Townhead
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Townhead is an area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland.
Located virtually in the city centre, it is bordered to the west by the area of Cowcaddens, to the north by Sighthill and the east by Royston. The housing is primarily ex-council stock (Glasgow has no council houses since their transfer to the Glasgow Housing association), although there are a number of student residences for International Christian College, Glasgow Caledonian University and Strathclyde University which are nearby. Most of the housing are fairly modern 6 in a block flats, although its most visual features are the four 24-storey high rise flats named "Two Taylor Place", "Grafton Place", "St Mungos Place" and "Dobies Loan" (pictured).
Townhead is also well situated for transport links with Glasgow Queen Street Station and Glasgow Buchanan Bus Station on its doostep. There are two pubs, "The Hurdie Gurdie" and "The Lee" as well as a small local shopping area in the centre of the houses. The shops and the houses will be very familiar to fans of the BBC show Chewin the Fat, but you'll have to get up early if you want to get "yer face on the telly".
The original and oldest part of Glasgow, Townhead, is where St. Mungo had his encampment by the banks of the Molendinar Burn. Its strong association with the man can be known by the fact that three streets, a church, a school, a museum and the cathedral are named after him, the most famous of which is also known as Glasgow Cathedral. To find out more about St Mungo visit the site of Townhead's catholic church that bares his name www.saintmungo.org. The church community, as well as baring his name carry on his mission. It provides many services to the local community, including WRAP a daily support to asylum seekers and refugees, a retirement retreat and spirtual and social events for all ages. To quote their website "It is the only place in Glagow's historic centre where each morning, midday, and evening the Christian community gathers for prayer and worship."
Another Historical event that has left its mark on the areas is the Martydom of the Covenanters. At the top of Castle Street was city limits beyond which was the "Howgate". This was the scene of public hangings in the 16th century. A scene that continued until 1781. Most of those martyed are believe to have been Covenanters.
Today outside the Martyrs Church(moved to this location in 1975) is the Martyrs stone. It marks executions in 1684 of James Nisbet (a farmer from Louden Parish in Ayrshire), James Lawson and Alex Wood. Within the church is the "Martyrs church bell" which has been preserved from the old Martyrs building. This church also provides services for the community including a youth support work via its youth project SIMY, a badminton club, through its Lifehope partnership, and different styles of worship and prayer.
Amongst the most famous and oldest of Townhead's streets is Rottenrow. It was from this high vantage point that Mungo could see down the Clyde and be forewarned of the approach of any hostile people. Rottenrow was also home to the Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital. This hospital is now demolished and replaced by the dynamic garden. An open park over looking the city with places to sit and a giant safety pin (!).
The Great Eastern Hotel is on Duke Street at the foot of John Knox Street. In earlier times, it was a model lodging house. "Models" (pronounced Moadles) were for the poorest and most unfortunate of the citizenry
The most famous person to come from Townhead in Glasgow is Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Martyrs' Public School, Glasgow was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh as a gift to the community he grew up in. It is still standing over looking Junction 15 of the M8.
[edit] External links
- St Mungos website [1]
- International Christian College [2]
- Strathclyde University [3]
- ICC Youth work course and SIMY [4]
