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Alex Glass · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 1:34 am Post subject: George Square

Most people pass through George Square at some point when in Glasgow but how many know much more than ho the statues commemorate.

Or what the buildings are at each side of the Square.

Other parts of the city have leaflets to tell visitors a little about the history of a particular area. There are also leaflets about many Heritage Trails in the city. The most recent being "Langside Heritage Trail".

But what about the one place most visitors flock to - George Square.

It isn't a large area but what do we know about "The Square". I hope you will join in here to let others know a little bit about the history of this important visitor attaction.

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ALEX G @ flickr

Alex Glass

"As far back as 1745, the year of Prince Charlie's rebellion, it was a marsh surrounded by meadowlands and kitchen gardens."

Cow-lone, extended through the city from south to north, by which the town Herd daily took the cattle of the citizens to the pastures.

"It passed immediately to the west of what is now the Square. It led from Bridgegate, then one of the fashionable parts of Glasgow, went up Stockwell Street, wound past St Enoch's Gate, or more correctly St Thenew's Gate, as Trongate and Argyle Street were named of old, and up where Queen Street now stands.

On the site of the present Royal exchange there was a quaint little farm house, in front of which it passed, and then by a raised path that divided the Crackling House Quarry, through Dundas Street to the Cowcaddens. Just above the farm-house this Cow-lone was joined by the Back Cow-lone, to which Ingram Street nearly corresponds, and along this the Herd's Assistant brought the cattle from High Street. A little further up in Dundas Street, at a spot marked by the "Thorn-tree House" it was joined by the Rottenrow-lone, from the higher district."

The Square is part of the Croft called "Ramshorn". "Ramshorn" and in older times "Ramsholm", which extended from the Deanside Brae and Candleriggs to the Cow-lone, now Queen Street, and from Rottenrow to the Back Cow-lone, now Ingram Street."

" In 1609 this became the property of George Hutcheson, the founder of Hutcheson's Hosital and subsequently the hospital itself."

The land was leased by the Patorns to a number of small crofters. The land was so unprofitable that in 1703 many requests were made for abatement of rent.

"about fifty years similar Crofters' complaints had to be dealt with. Then it began to aquire a new value through the demand for building purposes."

An early drawing of George Square
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I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

Stuball · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 2:02 am Post subject:

There is 12 statues around George Sq. In 1995/6, there was a radical plan to move them all to one side of the square in a line with the 2 authors acting as 'book ends' either end.... this plan never happened (thank god I hear you say)
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Alex Glass · Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:01 pm Post subject:

Thanks Stu that's the kind of thing I am looking for old and new.

Hopefully we can encourage the Council to draw up a leaflet if they haven't already got one. I haven't seen one but that doesn't mean there isn't one.
_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

Alex Glass

"The Square was laid out in the year 1781. Not much more was done than simply to mark its boundary; for a writer describing it nearly twenty years later, stated that it was a "howe" or "hollow, filled with green-water, and a favourite resort for drowning puppies and cats and dogs, while the banks of this suburban pool were the slaughtering place for horses."

At the north-west corner of the Square there was built about the (close of the American war). Baillie George Crawford's Lodging.
"It stood amidst tall trees in which numerous crows had their nests and in front of it, toward Queen Street, there was a spacious lawn dotted with shrubs."

The Crawford Lodging, or "Queen Street Park" Residence of the Late Mr James Ewing, M.P.

"About the year 1815 it was purchased by James Ewing of Strathleven, subsequently M.P. for Glasgow, for £6,000- more than was paid before for a Glasgow mansion."
_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

Alex Glass · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 1:45 am Post subject: George Square - Buildings

From 1891

“The earliest recollections of George Square, by one who was born in Miller Street, date from about 1824. The Square was surrounded with low railing, and he remembers the hindquarters if the horse at a military display pressing against it.”

“The west corner of that compartment of the Square was the residence of Mr. Robt. Hagart, probably of the Hagarts of Bantaskine. The intermediate space was vacant ground, but occupied for a time by a rotunda of wood, where there were panoramic exhibitions. The style of architecture of what was known sixty-five years ago as the “new building” is obviously much plainer than that of the corner houses. The whole compartment was formerly the Queen’s hotel, but is now the North British hotel.”

The North British Hotel

Millennium Hotel 2008

From these early recollections it is known that Mr J. A Campbell, son of Sir James Campbell was born in 1825 in a ground floor and basement apartment in what was known as the “new building. Two or three houses here lead up to the mansion of Mr James Ewing. Near hear was also a “quarry of fine freestone”.

North West Corner 2008

“In the other compartment of the Square, from North Hanover Street to North Fredrick Street, at No. 62, was the counting house of Wm. Dunn of Duntocher. Dr Wm. M’Kenzie, the oculist, of European reputation, had his house at 68. Near to his residence was that of another famous oculist, Dr Montieth. At the eastern corner, where the offices of Mr Wm. Aikman, manger of the Steam Carriage Company.”

Ernst & Young Building 2008

North East Corner 2008

“The eastern compartment, now entirely occupied by the Municipal Buildings, has some interesting features. At the north-east corner of the Square was (1834-5) the residence of the Misses Alexander of Ballochmyle. The boys of the High School used to assemble opposite the house to have a peep at the “bonny lass” of Burns – then well advanced in years- sitting at the window. No. 42 was the office of Wm. & Adam Graham-William occupying the house as far back as 1825. From this house in 1841, the remains of Mr Hozier of Newlands, grandfather of the present Sir Wm. Wallace Hozier of Mauldslie, were carried out for internment, having been brought from Edinburgh."

Municipal Buildings

City Chambers 2007

No. 44 was a house and 36 the centre tenement used as business premises. No 38 was also used as business premises and 34 were wine merchants.

“The two houses at the south-east corner formed the George Hotel, conducted by Hutton in 1825, and by James Black in 1834-5.”

South East Corner 2008

“The compartment now occupied by the Post Office had at the western corner, or that bounded by South Hanover Street, Manhattan buildings, which were occupied entirely by manufactures,” “The entrance to these businesses was in South Hanover Street.”

Post Office

No. 1 George Square (under cover)

The east corners was occupied by business premises and “writing-masters”, it also included a warehouse. The western compartment contained a tenement and houses which were used as office premises. A cabinetmaker had previously occupied the site as their woodyard.

Lomond House 2008

Montieth House 2008

Olympic House 2008

South West Corner 2008

“The west compartment, now occupied by the Bank of Scotland and Merchants’ House buildings, comprised dwelling houses in flats of three storeys. There were no shops. Subsequently these were altered into hotels – the Clarencem the Crow and others. There were three entrances, with turnpike stairs at the back, leading to the several tenements. At the south-west corner was the entrance to the business premises of M’Queen, M’Donnell, & Co. James M’Queen at the time (1835) editor of the Courier,”

Merchants' House and Bank of Scotland

Merchants' House 2008

Middle section 2008

The Counting House 2008

_________________
I had a dream today

ALEX G @ flickr

cybers · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 2:26 am Post subject:

A smashing read there containing loads of good information Alex. Thank you
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james73 · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:50 am Post subject:

Great stuff Alex.

The Ernst & Young Building kinda spoils the square a wee bit for me. Does anyone
know why the buildings that stood there before it were demolished?

James H
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Stuball · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:02 am Post subject:

Here is a full pano of george square from last year. Click on it to go direct to the full 12000+ pixel version (not via flickr)

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Now coming at you with 95% more significance, 1% less salt and virtually fat free!

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lise · Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 10:13 am Post subject:

Oh , to think that "they" contemplated knocking down the City Chambers in the 60's.
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