Scotstoun Heritage Trail

Entries on This Tour

This small greenspace viewing point lets you look along the River Clyde where so many of the famous shipyards of the 19C and 20C were located, among them Barclay Curle & Co Ltd (1855) and Yarrow's (1906). Workers were brought to Balmoral Street and South Street by trams operated from 1894 by Glasgow Corporation.

2. Scotstoun West Church

A temporary iron building was erected on this site and opened for worship in 1901. Work began on a permanent stone church in May 1905 and the first service was held in October 1906. The church's bell was donated by Miss Louisa Gibb and when this tolled on a Sunday latecomers were known to comment that they'd better hurry up as Louisa as calling them! The congregation joined with Scotstoun East Parish Church (originally Scotstoun United Free Church) in the late 1980s and the old church fell into disrepair. It was destroyed by fire on bonfire night in 1997 and subsequently demolished. Flats now stand on its site The original posts and fencing are all that remain of this category B listed building

3. Scotstoun Conservation Area (west section)

The avenues of Scotstoun Conservation area were built between the end of 19C and 1912 starting at Lennox Avenue from the eastern end, Vancouver Road, Duncan Avenue, Ormiston Avenue, Dunglass Avenue, and lastly Verona Avenue at the western end. The western side of Queen Victoria Drive are also part of the conservation area. Going from North to South - Danes Drive, Norse Road, Earlbank Avenue and Dumbarton Rd The last houses in the conservation area are situated across Danes Drive on Northland Drive and Upland Road (terraced houses only) Names of some of the avenues changed between 1913 and 1933 but at the ends of terraces the original names of the ‘cottages’ are discernible. On the stonework of the Earlbank Avenue terraces you may see ‘Camperdown Cottages’ on the south side terraces but ‘Howe Cottages’ on the north side terraces. The streets and houses at the western end of this area were last to be built and have fewer embellishments to the stonework. A noticeable element of this is in the terrace names: as you walk along the north side of Norse Road there are no terrace end names in the stonework but on the south side of the same street ‘Oscar Cottages’ appears at the ends of terraces. Similarly the avenues running from Dumbarton Road to Danes Drive are distinguished as ‘Darnley Cottages’, ‘Moray Cottages’ and ‘Haldane Cottages’ only as you move towards the eastern boundaries of the conservation area.

4. Scotstoun Conservation Area (east section)

5. Balmoral Street railway bridge

Standing on Balmoral Street railway bridge look south towards the river. Most of the land you see would have been occupied by Albion Motors Looking north towards Dumbarton Road you see the Earl Street tenementsWorkers were brought to Balmoral Street and South Street by trams operated from 1894 by Glasgow Corporation

6. Harland Street railway bridge

From the bridge look towards the river and you will see the site of First Bus which was once occupied by Scotstoun Ironworks (1900)Through gaps in the foliage of the cycle path you can see Harland Cottages to the south and the Earl Street tenements to the north

7. Harland Cottages

Often just referred to as "The Cottages", Harland Cottages consists of four rows of cottage flats and are one of the interesting architectural features of Scotstoun. Originally constructed as homes for those who worked at the famous shipyards of Glasgow

8. Henrietta Street

A pathway of sorts leads from the cycle path to where Henrietta Street meets with Fore Street. This path was once a staircase giving access to the platform of Scotstoun East Station (1896) from the nearby housing. You can walk alongside the remains of the platform stonework and the old station buildings are still visible below the cycle path on Fore StreetLooking south from this point there are views of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (2015) across the Clyde. To the north on the hill can be glimpsed the copper clad towers of the remaining buildings of what was Jordanhill College of Education (1922)

9. Methil Street railway bridge

Standing on the cycle path directly above Methil Street you see AMK Van Hire to the south. Their well-known red vans are a common sight on the roads around Scotstoun To the north you see the roundabout at the end of the Clydeside Expressway.

10. Scotstoun East Station

On the cycle path between Henrietta Street and Scotstoun Street are the remains of the platform stonework of Scotstoun (East) railway station (1896) There are views of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (2015) looking south across the River Clyde.

11. Scotstoun Street railway bridge

This railway bridge formed part of the platform of Scotstoun East station Looking north you catch a glimpse of the copper clad towers of the remaining buildings of what was Jordanhill College of Education (1922). Underneath the cycle path where Scotstoun Street and Fore Street meet you can see some of the arched windows and doorways belonging to the original railway buildings. There is a safe exit ramp from the cycle path at Henrietta Street to the west should you wish to have a look

12. Whiteinch Hammerhead crane

This 150 ton crane serviced the North British Diesel Engine Works (1912) as part of Barclay Curle & Co Ltd shipyard (1855) The best views of this massive crane are from the cycle path just west of the Primrose Street exit

13. Primrose Street

Primrose Street was a tram terminus and from 1902 the place where track changes were made at the Scotstoun-Whiteinch districts boundary.

