Scotstoun

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Scotstoun
Renfrewshire

Earlbank Avenue, typical of Scotstoun's avenues
Location
Grid reference: NS532675
Location: 55°52’42"N, 4°20’53"W
Data
Post town: Glasgow
Postcode: G14
Dialling code: 0141
Local Government
Council: Glasgow
Parliamentary
constituency:
Glasgow North West

Scotstoun is an district of the West End of of Glasgow. It forms part of the parish of Renfrew in that part of Renfrewshire north of the Clyde. Surrounding districts are Garscadden to the west; Victoria Park, Jordanhill and Whiteinch to the east; Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde (and Braehead beyond) to the south. At the heart of Scotstoun lies Scotstounhill, an enclave of late Victorian and post-war housing centred upon Scotstounhill railway station. Scotstoun (along with the Govan shipyard) is home to BAE Systems Surface Ships (formerly Yarrow Shipbuilders), a naval shipbuilding defence contractor owned by BAE Systems.

History

Scotstoun was until the early 1860s the site of the Oswald family estate, which was centred on Scotstoun House. By 1861 the westward expansion of the Clyde shipbuilding yards had reached Scotstoun with the opening of the Charles Connell and Company shipyard in 1861 and the new Yarrow Shipbuilders yard in 1906. This led to the break-up of the estate, as portions were sold off for housing, to create Victoria Park and for further industrial development (iron, engineering and shipbuilding) along the river, with companies such as the Coventry Ordnance Works and Albion Motors locating in the area.

The southern part of Scotstoun is characterised by late 19th- and early 20th-century tenements, while at its heart, and dating from a similar period, is a grid-like estate of mainly terraced cottage style villas with distinctive English styling in wide tree-lined streets, an early example of Ebenezer Howard-type garden suburb town planning.

Current Amenities

Today this is a much sought after conservation area, part of which lies in the fiercely sought-after Jordanhill School catchment, and is popular with families seeking fine period houses with gardens close to the heart of the West En]. The local primary school and church lie in the centre. Unfortunately, the area has suffered the loss of many of its mature trees in recent years and the Council-promised tree-planting scheduled for spring 2009 failed to materialise.

Scotstoun is a designated conservation area and has an active residents association called Scotstoun Conservation Area Residents Association which works closely with the local school, church and community. Other local groups are often involved in contributing to the community, for example on 7 May the Scotstoun Woodies cleaned up litter on the Nature Walk as part of the council's clean up drive.

Further information

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