All posts from 2000

[TheGorbalsAdmin]

I lived in Queen Elizabeth square and survived! Is there anyone else out there who were the first occupants of the brand new Queen Elizabeth Square flats? As an 11yr old I thought we were really going up in the world when we moved from the slums of Rutherglen Rd to these brands new flats. It wasn't too long before Q.E.S was an address to be ashamed of. I remember the horror of the strong winds that used to threaten to lift you off your feet as you struggled to reach the urine sodden lifs (if they were working). Many a time our verandah door used to hang off its hinges because of that same wind.

I know of many people who fell down the very steep stairways inside the flats and the outside stairways became a haven for muggers and drunks. I certainly cheered when the decision was made to tear them down. On reflection, the conditions in the original slums were bad but the community spirit certainly made up for it and I have nothing but fond memories of my early years there. Does anyone else remember the old blokes who used to go into the back courts and sing songs in the hope that people would throw money out of the windows to them? I also remember a shop called Dirty Maggie's on Rutherglen Rd where you could take all your old comics and exchange them for different ones. I was also in the first intake at the brand new Adelphi Senior School. That's not a school anymore. I'm glad I'm wearing better that the buildings of the Gorbals!

Submitted by: Helen Wemyss
Wollongong, Australia
21/12/00

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I am a postgraduate student at the University of St. Andrews. I am on the first chapter of a dissertation about the Scottish urban novel throughout the 20th century.

My query is the following:
Is there anyone out there who has any information at all about the novelist (Arthur) Alexander McArthur? He co-wrote NO MEAN CITY (1935) with H. Kingsley Long. I have already interviewed Long's daughter, but I have very little information about McArthur. He lived at Waddell Street throughout the 20s, 30s and 40s, and committed suicide by drinking Lysol in 1947. He was a prolific writer, but only had No Mean City and a short story published in his lifetime.

I would appreciate any leads on McArthur at all -- this is grassroots research! Please email aivlys70@hotmail.com

Submitted by: Sylvia Bryce
St. Andrews, Scotland
04/12/00

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Hi, all these memories of the Gorbals are making me homesick. I lived at 179 Eglinton St (cnr Eglinton Lane) with my family from 1943 to 1959. Went to St Johns then to Holyrood. Went to Gorbals St baths, got our school milk from Clelland st during the summer holidays (near the wee bridge with roast nuts), played peevers, wee hooses, jumped the dykes, raked the midges, had a great view frae oor windae of the labour day, orange lodge processions up Eglinton St., also does anyone remember the X-ray tram car? I remember the day the king died and the Coronation Street party and Johhnies big dumpling that sat in his windae. One day, I'll put it all down on paper for my family.

p.s. The other members of my family were Edddie (Edward b 1942), Catherine born 1946, twin brother Michael & David born 1950. I was born in 1943. Hope this may be of interest. Jean

Submitted by: Jean Wright
Adelaide, Australia
24/11/00

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Have just paid a visit to Gorbals through the virtual tour and loved it. Really gave a feel of what Gorbals was like. My mother told me about the site as she is originally from there. I visited Glasgow during the summer 1999, but didn't really get to see much.

My question is, has anyone any information regarding "Sissy" Tierney born approximately 1910, Gorbals. She would have lived on Warwick Street. Please email espeutl@hotmail.com

Submitted by: Linda Espeut
Mississauga, Canada
14/11/00

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My memory is a little vague as it is well over sixty years since I lived in the Gorbals, but I do recall a few things that happened back then.

We lived in a tenement building in Norfolk Court with windows facing Norfolk Street, every Easter Sunday morning my sister and I would have to cross the street, walk to the public library and back home again, mother watching to make sure our Easter outfits looked just right, before we were allowed to set off for church, we hated doing that.

A blacksmith plied his trade in our street and all the children would gather there whenever there was a horse to be shod, we all shivered when the hot iron was put on the horse’s hoof. The smithie assured us the horse didn’t feel any pain!

Submitted by: Betty Suthers
Canada
11/11/00

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I really enjoyed browsing your website and reading the stories in this section. I have recently taken up writing and painting depicting my memories of life in the Gorbals in the 1960's. If anyone is interested you can find it at http://www.thegorbals.co.uk.

Submitted by: Sandra Goosey
Cardiff, Wales
11/11/00

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Just discovered your website, it was like a walk down memory lane. I left the Gorbals in 1938, born, Norfolk Court then moved to Carnwadrick. Wondering what happened to the public library on Norfolk Street. My home now is in Canada but my heart is in the Gorbals. I have bookmarked your site and will be back again and again. Thank you

Submitted by: Betty Suthers
Canada
10/11/00

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I lived 2 up in 15a abbotsford place, in a sub let, up until 1954 when my folks were rehoused. I remember a crisp factory in south portland street where you could buy a poke of crisps just as you would a bag of chips. The factory was up the back of a close as I remember.

Submitted by: Duncan
Manchester, England
09/11/00

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I am an art student from Glasgow School of Art working on a project in the gorbals as it is about to be changed for the third time. I am hoping to find out about what the gorbals was like before it changed for the first time. I am looking for any stories or information that people may have about the shopping centre in Queen Elizabeth Square. Also I am very interested in stories about the workers circle and the socialist camp on Carbeth Muir. It would be great to hear from anybody. Please email anne_mariewatson@hotmail.com. Thanks

Submitted by: Anne-Marie Watson
Glasgow, Scotland
03/11/00

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Enquiry for more anecdotes and stories from people from the Gorbals, past or present with reference to people, places, experiences, sights, sounds and senses. To help with research for an ongoing art project dealing with the notion that memories about a place can live longer than the physical site in which they occured. Also they give a better insight to a space than the place alone. Please e-mail brassneck20@yahoo.com

Submitted by: K.Brassington
Glasgow, Scotland
31/10/00

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Does anyone know which map the Gorbals area first appeared on, and at what date? Please email richmond.park@btinternet.com

Submitted by: Mark Beattie
Glasgow, Scotland
23/10/00

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I also remember the smells from the peanut shop underneath the bridge, this was a treat my brothers and I enjoyed after leaving the swimming baths in Gorbals Street. We were sent here every second day for a wash as we had no bath facilities. Does anybody else remember doing this?