14. Scotstoun Emporium

Adjacent to the site of St George's Co-operative Society the corner building now occupied by Scotstoun Emporium has been a much valued hardware store within the community for over 100 years In 1931 a ‘Dalmuir West via Bridgton Cross’ tram left the rails and fell into the window of the shop at this corner. The incident was allegedly reported in an Italian newspaper of the time!

15. Victoria Park Bowling Club

Established in 1903 Victoria Park Bowling Club sits on the corner of Westland Drive and Dumbarton Road surrounded by hedging. Two entrance gates allow access, a secluded one at the approach to the Clydeside Expressway underpass and a more prominent one at the T junction, both have the name and year of opening on the the metal gates Follow the signposted pathway towards the Clydeside Expressway underpass to reach the southern end of Victoria Park Nature Walk.

16. Whiteinch Victoria Park railway station

Ths Whiteinch Victoria Park railway station was built when the train line started to accommodate passenger trains in addition to goods trains. No remains of the station are to be seen on what is now the Victoria Park Nature WalkThe line opened in 1874 for goods, then a passenger service began in 1897. It closed to passengers in 1951 and to goods in 1965. For a long time it lay derelict and was known as the ‘dummy railway’. Great fun when you were a child

17. Victoria Park Nature Trail (south area)

At the southern end of the Victoria Park Nature Walk path is the unmarked site of significant railway sidings and buildings associated with Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire Railway line, including the Goods Yard of Whiteinch Victoria Park Station (1896). Used as a cycle path, a pedestrian walkway and a popular dog walking route, it is easily accessed from all parts of the community via lanes and underpasses. The nature trail runs from the end of the Expressway in East Scotstoun up to to Westbrae Drive in Jordanhill.

18. Westland Drive

At the end of the green open space of the nature trail and with Victoria Park Lane North on the left it is a short distance to the junction of Westland Drive and the busy Clydeside Expressway. The pavement to the left is your route up Westland Drive. Westland Drive starts in Whiteinch at Dumbarton road with Victoria Park Bowling Green on your left. It then crosses the Clydeside Expressway continuing past Victoria Park to the double roundabouts at the end of Danes Drive, and slowly climbs up past St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Jordanhill before levelling out again at the top of the nature trail

19. Victoria Park

Victoria Park (20 hectares/50 acres) was originally acquired by the Burgh of Partick. The park was named for Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887 and is considered to be Glasgow's prettiest park. The park boasts an extensive range of formal floral displays and hollies. The park is very popular with the neighbouring communities of Whiteinch, Scotstoun, Jordanhill and Broomhill, with visitors also coming from further afield. With many different aspects to the park it has its own Heritage Trail

20. Whiteinch Homes

The Whiteinch Homes (now a category B listed building) were built around 1890 by the James Allan Trust in the style of English 17th century almshouses. They were intended originally for elderly employees of the Allan Shipping Line. In the 1980s the building was acquired by the Thomas Chalmers Housing Association, and reopened after refurbishment in 1989 as a care home for the elderly. The buildings now form Westland Drive sheltered housing complex and are managed by Bield

21. Glasgow Institution for Orphan & Destitute Girls

The building has been in Church of Scotland ownership since 1945 but was opened as Glasgow Institution for Orphan & Destitute Girls (1891). The Home accommodated fifty-three resident girls in 1904, rising to sixty-one in 1905. They attended the local school and received at least one year's training in the Home in every branch of housework, before they were found employment, usually in domestic service.During a period from 1945 young apprentices at Albion Motor Car Company and Yarrow’s whose homes were in the north of Scotland or Western Isles were accommodated as lodgers in the Church of Scotland Homes.

