|
History
of Glasgow
Glasgow
sits astride the Clyde about 19mi/30km from where the river opens into the
Firth of Clyde. In recent years Glasgow has undergone something of a
transformation. Since the disastrous decline of the commercial fleet and the
dockyards, the pace of life has speeded up as the successful post-industrial
restructuring has brought
a new culture and new service industries to the city.In the mid-80s the
Exhibition and Conference Center opened its doors, derelict buildings by the
banks of the Clyde were cleared to create plenty of green, open spaces and the
old dockland sites on the opposite bank of the river were converted into
residential quarters. Sandblasters cleaned up the sooty facades of the
Victorian buildings in the heart of the city and shopping arcades, the
glass-covered St Enoch shopping and entertainment center and the elegant
Prince's Square were opened. Many new opportunities were created for cultural
events, so that now this working class metropolis seems to have successfully
and in its own way met the two requirements of enlightened tourism: "real
life" and "culture".With one or two exceptions Glasgow's
architectural heritage does not go back much further than 200 years. The urban
beauty of Glasgow lies in the commonplace, as the architects of Victorian and
Edwardian times have left their mark on department stores, banks, the offices
of insurance companies, hotels, and pubs and stations.An important element in
Glasgow's architectural development has been the expansion of the Clyde as a
port accessible to all ocean-going vessels - 200 years ago it was possible to
cross the river on foot at low tide.
Tourist
Attractions in Glasgow
Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park was the site of
the 1938 Empire Exhibition which was attended by over 13 million visitors. The
Tait Tower was to be a permanent reminder of the exhibition for the people of
Glasgow, but with the onset of the Second World War, it was destroyed. Dumbreck
Road cuts through to the Park which is noted for its colorful flower beds.
Botanic Gardens
Kibble Palace (dating from 1873)
is one of the largest glasshouses in Britain and contains a collection of tree
ferns from Australia and New Zealand and plants from Africa, the Americas and
the Far East. This garden has an outstanding plant collection within 11 other
glasshouses.
Burrell Collection
Shipping magnate Sir William
Burrell (1861-1958) bequeathed his marvelous art collection to the city of
Glasgow in 1944. Barr Gasson, John Meunier and Brit Anderson were responsible
for the design of the modern gallery which was opened by the Queen in 1983.
Objets d'art from the Neolithic era right up to the 20th century are among the
more than 8,000 artifacts on display. Prized exhibits, however, include bronzes
and pottery from Greek and Roman times such as the Warwick Vase (second
century), paintings by Lucas Cranach the Elder, Hans Memling, Cézanne,
Delacroix, Manet, Degas and Joseph Crawhall, an artist who received
encouragement from Burrell, medieval church furnishings (choir stalls,
sacramental objects, stained-glass windows), Chinese jade, Japanese wood
prints, Indian and Persian carpets, Flemish tapestries, statues by Rodin,
richly ornamented oak paneling (1500) from Hutton Castle, a portal from Hornby
Castle (16th century), illuminated manuscripts, English embroidery (16th/17th
century), arms,silverandglass.Some of the finest early tapestries and
embroideries in Great Britain are to be found in this astonishing collection.
Cathedral of St Mungo
The most significant historic building in Glasgow is the
cathedral and its length of 295ft/90m makes it the largest church in Scotland
after St Andrews. In line with the presbyterian constitution of the Church of
Scotland, there is no bishop but the building, situated to the east of George
Square, is still referred to as "Glasgow Cathedral".David I commissioned
the first chapel on this site in 1136, but it was destroyed by fire a few years
later. At the end of the 12th century Bishop Jocelin ordained that the chapel
be rebuilt. The Lower church, chancel and tower had been rebuilt by the
mid-13th C and the chapterhouse and sacristy were completed in 1447. In 1480
the nave was finally consecrated. The window on the west front showing Adam and
Eve in Paradise also dates from about this period. Seen from both inside and
out, the cathedral looks as if it has come out of a mold. The lines are clear
and there is no superfluous ornamentation. In the well-proportioned nave, it is
worth having a look at the screen - a rare feature in Scotland. The figures
around the altars represent the seven deadly sins. Projecting from the south
transept is the Blacader Aisle named after the first bishop of Glasgow. Note
the richly decorated ribbed pillars and fine bosses.
George Square
At the heart of the Victorian city center stands the
flower-bedecked George Square where twelve statues of famous men and women
survey the bustling scene. They include Robert Burns, Scott (on the Doric
column at the center) and James Watt, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, Thomas
Campbell, William Gladstone, Sir John Moore and Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850),
prime minister and rector of the university.
City Chambers
The east end of George Square is dominated by the town hall
and its 230ft/70m high tower. It was designed by William Young following the
Italian Renaissance style and was completed in 1890. The most impressive
features are the loggia, the staircase finished with Breccia and Carrara marble
and a banqueting room with some marvelous barrel vaulting.
McLellan Galleries
Built in 1856, the Galleries are named after their builder,
Archibald McLellan. In the 1980s the Galleries were ravaged by fire, but
re-opened in 1990, to house exhibits of Scottish art.
Willow Tea Room
When in 1902 Catherine Cranston opened her cafe on the first
floor of 217 Sauchiehall Street, Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife
designed everything for her, right down to the menu. Extensive restoration work
was carried out in the early 1980s and the cafe was re-opened in 1983. A wide
choice of teas is available served in a stylish ambiance.
Mountain Tours
Some of the peaks in Glen Coe exceed 1,000m such as
Buachaille Etive Mór in the east (3,345ft/1,022m), Stob Coire nan Lochan
(3,657ft/1,115m) in the west - a very popular spot for winter sports
enthusiasts - and Bidean nam Bian (3,742ft/1,141m). However, it ought to be
borne in mind that these slopes are more suitable for mountaineering than mountain
walking and should only be tackled by accomplished climbers appropriately
equipped. Nevertheless some routes in the more remote areas are safe and
inexperienced walkers can enjoy the true beauty of the valley. The weather is
an important factor. Too often Macauley's description of the glen as the
"Valley of the Shadows" or even the gloomy "Valley of
Tears" seem more apt. But when the sun is shining brightly the splendor of
this mountain range is more likely to match the words "oblivious of
humanity" used by Henry V. Morton. Signal Rock, Devil's Staircase and Loch
Achtriochtan are possible destinations for walkers or tourers.
|
