until 1950 when we moved to Pollok. The only Jack I knew at that time was Jack Dennison who lived at number 3. What a great guy he was always laughing and so witty for a boy of his age (same age as me I think). I have fantastic memories of Thurso st. Mr Kilpatrick of no. 9 playing the bagpipes at the end of the war bonfire in the street. I can't understand why there are no photos of the Street as it was so vibrant and full of commercial activity due to the lines of horse and carts and lorries waiting in line right down the street to load up with flour from Spillers Mills just across from the bottom of Church st. We were handy for everything. The Western infirmary just across the Dumbarton road. The Kelvin hall, the Art Galleries and Kelvin grove Park just round the corner not to mention Coias Cafe and the Standard Picture house, the Roost pub and McEwans newsagent. I loved my time and many memories of there.

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    2. Hi, my mother Theresa grew up in 7 Thurso Street. The Hamill Family. She often talked so fondly of Jack Dennison, I met him as a teenager in the 80s and when we had (and he) had moved to Blairdardie/Drumchapel. Any other information would be amazing. I can’t find any images either of Thurso Street which is a real shame.

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  52. Hi - great blog - I heard you can see the Partick coat of arms on a bridge but I can't find it - any ideas if it exists or if any other places in Partick with coat of arms showing? cheers

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    1. Not heard about that, but you've made me want to look.

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    2. I may try and find it this weekend - might be on old snow bridge perhaps

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    3. Your coat of arms is on the southern side of the bridge that carries Dumbarton Road, just beside Partick Pumping Station. I passed it today. Nice.

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  53. What is and where is the snow bridge?

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  54. hi just to say I found it on Partick Bridge - stupid me slip down the bank through rubbish to see the Partick coat of arms on the bridge on the Unviersity side, then realised second one much more visible on the Kelvin Hall/South side as well. It is the only place I've see the Partick coat of arms in a public place but would love to know if you ever see it elsewhere. cheers

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  55. thanks - I found it at weekend but more of a challenge is the same on the north side - hidden behind bushes and you have to get over fence...why would I do this (you perhaps ask...,) - because I had not realised the much more visible one was on the south side....thanks!

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  56. Lived in 11 Walker Street Parick 1952 - 1956 does Anyone have photos or information of this area. Cheers. Jeremy

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    1. I was born in 13 Walker St. 1949. We left the area about 1953 and moved back to Derry. Our families probably knew each other!
      Patrick

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  57. I was born in 13 Walker St. 1949. We left the area about 1953 and moved back to Derry. Would love to have a photo or any info relating to this area.
    Cheers,
    Patrick

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    1. You lived across from the Public Baths and Wash House. Did you used heat your hands on the wall outside? There is a picture of the inside here https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3198088723789444 and the collection here https://canmore.org.uk/collection/698962 shows the gas works and Salvation Army hall that was across from the Keith Street Quaker burial ground. Nothing of Walker Street though that I've seen yet...

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  58. Was there a Mioton street in Partick knnthe 1930's
    I've found an old bible obviously a present to what looks like that address
    I can't post a photo of the address on this blog

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  59. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your great memories of partick having been an apprentice plumber at Robert ferrie's plumber's 193 crow rd a later Alexander Anderson plumber's Dumbarton rd Whiteinch

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  60. Jim smith. I served my apprenticeship James Ritchie Ltd,sawmill road and Byron st. 1960,s loved to hear from anyone who worked there or know anyone who worked there

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  61. Anyone remember the name of the hairdressers in late 80’s early 90’s in haybutn street?
    Mark

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  62. My family stayed at 13 walker st early 50s I then moved to 670 Dumbarton road early 60s my grandmother was a music teacher

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  63. The second picture of Keith Street (the one with the Criterion Ices sign) isn't actually Keith Street. It is the top of Orchard Street (now Vine Street) before the Bank building was built at 369-381 Dumbarton Road and round into Vine Street. Keith Street never had cottages like that at the top because that is where the entry to Rubber Works was and 229 Dumbarton Road never had any buildings behind it - check the maps...

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  64. We have recently taken over a commercial property in Anderson street and have found some really old pictures of people. Don't know how far back they date but are really old but would love to be able to trace them back. Can anyone help? We would also really like to encorporate some lovely old black/white pictures of the area from way way back. Can anyone help :)
    Marieboyle1980@msn.com

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    1. Maybe try the Facebook Group "Partick People" and it also has many many pictures on it of the area, many that are black & white... I am on there and can also point you to a few pictures of Anderson Street.

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  65. Which close did you live in? I stayed in 68 doon the brae across from St.Simons

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  66. I lived on Dowanhill Street 1954-64. One of my abiding memories is of the buskers who regularly appeared at the back of the tenements to entertain the punters for a few pennies - if they were good. Very few were. They regularly murdered "The Old Rugged Cross". A particular favourite of mine was Woodbine Annie. She always had 3 coats on and carried umpteen plastic bags. Her preferred instrument was the moothie. She would suck and blow a bit, then leap up and down shouting something like "Honey Perrs". I think it was her version of the blues. Anyway, she generally got a torrent of abuse for her trouble. Which she handled well. I learned some great phrases from her. Happy days indeed.

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  67. My mum and I were having a look at those lovely photos of the west end with interest as her family originally owned the STRAND Caffè back in the day next to the subway station now known as KELVIN HALL subway any of you folk have any memories of that particular Caffè?

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  68. I was born in Partick brought up in 47 Merkland St, now gone along with the railway bridge. Your blog has brought back so many warm and good memories. I went to Rosevale School and later Hillhead. We left when my dear sister drowned in the Clyde in 1962 and settled in South Africa My own offspring and their offspring are in Warsaw and Florida, and they know their roots and all about Partick. Thank you for your efforts here, great result, greatly treasured.

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