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Glasgow Times
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Glasgow Times
Times Past: How Glasgow's Clyde Tunnel changed the city forever
The Glasgow Herald article from that day captures the sense of public excitement generated by the opening of the road tunnel, with drivers and passengers "marvelling at the steepness of the dip under the Clyde and the climb out on the other side." Two days earlier, on the 3rd of July 1963, hundreds of spectators had crowded behind the crash barriers on Govan Road to catch a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh at the official opening ceremony. West Tunnel under construction looking north, showing lighting, trunking and exhaust duct cladding (1963) (Image: Supplied) The effects of the new tunnel on Glasgow's traffic were felt immediately. On King George V Bridge, at the time the most westerly of Glasgow's bridges and the site of regular snarl-ups, traffic flowed freely. The long queues of cars that could usually be seen waiting for the Govan ferry at rush hour had disappeared – "they must all be using the tunnel today," commented ferryman Kenneth McKenzie in the Evening Times the day after the opening of the tunnel. West Tunnel, general view looking north (1963) (Image: Supplied) The opening of the Clyde Tunnel had been a long time in the making. Glasgow Corporation had been eager to improve Glasgow's cross-river transport infrastructure since the end of WW2. The importance of the stretch of the Clyde westwards from Govan and Finnieston to Glasgow's shipbuilding industry rendered a bridge across that section of the river undesirable. The boom of the motor car and the resultant congestion in the city, however, required a solution. A pamphlet created to mark the opening of the tunnel, held at Glasgow City Archives, outlines the difficulty faced by those attempting to cross the river by car prior to the construction of the tunnel: "motor traffic has had to rely on vehicular ferries to carry vehicles between the opposite banks or make a detour into the heart of Glasgow and cross the river by one of the four city bridges." In 1948, Glasgow Corporation acquired the powers to construct a road tunnel under the Clyde, between Whiteinch and Linthouse. Financial troubles meant nearly ten years would pass before Lord Provost Andrew Hood would sink a silver-plated spade into the soil at Linthouse to mark the beginning of the construction of the tunnel. Building the Clyde Tunnel was gruelling work for the tunnellers underground. Nicknamed the 'Tunnel Tigers', the cohort included many emigrant workers from County Donegal. The 'Tigers' spent eight hours a day digging tonnes upon tonnes of stone and silt from beneath the river. Beyond being physically exhausting, the work could also be dangerous. There were numerous cases of workers suffering from 'the bends' during and after their work on the Clyde Tunnel, and two workers, Leslie Bone and Thomas Roache, died from decompression sickness. When the first tunnel was completed in 1963, it was hailed as a feat of civil engineering. At time of opening, the Clyde Tunnel's 6% gradient made it the steepest road tunnel in the world – a fact which won't be surprising to anyone who has puffed their way out of the tunnel's cycle lane on their bike. The initial estimate was that 9000 cars a day would use the Clyde Tunnel, but within a year of opening that figure had shot up to 22000. While the Clyde Tunnel proved popular with motorists, some certainly felt its disadvantages. The neighbourhoods of Whiteinch and Linthouse were considerably altered by the construction of the tunnel, with the demolition of 250 tenements, a church, several bowling greens and a number of allotments. The residents of these areas found the peace of their neighbourhoods disturbed by the traffic of the large new roads. The Herald reports how "people accustomed to quiet nights found the late-night and early-morning traffic interrupted their sleep," while children who used to play freely in the street found themselves hemmed in by crash barriers. The Clyde Tunnel is a landmark not only of Glasgow's road network, but of the country as a whole. In the 62 years since its construction, it remains Scotland's only road tunnel, and now carries around 25 million motorists, cyclists and pedestrians a year.
