Castlemilk
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Castlemilk is a huge district of Glasgow, Scotland. It lies to the south of the city adjacent to Rutherglen and Carmunnock. There is no longer a castle in Castlemilk. Castlemilk House, a stately old mansion built around Cassilton Tower, which was started in 1460 on the site of a 13th century castle, was demolished by Glasgow Corporation in 1969. The area was developed by the Corporation as a peripheral housing scheme in the 1950s to accommodate people from inner city slum areas such as the Gorbals. These people were provided with open spaces, a clean environment and indoor toilets and bathrooms. Like other schemes at the time, it was poorly planned, with little thought given to providing amenities such as schools or pubs next to the unattractive rows of houses and concrete towers, so ensuring that there were no centres where the inhabitants could socialise and develop a community. Children travelled to schools and their parents travelled to work. Shopping for more than basics had to be done in the city. The lack of community together with rising unemployment and crime saw the deterioration of the scheme back almost to the slum conditions it had been designed to replace. It became ironically referred to as Chateau Lait, in typical Glaswegian black humour.
The deterioration of the scheme took place over 20 years with many people moving out. The population had dropped from 37,000 in 1971 to roughly half that number in 1991. However, despite the social problems associated with poverty and unemployment, the area has seen the benefits of a regeneration strategy implemented in the 1980s which has focused on improved housing and the development of local arts. Community groups and Cooperative housing associations have done a lot to regenerate the housing and improve the amenities for local people. A swimming pool, sports centre, shopping arcade and community centres have been developed.
In November 2005, the area's infamous Mitchellhill tower blocks were blown up as part of a £500,000 demolition project.
The Castlemilk tower blocks are the setting for The Jeely Piece Song (sometimes called Skyscraper Weans), a popular modern folk song by Adam McNaughton.
In 2001 the Rev John D. Miller, minister of Castlemilk East Parish Church, was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Miller Primary School in Castlemilk was named after him and his wife.
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