Pollokshields

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Pollokshields (Shields)
Pollokshields (Shields) shown within Scotland
Population	21,299
Language	English
Council area	City of Glasgow
Constituent country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GLASGOW
Postcode district	G41
Dialling code	0141
Police	Strathclyde
Fire	Strathclyde
Ambulance	Scottish
European Parliament	Scotland
List of places: UK • Scotland • Glasgow

Coordinates: 55°51′29″N 4°15′32″W / 55.858, -4.259

Pollokshields is an area of the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. Predating Bedford Park of London by nearly a quarter of a century,^{[citation needed]} it is sometimes claimed to be the UK's first Garden Suburb, despite having been planned and constructed before the movement's inauguration.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell

Pollokshields Burgh Hall

Established by the Stirling-Maxwell family in 1849, Pollokshields was set out or 'feued' by the Edinburgh architect David Rhind. Many well-known Glaswegian architects contributed to its development and, amongst others, it contains villas by Glasgow's other architectural genius Alexander 'Greek' Thomson. There are also several contributions by contemporaries of Charles Rennie Mackintosh including a series of good 'Glasgow style' tenements by the architect H. E. Clifford, who was also responsible for the 'A' listed Pollokshields Burgh Hall, in Scottish Baronial style which was inaugurated in 1890, with Maxwell Park. The ground for Maxwell Park was given by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell of Nether Pollok in 1888, and the park was formally opened at the same time. Such was its early population growth Pollokshields attained 'burgh' status in 1876. However, this ended in 1891 when after being offered favourable tax terms the residents of the burgh agreed to it becoming a suburb of the growing city of Glasgow. The Victorian and Edwardian architecture and the parks of this area have remained almost untouched, leaving the feeling of a leafy Victorian suburb, while being well within the city.

[edit] Modern Pollokshields

Modern Pollokshields is an area of ethnic diversity, home to large communities of mainly Pakistani, as well as Indian, origin. The area's commercial eastern side is home to a large number of South Asian shops (fruit, meat and clothes shops) attracting shoppers from all over Scotland.^{[citation needed]} Albert Drive is also known for its high standard of Pakistani takeaways.^{[citation needed]}

Albert Drive is also the location of the two Eid celebrations that occur every year when the Muslim community of Glasgow congregate to commemorate the end of the Holy Month of Ramadan. Muslims from all over central Scotland make their journey to the south side of the city.

[edit] Education

[edit] Primary schools

There are four primary schools in the Polloksheilds area.

• Pollokshields Primary, spilt into two separate buildings on different streets for different age groups.
• Glendale Primary on the south edge of Polloksheilds
• St. Alberts Primary, to the west.
• Craigholme School on Nithsdale Road (a private primary school for girls)

[edit] Secondary schools

There are the four secondary schools in the vicinity:

• Bellahouston Academy (on the western edge of Pollokshields)
• Shawlands Academy (located in Shawlands, a mile west of Pollokshields).
• Craigholme School (Private nusery, primary and secondary on St Andrews Drive)
• Hutchesons Grammar School (Private secondary on Beaton Road)

[edit] Demographics

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Pollokshields has a total population of 21,299 (49.6% female and 50.4% male)^[1] as of 2008.

41.3% of the total population are below the age of 30. The largest group is the thirty to forty year olds numbering at 5,485. The elderly population is 3,086 accounting for 14.5% of all citizens.

[edit] Media

[edit] Local radio

• Awaz FM is an Asian community radio station which broadcasts on 107.2 FM across the Glasgow area.
• Radio Ramadan begins at the religious months when Eid is about to commence. It currently has a broadcast frequency of 88-89 FM, although throughout recent years it has remained 87.7 constantly.

[edit] Newspapers

• The Glaswegian - a local free paper covering Glasgow.
• G41 - a local paper that covers events in the G41 postal area.
• Eastern Eye Scotland - a weekly newspaper serving the Asian community.