22. Whiteinch Methodist Church

Across Danes Drive, beyond the double roundabouts junction, all that remains of Whiteinch Methodist Church (technically in Jordanhill) is a gate at the housing complex carrying the name ‘Anglegate’. The church opened in 1901 and closed in 1981. The original name of Angelgate was restored after the church was closed

23. St David's Episcopal Church

St David's Episcopal Church was built around the end of the 19th century and demolished in around 1975. It was a modest hut, surrounded by a grassed area, and served as an outreach church for All Saints Church in Woodend Drive, Jordanhill.A modern housing development Lennox Gardens now sits on the site once occupied by the church

24. Danes Drive railway bridge

The Danes Drive Bridge crossed the branch line of the Whiteinch Railway Company (1874) from Dumbarton Road in Scotstoun to Crow Road at Jordanhill. This railway company was bought over by North British Railway (1891) and introduced a passenger service in 1897

25. Victoria Park Nature Trail (central area)

The Victoria Park Nature Walk path was once the Lanarkshire & Dunbartonshire Railway line in close proximity to the Goods Yard of Whiteinch Victoria Park Station (1896). Now used as a cycle path, a pedestrian walkway and a popular dog walking route, it is easily accessed from all parts of the community via lanes and underpasses. The nature trail runs from the end of the Expressway in East Scotstoun up to to Westbrae Drive in Jordanhill.

26. Lucy Boxes (Scotstoun Sports Campus)

"Lucy boxes" got their names from the majority of them being made by the Lucy Foundry in Oxford These boxes are sometimes green and sometimes silver. They were originally used for the tram network and later the trolley bus network, also for electrical and telephone purposes Three Lucy Boxes are situated within Scotstoun Sports Campus on the pathway between the large football pitch and the 2 5-a-side pitches. A further 3 are adjacent to the fence between the large football pitch and the nature walkAnd there is one on Norse Road and one at the corner of Dumbarton Road and Balmoral StreetMaybe you can spot some more while exploring the Heritage Trails

27. Scotstoun Leisure Centre

The leisure centre is home to a swimming pool, health suite, gym, sports/fitness halls and a dance studio. A corridor within gives access to the badminton and squash courts There is also a cafe and toilet facilities Outsde the centre is a small playpark, outdoor tennis courts and pitches

28. Scotstoun Stadium

Adjacent to the white painted Scotstoun Stadium (2010) are the running track and pitch, features which have remained largely unchanged despite the various adjustments made to this sports site since the opening in 1915. Scotstoun Stadium is a shared venue between Victoria Park City of Glasgow Athletics Club and Glasgow Warriors Rugby team with a running track around the pitch

29. Scotstoun Show grounds

Originally Glasgow Agricultural Society Show Ground (1907), the space has hosted a wide range of public events including Horse Shows, large sporting events and Glasgow schools sports days and World Pipe Band championships. Two big events from the early decades of 20C are particularly notable: a Flying Machine display organised by Scottish Aeronautical Society (1914) and a Boy Scouts Rally addressed by Earl Haig (1920). Look over at the perimeter wall to the left where the stables for the Horse Show events were located.

30. Scotstoun Sports Campus

One of the biggest leisure facilities in the city, Scotstoun Sports Campus is home to the National Badminton Centre, Scotstoun Stadium and Scotstoun Squash Centre. Victoria Park Athletics Club also share space with Glasgow Warriors Rugby TeamThere is a café in the leisure centre at this point of the Heritage Trail, and toilet facilities can be found in several of the buildings

31. Provost's lamp (1 Danes Drive)

Unusually lovely, out-of-the-ordinary lamp-posts, with decorative flourishes and historic detail, crop up here and there amongst the more municipal, boring ones. These intriguing lamps – some are attached to buildings, rather than mounted on posts – are a reminder of an old Scottish tradition. As the Provost had no official residence in Glasgow, it became a tradition to place a pair of lamp posts at their personal residence This tradition used to be observed throughout Scotland and originated from the practice of lighting lamps at the homes of bailies, or civic officials. The gas-lit lamps bore the burgh or city coat of arms and highlighted where people could find the bailies if they needed them. During the twentieth century, the gas-lit lamps were replaced with electric ones, and could be installed above tenement doors or on flats

32. Lennox Avenue

Lennox Avenue was the first of the avenues to be built in Scotstoun Conservation area There are five blocks of ‘artisan cottage flats’ built with red and cream brick and having long gardens. These were built by Scotstoun Estate Building Company established in 1895 reputedly to provide homes for estate workers.

33. Scotstoun Primary School

Scotstoun primary school was opened in 1901 at a cost of £14,000. As well as teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, the school also provided cookery and science lessons. It was built to accommodate 1,280 pupils, although just before the Second World War there were 1,314 children on the roll Near the junction with Duncan Avenue the original stone supports for the school gate has ‘BOYS’ etched in the stonework, a reminder of times past when boys and girls had separate playgrounds and entrances. The 'GIRLS' gates are near the junction with Ormiston Avenue The southern façade of Scotstoun Primary School has ‘Renfrew Landward School Board’ above the windows of the classrooms as Scotstoun did not become part of Glasgow Corporation until 1926.