Glasgow Times
28-06-2025
- General
- Glasgow Times
Dramatic pictures reveal how much Glasgow area has changed
One of my favourites is an image of the old railway bridge at 1551 Great Western Road in Anniesland (pictured). It was taken in August 1936 and shows workmen labouring in an open trench parallel to the main road. Part of its appeal is that, although elements of it have changed, the bridge itself - the brick of the retaining wall, so much of the view - is still recognisable in the same place today. The railway bridge partially obscures the tenements of Herschell Street which rise behind it. It also frames part of Great Western Road and showcases a developing Anniesland. This area was once a farm that was part of the Jordanhill estate and was based in both the counties of Lanark and Renfrew before it joined Glasgow. Its rural location, far removed from the city, gave rise to its local industries in the nineteenth century. These included farming, small-scale mining, brickmaking and quarrying. Great Western Road had reached Anniesland Toll (now Cross) by 1850 and the arrival of the North British Railway in 1886 and its new station in the area encouraged residential building on a larger scale. Buildings like Anniesland Mansions, on the outskirts of Anniesland Cross, particularly attracted the middle classes to move there. The Mansions were built between 1907 and 1913 and incorporated both Edwardian-era tenements and Anniesland Hall. The entire imposing sweep of tenements on this corner site would have been one of the Cross's most recognisable landmarks before its redevelopment in the twentieth century. Pulling back from the Cross and heading back towards the city centre, we travel forward in time to the late 1930s as we approach the impressive Art Deco façade of the former Ascot Cinema on Great Western Road. Ascot Cinema, February 1940 (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Designed by Charles McNair, this cinema eventually became a bingo hall in 1975. Finally, we return to the Cross and the building which now dominates its skyline: Anniesland Court. Rising above the Cross, it is a tower block built in the brutalist style. Built between 1966 and 1968, it's an example of Glasgow Corporation housing and is now a listed building. Anniesland Court (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Anniesland Cross itself is also worthy of note. While not as large as other crosses in Glasgow, it sprawls out over a considerable area. It's where several major roads meet including Great Western Road, Anniesland Road, Crow Road and Bearsden Road. This photograph of the Cross from around 1935 shows that this meeting of the roads has always been a complex network to navigate. Anniesland Cross, c1935 with public conveniences at far right (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Stranded in an island position in the midst of the Cross are Anniesland's former public loos which were built in the early 1930s. Glasgow Corporation officials struggled to find a suitable location for them before choosing this site. Ironically, they became very difficult for pedestrians to access after the Cross was redeveloped. While now closed as a public convenience, there have been attempts since then to reopen the building as a restaurant. Many of the commercial premises which helped to define Anniesland have now disappeared. For example, Castlebank Laundry, based in Anniesland Road, became a local landmark. Its distinctive yellow-painted vans were a common sight around the city, collecting laundry from clients and delivering it to the Anniesland premises for cleaning. Castlebank Laundry exterior (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Not a stone's throw away was Birrell's Factory producing the sweets which stocked the well-known confectioner's shops and stands in cinemas throughout Glasgow. Barr and Stroud, the optical instrument engineers whose business records are held by Glasgow University's Archives and Special Collections, had premises where the Anniesland Morrison's now stands. And the Top Hat Cafe on Great Western Road was, according to my aunt who used to work there, the place for teenagers in Anniesland to hang out during the 1950s and 60s. And why is the area called Anniesland? Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer. A popular theory suggests it may have been named after someone in the area called Annie. Another suggestion is that as parcels of land there were rented out annually, the area was called annual-land giving rise to Anniesland. What are your memories of Anniesland? Email or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.