[edit] The Darnley Street Family Centre

[edit] The Darnley Street clubs

• This is a local youth club that meets on Wednesdays (boys 8-14 years) and Thursdays (girls 8-14 years).

[edit] Religious buildings

There are many religious buildings in the Pollokshields area, the most common are mosques and churches. Currently there are three mosques and three churches and one gurdwara.

[edit] Mosques

Masjid Noor

Madrasah Zia-Ul-Quaran

[edit] Masjid Noor

The Masjid Noor beside Forth Street in Pollokshields, is place for all Muslims in the area.^[2]

[edit] Madrasah Zia-Ul-Quaran

The second of a trio of Mosques located in Pollokshields can harbour Muslims who are in their childhood, primarily teenagers, who are the most likely to go here, as classes for learning their own religion are available.^[3]

[edit] Madrasah Taleem-Ul-Islam

This is the third of the three mosques in the Pollokshields area. It is situated on Nithsdale Road and is split up into two buildings, one of which is used mainly for Islamic classes after school, and the other is used for the local muslims to pray their salah (prayers).^[4]

[edit] Churches

[edit] St. Alberts Church

The church of St Albert the Great in Pollokshields was originally built for a congregation of the United Presbyterian Church. The Italian Renaissance design by John.B.Wilson was planned to be used for yet another building, Stockwell Free Church, in 1887. St Albert's original title was Albert Road Church, being named after Queen Victoria's consort, Prince Albert, rather than the German saint of the same name who is the current patron. The Archdiocese of Glasgow acquired the church in 1965 for the new parish and with very minimal interference to the original interior or exterior design, it was brought back into use as a church in 1967. The cream sandstone facade has a very attractive octagonal vestibule and tall bell tower.

[edit] St. Ninian's Church

St Ninian's church is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church located on the corner of Albert Drive and Pollokshaws road.^[5]

[edit] Pollokshields Church of Scotland

Pollokshields Church of Scotland.

The church was built as Pollokshields Established Church by Robert Baldie in 1877-1878. The architecture is mixed Gothic with an early English tower with tabernacles above the broaches of the spire at the southwest comer of the building. The tower has a clock face on each of its four sides. The south (entrance) front has a large geometrical window above a row of trefoil headed windows with stiff leaf capitals.

The side aisles have twin lancet windows beneath the clerestory of triple lancet windows to the main church. The interior has aisle arcades formed by polished granite columns on high octagonal sandstone bases with French Gothic capitals supporting pointed arches beneath the clerestory windows and the high scissor braced roof trusses. Each column cap is different The timber roof of the side aisles and the main trusses add to the grandeur of the interior. The south balcony is reached by a staircase from the east porch. The deep chancel was remodelled in 1912-1914 with new organ, pulpit and communion table.

[edit] Gurdwaras

There is currently in the area only one Gurdwara. It is situated near Madrasah Taleem-Ul-Islam.

[edit] Pollokshields in popular culture

• The 2004 film Ae Fond Kiss, directed by Ken Loach, was filmed in Pollokshields.^{[citation needed]} This is the story of a second generation Pakistani man, who falls in love with a white girl.

• The eighth track on Cookies, the debut album by 1990s (band), is named after Pollokshields and is about the band's experience of living and socialising in the area.^{[citation needed]} The sleeve also features a picture of the Pollokshields Minimarket on Kenmure Street.

[edit] See also

[edit] Libraries

• Pollokshields Library

[edit] Railway stations

[edit] Open

• Maxwell Park railway station
• Pollokshields East railway station
• Pollokshields West railway station

[edit] Closed

• Pollokshields railway station
• Strathbungo railway station

[edit] Notable youth clubs

• Darnley Street Family Centre
• Clydesdale Cricket Club

[edit] Places to visit

• Pollokshields Burgh Hall

[edit] Adjoining districts

• Crossmyloof
• Govanhill
• Strathbungo

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Pollokshields Community Council
• Pollokshields Heritage
• Information on Mosques in Pollokshields
• Pollokshields Church of Scotland