Submitted by: A.Graham
Glasgow, Scotland
18/10/00

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Can anyone help? Searching for a photograph of my grandfather's pub - The Thistle, on the corner of Thistle Street, Ballater Street, Gorbals or any old friends. Please email fwalker@ozweb.aunz.com

Submitted by: Frances Walker Neeknotts
Queensland, Australia
10/10/00

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I need to find out the name of a man who was shot and killed in Gorbals Street between 1960 and 1963, as I was a friend of his son when we stayed in one of the arches in Gorbals Street. Please email mocoyne@lineone.net

Submitted by: Maurice Coyne
Glasgow, Scotland
08/10/00

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Can anyone tell me what happened to the primary school in Carlton Place and the history of it? I remember going there in 1962/63. Please email mocoyne@lineone.net

Submitted by: Maurice Coyne
Glasgow, Scotland
08/10/00

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I would like to know how Father Isador is who performed my marriage on the 19th June 1976 in St.Francis Chapel? Please email mocoyne@lineone.net

Submitted by: Margaret Coyne
Glasgow, Scotland
08/10/00

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Any whereabouts of old school friend Michael Rushford who stayed in Gorbals Street in 1970 with his gran. His age will be about 44? Please email mocoyne@lineone.net

Submitted by: Margaret Coyne
Glasgow, Scotland
08/10/00

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I have just heard that the Gorbals artist Tommy Smith is waiting to hear from the District Council if he can go ahead and paint a lifesize mural of Benny Lynch. He deserves all the support he can get, lets hope that this worthy project gets the go ahead. What do you think all you Gorbals folk!! Lets hear it for Tommy.

Submitted by: Davie Higgins
Tenby, Wales
04/10/00

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Formerly of Hospital St went to St.Johns Primary School in 1957 and Holyrood sen.sec. from Frank Ford Whyalla South Australia. E-mail bonnie@whyallagulf.com.au

Submitted by: Edward Ohagan
Glasgow, Scotland
30/09/00

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Reading Colmac and the talk about the roast peanuts and tablet shop under the bridge, stopped there many a time on my way to the Palace. Talking about smells I remember in the fifties two wee factories at the corner of Mathieson St. and Cally. Road. One made sausage skins and the smell of the spices that they used was so unique at that time, nowadays nobody would take any notice too many indian takeaways and kebab houses but then, ah it was something else. The other wee factory was staffed by men who had been wounded in the war. They made brushes, and the smell came from the the hot tar that they dipped the bristles in before gluing them onto the brush head. Smells are just that bit more evocative and bring back memories faster than the written word.

Submitted by: Davie Higgins
Tenby, Wales
20/09/00

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The Glendinning Family

Three years ago a relative mentioned that she had seen an old death certificate which showed that our family name 'Gibb' was not our true direct line surname. Ever since I have researched documents and records to find out the facts. The search is almost, tantalisingly, complete.

In 1851 the Glendinning family lived in cramped quarters in Hospital Street, Hutchensontown. They were Cabinetmakers and started a furniture business in nearby Eglinton Street. 'Glendinning Furniture' was also a well respected-named company in Rich Hill, Co Armagh. And, the Glendinnings had come from the North of Ireland at the start of 1800's. Both factories are now, no longer trading.

James Glendinning, my Great great grandfather, was one son who became an engineer in the weaving industry - possibly at the cotton Mill in Carstairs Street. His son, Peter became a Master Shoemaker and lived in Green Street, then Bernard Street. One of his daughters (possibly both) also worked at the Carstairs Street Mill. Surprisingly, the writer, in 1970 was employed at the same site, by John Laird & Son - the most recent owners of that fine building, now almost derelict. Our visits to picture the families 'roots' have been sadly frustrated. So many flattened areas - the new buildings are marvellous, but the sight of the old streets where it all began are denied us.

The family tree starts with the sons and daughters of the original 'Gorbals Glendinning' family - but questions are still outstanding. The Eglinton business ceased trading only in the last year or two. Anyone who can identify surviving members of that business family - would be helping by contacting me with whatever details they have. They may hold the ultimate solution as to why 'Peter the Cobbler' as we now call him, (my Great Grandfather) chose to reject his Glendinning family name. My email address is glendinning@post.com

Submitted by: Peter Gibb Glendinning
Staffordshire, England
23/08/00

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Does anybody remember the wee roast peanuts and tablet shop that used to be under the bridge at hospital street and the excellent smells that used to waft there way along the street...while working in the southern necropolis came across a burial record of a leg..yes a leg...and has anyone out there saw the white lady turn her head... go down at night if you dare...

Submitted by: Colin Mackie
Glasgow, Scotland
23/08/00

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e world's first bicycle accident?

In 1842, Kirkpatrick McMillan, the Dumfries-shire blacksmith who had invented the pedal cycle in around 1840, cycled to Glasgow. The seventy mile trip took him two days!

The sight of his contraption caused a bit of a stir as he passed through the south side and, amid the hubbub, he knocked down a young girl.

After his arrest by the local constable, he was charged and fined at Gorbals Police Court for his crime. They did not confiscate his bicycle - so no doubt McMillan made a hasty, but more careful, retreat back home!

It is pretty certain that this was indeed the first accident of its kind.

Submitted by: Graeme Henderson
Glasgow, Scotland
17/08/00

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