Daily Record
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Survivors of Fornethy 'House of Horrors' plead for redress as debate taken to Holyrood
"Abuse is still abuse, and what happened at that awful place has had a profound effect on myself and other victims." A survivor of Fornethy ' House of Horrors ' has repeated pleas for victims to be given access to the redress scheme after they were snubbed due to their abuse "not being prolonged". Lynne Sheerin, who was one of hundreds of girls who endured mental, physical, and sexual abuse at the mansion in Kilry, Angus, between 1960 and 1980, said the government's move to block victims from the compensation was "disgusting". Around 200 women earlier came forward to say they were beaten, humiliated, force-fed and sexually assaulted at the hands of staff during their short spell at the all girls' school. But last year, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes rejected calls from MSPs to allow the women access to compensation from the Scottish Government scheme. The matter was debated at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday afternoon. The calls of victims were echoed by MSP Maurice Golden. Lynne, 57, from Glasgow, told the Record: "We were told we won't be getting access to the redress scheme because our abuse didn't go on long enough. Abuse is still abuse, and what happened at that awful place has had a profound effect on myself and other victims. "We have lost six women in our group to suicide who just couldn't cope with their trauma any longer. To say we cannot access this scheme because our abuse wasn't prolonged is a kick in the teeth, disrespectful and outright insensitive. "We were put into that school and as children, they had a duty of care for us. Instead, we were battered, force-fed, sexually assaulted and humiliated. "It disgusts me." Speaking during the debate in Holyrood on Thursday afternoon, MSP Maurice Golden said: "The Scottish Government should consult on expanding redress to include short-term institutions like Fornethy. "I know the Scottish Government has previously refused to expand the scheme's criteria – but I think the public would find it outrageous that compensation was being declined because - in effect - the victims didn't stay in a place of abuse and cruelty long enough. "For me, one instance is one too many and will have ramifications for the rest of that child's life." Fornethy House was operated by Glasgow Corporation - now Glasgow City Council - a summer school for children of disadvantaged families. Parents were sold to the idea that their children would be attending the mansion for a "holiday", but instead they were subjected to unimaginable abuse. The Tory representative for North East Scotland added: "My view is that all victims of abuse should have access to redress no matter the length of time they received it and regardless of how historic that abuse was. "Let's remember, those girls were sent to Fornethy by the state - Glasgow Corporation - as it was then - and later Strathclyde Regional Council. "Those institutions had a duty of care - a long established legal and indeed moral obligation. It is a matter for the courts as well as, in my view, the redress scheme to determine the validity of the harrowing, horrific stories of abuse I have heard." Lynne, now 57, from Glasgow, was beaten, force-fed, inappropriately touched and mentally abused by staff at the school during her six-week stay in 1975. Glasgow City Council apologised to victims last year. Speaking at the time, council leader Susan Aitken, speaking on behalf of the local authority, said: 'I want to say sorry for any abuse suffered by any children who attended Fornethy House.'
Glasgow Times
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Secrets of Glasgow's very own 'Domesday Book' revealed
This tongue-in-cheek title is an ode to the oldest government record held in The National Archives. The original Domesday Book is a survey of English land in the eleventh century and is perhaps the most well-known archive item in the UK. Sadly, Glasgow's Domesday Book cannot boast such an illustrious history. (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Our volume consists of biographical notes and cross-referenced newspaper obituaries of Glasgow councillors. It was compiled by local authority officials to cover 1890 to 1975 but also includes retrospective information back to the 1850s. As such, it's an invaluable launchpad for any research into councillors for Glasgow Corporation and its predecessor, Glasgow Town Council. Me and my colleagues have used it many times over the years to help questing researchers. (Image: Glasgow City Archives) Understandably, many people are interested in the careers of former Lord Provosts. The origins of this civic role date from medieval times when Glasgow was a burgh. In modern times, Glasgow's Lord Provost has been the city's principal civic representative at home. I wrote recently about James Welsh, who served as Lord Provost during the Second World War until November 1945. James Welsh (Image: Glasgow City Archives) The Domesday Book provides an excellent, though brief, summary of his political career in the city. He began in 1913 and completed thirty-six years of public service, many of those spent representing the people in the wards of Dalmarnock and Maryhill. In addition, he was elected as the MP for Paisley in 1929. (Image: Glasgow City Archives) His entry also notes that he was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Glasgow in October 1945. Last year, we took in his official and personal papers which chronicled his time in office. When I started out as a new archivist at Glasgow City Archives, part of what intrigued me about the Glasgow Domesday Book (apart from its name) was that it was the first internal finding aid within an archive collection itself that I had come across. Finding aids are key for any collections-based service like ours. To help researchers, we create catalogues (hard copy