34. Scotstoun Parish Church

Designed by H E Clifford, Scotstoun United Free Church was dedicated in 1906. The congregation had been established in 1902, with early services being held in the adjacent church hall. The union of 1929 brought the congregation into the Church of Scotland and the parish became Scotstoun East. Following amalgamations with Scotstoun West (1987 - destroyed by fire and demolished) and Whiteinch (1992 - converted into flats), the building was renamed to Scotstoun and Whiteinch Parish Church. The church was later renamed Scotstoun Parish Church after the re-establishment of Whiteinch Parish Church in February 2000 and is now the only remaining church in Scotstoun

35. 92 Earlbank Avenue

No 92 Earlbank Avenue is at the junction with Dunglass Avenue. This house is of particular interest in relation to the history of The Albion Motor Car Company: in 1903 Thomas Blackwood Murray, one of the co-founders of ‘The Albion’ is recorded to have bought this house and to live there with his wife, three children and three servants! The other co-founder Norman Osborne Fulton was married from 8 Ormiston Avenue to Margaret, a sister of Blackwood Murray. This house although nearby is not part of the heritage trail

36. Provost's lamp (122 Earlbank Avenue)

Unusually lovely, out-of-the-ordinary lamp-posts, with decorative flourishes and historic detail, crop up here and there amongst the more municipal, boring ones. These intriguing lamps – some are attached to buildings, rather than mounted on posts – are a reminder of an old Scottish tradition. As the Lord/Lady Provost had no official residence in Glasgow, it became a tradition to place a pair of lamp posts at their personal residence This tradition used to be observed throughout Scotland and originated from the practice of lighting lamps at the homes of bailies, or civic officials. The gas-lit lamps bore the burgh or city coat of arms and highlighted where people could find the bailies if they needed them. During the twentieth century, the gas-lit lamps were replaced with electric ones, and could be installed above tenement doors or on flats

37. Victoria Drive School (site of)

All that remains of Victoria Drive School is the stone posts at either corner of Birchfield Drive and Larchfield Avenue which serve as a reminder that schools were built with separate entrances and playgrounds for girls and boys

38. Scotstoun Hill

In the immediate area of this part of Scotstoun there are street names which remind us of the rural nature of this part of Glasgow in centuries past – Birchfield, Larchfield, Harefield. Birchfield Drive and the homes in the surrounding streets are part of the 1930s development of residential property in the Scotstoun and Knightswood areas of Glasgow.

39. The Homie

A pathway leads from the rear of 50 Kingsway Court through greenspace to Birchfield Drive This area is known locally as The Homie dating back to when a children's home was part of the estate

40. Scotstoun House 2

Within Kingsway Court estate is the unmarked site of the second Scotstoun House (1919-1962), a Glasgow Corporation home for ‘delicate children’. The ‘Children’s Home’ on the little hill close to where 50 Kingsway Court now stands was known locally as ‘the homie’. The house was on the only flat bit of land within the estate at the time and there is now a childrens playpark on it The Scotstoun House on this site was built as a replacement for the original Scotstoun Estate house (located south of Dumbarton Road) which was demolished in the 1890s for the construction of the Lanarkshire-Dunbartonshire railway line.

41. Kingsway Community Connections

Kingsway Community Connections is a community development centre set up and managed by local people for local people. The Centre provides a range of services and activities aimed at improving the quality of life of Kingsway and residents of the surrounding area. originally established as Kingsway Health & Wellbeing Centre it was re-named to Kingsway Community Connections in January 2021

42. Kingsway Community Garden

The Community Garden provides opportunities for local residents to participate in a variety of horticultural and environmental activities. The space also provides opportunities for socialising, learning and encouraging integration and co-operation. Gardening activity presents local, low cost opportunities for physical activity, access to green space and locally grown produce. Community gardener Eric supports the development of groups and activities to encourage ongoing use of the space by individuals, families and schools. Workshops include basic allotment skills such as growing vegetables and herbs, composting and gardening for wildlife. There is a mix of individual plots for residents personal use and communal plots for groups and schools to use. Individual plot holders have their own keys for access.

