Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park of 136 acres in the east end of Glasgow, Lanarkshire, on the north bank of the River Clyde. Established in the 15th century, it is the oldest park in the city.[1] It connects to the south by the St Andrew's Suspension Bridge.
History
In 1450, King James II granted the parkland to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow.[2] The Green then looked quite different from the Green today. It was an uneven, swampy area made up of several distinct "greens" (separated by the Camlachie and Molendinar Burns): the High Green; the Low Green; the Calton Green; and the Gallowgate Green.[3] In the centuries that followed, the parkland was used for grazing, washing and bleaching linen, drying fishing nets, and recreational activities like swimming. In 1732, Glasgow's first steamie, called the Washhouse, opened on the banks of the Camlachie Burn.
From 25 December 1745 to 3 January 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's army camped in Flesher's Haugh (privately owned at the time, but would become part of Glasgow Green in 1792); Charlie demanded that the town supply his army with fresh clothing and footwear.[4]
In 1765, the Green was the site where inventor James Watt was strolling, when he hit upon the idea of the separate condenser for the steam engine.[2]
In 1792, Glasgow extended the parkland to the east by purchasing an additional stretch of land, known as Fleshers' Haugh from Patrick Bell of Cowcaddens.[4]
19th century
In the 19th century, two projects were proposed that would have intruded upon the Green. The steamship owner Henry Bell wanted a canal built from the Broomielaw to Glasgow Green with a quay terminal at the Green. This proposal was unpopular and was never implemented. Then, in 1821 and 1822, exploratory boring underneath the Green uncovered large coal deposits, after which the city's Superintendent of Work recommended a mining operation to extract to coal. At the time, the Glasgow town council voted against the plan. It was re-introduced in 1858, and this time the town council approved it, because they were looking for ways to offset the cost of purchasing land to create parks in other areas of the town. But their decision was met with such large-scale public opposition that the plan was dropped. The proposal was reintroduced twice more, in 1869 and 1888, but was rejected both times.[2]
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The depression which began when the Napoleonic Wars ended in 1815, drove Glasgow town council to hire 324 jobless workers to remodel Glasgow Green. In 1817 and 1826, efforts were made to improve the layout of the park. Culverts were built over the Calmachie and Molendinar Burns and the park was levelled out and drained.[2]
Meanwhile, the Green became the locus of much political activity. The Radical movement for parliamentary reform was growing, and in 1816, about 40,000 people attended a meeting on the Green to support demands for a more representative government and an end to the Corn Laws that kept food prices high.
Then, in the spring of 1820, the Green became one of the meeting places for conspirators in what was known as the "Radical War". Strikers carried out military drills on the Green before their brief rebellion was crushed. Later, James Wilson was convicted of treason for allegedly being a leader of the insurrection. He was hanged and beheaded on the Green in front of a crowd of about 20,000 people.
When Parliament passed the Reform Act of 1832, increasing the electorate from 4,329 (in 1820) to 65,000 (in 1832), over 70,000 people gathered on the Green for a demonstration, and a band from the Bridgeton area of Glasgow les a procession lead around the Green.
The Chartism movement that grew in response to the Reform Act eventually resulted in what is known as the Chartist Riot of 1848. William Gladstone's Reform Act of 1867, which increased the electorate to 230,606 (in 1868), inspired further demonstrations and meetings on the Green.[2]
In April 1872, the “women's suffragette society,” that had formed two years earlier, held a large open-air meeting on the Green. From then on, until the late 1910s, the women's suffrage movement continued to use the Green as a meeting place.
The Green was also used for sport during the 19th century, notably by two of Scotland's oldest sporting clubs: The Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club was established in 1857 on the south side of the River Clyde (it moved to Glasgow Green in 1901); the Glasgow University Rowing Club (now known as the Glasgow University Boat Club) was established in 1867 at the Green, on the banks of the River Clyde. In May 1872, a group of members from the Clydesdale Amateur Rowing Club formed a football team and began playing against Callander Football Club, using Flesher's Haugh on the Green as their playing field. This team was later renamed Rangers Football Club.[4]
Glasgow Green railway station opened on the Glasgow Central Railway line in 1895. (It was temporarily closed during First World War, and permanently closed in 1953.)
20th century
In the early years of the 20th century, the Green continued to be a favoured venue for political protests. During First World War, members of the anti-war movement held mass demonstrations on the Green. In September 1914, the revolutionary socialist leader John Maclean held his first anti-war rally there, under Nelson's monument. The Military Service Act of 1916 inspired a rally on the Green that led to its three lead speakers being imprisoned for 12 months for violations of the Defence of the Realm Act. On 29 June 1916, David Lloyd George was invited to receive the Freedom of the City honour, which sparked mass protests on the Green. In May 1917, a number of workers marched through Glasgow to the Green in support of Russia's February Revolution. First World War also saw an influx of munitions workers into Glasgow. The growing population led to rent increases, which inspired protests on the Green in 1920.
In more recent times, the Green has been a favourite spot for many live music events. Michael Jackson performed there on 18 August 1992 during his Dangerous World Tour in front of 65,000 people. In 1990, the Stone Roses performed at the Green. The band later split up, but came back together for a world tour, after which they returned to the Green in 2013 for another live performance.
21st century
In 2004, the Green was host to the Download Festival Scotland, a live music festival featuring Metallica, Linkin Park, Korn, and Slipknot. In May 2014, the Green was the site of Radio 1's Big Weekend, the biggest free ticketed music event in Europe. The event featured some of the biggest acts in the world, and they performed to a total of over 50,000 spectators in the course of the weekend.
As part of the legacy of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Green became one of 27 sites in Glasgow to be protected by Fields in Trust through a legal "Minute of Agreement". The agreement aims to ensure that the Green will be preserved as public recreation land for future generations to enjoy.
Since 2017, the Green has served as the venue for the music festival TRNSMT.
The Green is also currently the home of the World Pipe Band Championships.
The Green continues to host sporting events in addition to music events. The annual Great Scottish Run, which is generally held in early October, finishes up on the Green, with runners entering it through the historic McLennan Arch.
Location
- Streetmap: NS602640
- Location map: 55°50’56"N, 4°14’7"W
Outside links
 |
("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Glasgow Green) |
- Glasgow Green: Glasgow City Council
- Sustrans - sustainable transport charity
References
- ↑ "Scotland's Landscape: Glasgow Green". BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/landscapes/glasgow_green/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Williams, David (1999). The Glasgow Guide. Birlinn. ISBN 0-86241-840-2.
- ↑ Peter Reed, ed (1999). Glasgow: The Forming of the City. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1200-9.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Carol Foreman (1997). Street Names of the City of Glasgow. John Donald Publisher Ltd.. ISBN 0-85976-482-6.