and online) and indexes (names, places, subjects, organisations and buildings among other terms) as well as making use of internal finding aids like the Domesday Book. It is an archive item itself but was compiled as a finding aid by clerks from the Town Council (later, Glasgow Corporation). The clerks would have gone through meeting minutes, obituaries and other sources to summarise the careers of former councillors for use by future researchers. The Glasgow Domesday Book is a manuscript volume and was clearly a living document, being added to throughout the years by various clerks. In the entry for James Welsh, you can see that there are examples of several different clerks' handwriting. As a finding aid, the Domesday Book helps researchers to navigate their way through our other sources searching for these same councillors. For example, the Book gives dates which helps users to narrow down their search of our Glasgow Corporation minutes. It also helps them to find their councillor in our annually printed lists of magistrates and town councillors of Glasgow, a source which confirms which committees each councillor served on and when. READ NEXT: The unusual link between Glasgow and 'dark history' of the pineapple 9 pictures which tell story of famous Glasgow store with link to Rennie Mackintosh 'Gran's report card' discovery reveals story of 'lost' Glasgow school If a councillor became Lord Provost, then researchers can use the archives of the Lord Provost's Office. These are a rich resource which include correspondence, press-cutting books, committee minutes, files on public events as well as photos of civic occasions. Some films presented to the Lord Provost are held on deposit at the National Library of Scotland Moving Image Archive. As many Lord Provosts were merchants or business owners, some of their personal papers have survived to form part of our collections. For example, we hold the family trust volumes of Sir James Bain (born in 1818) and the papers of Sir James King (born in 1830) during his time in office. Interestingly, the Domesday Book doesn't record other notable information. For example, Dame Jean Roberts, a former teacher, was the first female Lord Provost and served from 1960 to 1963. One of her predecessors in the role, Sir Patrick Dollan, was the first person from an Irish-Catholic background to hold the office when he became Lord Provost in 1938. Neither entry records these facts. Nevertheless, the Glasgow Domesday Book is outstanding in its own way, forming one of the many access points into the collections of Glasgow City Archives.
Irish Post
20-05-2025
- Irish Post
Glasgow exhibition wants to hear from Donegal people
Throughout the 20th century, waves of emigration from Donegal to Scotland shaped the social fabric of both places. Seasonal migration for work — in agriculture, coal-mining, construction and transport — saw thousands of Donegal men and women cross the water each year Mary McGinley, Derryreel, Falcarragh pictured with her co-workers on Glasgow Corporation trams in the 1950s (pic courtesy of Mary McKeown) DONEGAL County Council wants members of the diaspora in Scotland to submit a short video of their experience of working in Scotland between 1940 and 1990. They are promising a prize of a return flight for two people between Donegal International Airport and Glasgow Airport for one of the submissions. The video should be smartphone recording of a few minutes, recounting what it was like coming from Donegal, landing in Scotland, and getting a job. The videos will be part of a new exhibition entitled Working Over By , currently being developed by the Culture Division of Donegal County Council in partnership with the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies. SS Lairdsgrove formerly SS Magpie which plied the Irish Sea route until 1950, taking emigrants largely from Donegal, Derry and Antrim to Scotland (author Laird Lines, image in public domain) Joseph Gallagher, County Donegal Heritage Officer told The Irish Post : 'The idea is simple but powerful: to gather and share personal stories of Donegal men and women who made a life, temporarily or permanently, working across the water in Scotland 'If you have a story to tell, you're invited to record a short video - no longer than five minutes - using your smartphone by Friday, May 30,' Councillor Gallagher said. 'It might be your own memory or that of a parent, grandparent or relative. The project team is especially interested in what the work was like, what the working conditions were, and how it felt to be part of that community of Donegal people who worked in Scotland.' Many people from Donegal found employment in Scotland between 1940 and 1990 including on farms, buses, roads, building sites, tunnels, bridges, dams, hydro-electric schemes, shipbuilding, domestic service, hotels, shops, biscuit or chocolate factories, health service, religious life and teaching. Some went for seasonal work and came home regularly; others stayed and built new lives there, often maintaining strong ties with home. 'Through the Working Over By exhibition, there's an opportunity to record and share those memories for future generations,' Councillor Gallagher added. Some of the submitted videos will be edited into a film that will be shown as part of the exhibition at the Donegal County Museum in Letterkenny, County Donegal in summer 2025. It is planned that a travelling version of the exhibition will tour in Scotland from August 2025. It's a chance to contribute to a lasting record of the working lives that shaped so many families and communities on both sides of the Irish Sea. Councillor Gallagher said: 'One lucky participant will be chosen at random from the selected entries to win a return flight for two between Donegal International Airport and Glasgow Airport.' Full details on how to enter are available on the County Donegal Heritage Office, Donegal County Council website at: DONEGAL DIASPORA PROJECT See More: Diaspora Project, Donegal, Emigration