43. De'ils on Wheels

The De'ils on Wheels community bike workshop is a project of Glasgow Eco Trust As a quality accredited re-use organisation they offer a range of services at affordable prices including bike sales, bike servicing and repairs, and a wide range of new and re-used parts, spares and accessories. Unwanted bikes are donated by the community and further afield to help keep costs to a minimum. Much of the labour is provided by a volunteer programme

44. Kingsway Court

This large plot of land was once part of the Scotstoun Estate and now houses the Kingsway Court blocks (1962) and a more modern development of flats and houses

45. Kingsway

The main avenue of Kingsway links Dumbarton Road to the south with Anniesland Road to the northern end. This broad roadway was a tram route from Dumbarton Road to Great Western Road (probably service no. 1/1A) along the western border of Scotstoun until trams were phased out between 1956 and 1962.

46. Yarrow's Cotttages

Walking east on the south side of Dumbarton Road you come to a number of flat roofed houses known as Yarrow’s Cottages (1905-6). These houses were built to house the workers at Yarrow’s, many of whom moved from London to work in shipbuilding on the River Clyde. Behind the cottages on Dumbarton Road are Riversdale Lane, Thornden Lane, Gosford Lane, all of which are in the same style.

47. Ardsloy Place

Ardsloy Place links Dumbarton Road to the NCN 7 cycle route via a small access path. Several lanes making up part of Yarrow's Cottages are accessed from the north side of Ardsloy Place According to some records Ardsloy Place was the site of a World War 2 bombing where three residents were killed.

48. Scotstoun West Station

Scotstoun Station (1896) was renamed Scotstoun West in 1900 and was located just beyond the westerly boundary of the heritage trail.Underneath the bridge on Burnham Road are the remnants of the buildings and entrances

49. Scotstoun House (original)

The original Scotstoun House was south of Dumbarton Road situated close to where Ardsloy Place is now. It was demolished in 1890s for the construction of the Lanarkshire-Dunbartonshire railway line.

50. BAE Systems

Charles Connell & Company (1861) once occupied this area of South Street before becoming Yarrow Shipbuilders. There followed a succession of name changes before the yards became BAE Systems. The remaining buildings of Yarrow's can still be seen adjoining BAE systems

51. GTG

The GTG training centre in Scotstoun offers automotive technical and transport training. Their vehicles are often seen driving round the neighbouring streets The rear of the premises can be viewed from the NCN7 cycle path The main entrance is 1330 South Street

52. Earl Street tenements

This residential street was build in the 1890s to provide homes for the influx of workers to Scotstoun in the late 19th century. The buildings are typical of Glasgow’s red sandstone tenements. Sandwiched between Dumbarton Road and the NCN 7 cycle path, Earl Street starts and ends at the boundaries of Scotstoun - Henrietta Street (east) and Ardsloy Place (west) - making it the longest street entirely within Scostoun.

53. Arnold Clark

Arnold Clark have a large site immediately adjacent to Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre which focuses on car and van rental. Going further west they also have a large site for the autoparts side of their business

54. Heart of Scotstoun gardens

Once a heap of rubble the space behind the community centre has been completely transformed into a haven of tranquillity where people can stroll, sit and chat or eat their lunch bought from the Cherry Tree cafe within the community centre

55. Glasgow Eco Trust

Glasgow Eco Trust is a local environmental charity and social enterprise based in west Glasgow that coordinates and delivers a range of environmental activities and services that enable local people to get active, get involved and make a difference. Formerly Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust they were responsible for building the Heart of Scotstoun community centre. They occupy office space at the back of the centre where their windows look onto the peaceful gardens

56. Balmoral Street Bridge grafitti mural

Balmoral Street Bridge in Scotstoun, a magnet for vandalism and anti-social behaviour, was given a new lease of life via a 32ft long, cutting-edge artwork. Professional graffiti artist, Danny McDermott, worked with teenagers from Dumbarton Road Corridor (DRC) Youth Project to design and create the large graffiti mural, costing almost £6500, to enhance the bridge's appearance.

57. Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway / NCN 7 cycle path

From Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre cross Balmoral Street to the opposite side (before the bridge,) and take the pathway signposted to NCN 7 This cycle path is the former Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Railway (1896) which had three stations within the Scotstoun and Whiteinch area: Scotstoun (West), Scotstoun (East) and Whiteinch Riverside. Please remember that NCN 7 is a shared path so watch out for cyclists/pedestrians/dogs

58. Albion Motor Car Company

Albion Motor Car Company (1899) opened the Scotstoun manufacturing plant in 1903 after outgrowing premises on Finnieston Street. Originally manufacturing motor cars Albion had switched to mostly commercial vehicles by 1913

59. Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre

Heart of Scotstoun Community Centre with The Cherry Tree Café opened in January 2011. Towards the end of the construction phase the original name of "Heart for Scotstoun" was dropped in favour of "Heart of Scotstoun"

This Tour is a Walking Tour.