Rouken Glen
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| Rouken Glen | |
|---|---|
| Type | Public Park |
| Location | Giffnock,Glasgow. |
| Coordinates | |
| Opened | May 25, 1906 |
| Operated by | East Renfrewshire Council |
| Status | Open all year |
Rouken Glen is a park in East Renfrewshire to the south-west of Glasgow, Scotland.
Contents |
[edit] History
The lands of Rouken Glen Park originally belonged to the Scottish Crown, and then to the Earl of Eglinton, presented to him on his marriage in the year 1530, the Earl being Hugh Montgomery, King James V only son. It takes its name from the old Rock End Meal Mill in the glen, which dates back to the early 16th century. The remains of the meal mill can be seen at the foot of the waterfall deep within the foliage and rhodedendron bushes high on the slope away from the pathway. Amongst the park's owners were the Smith family of Glasgow (associated with Madeleine Smith of murder trial fame), the Crum family of Thornliebank and Archibald Cameron Corbett, M.P. for Tradeston, Glasgow (later Lord Rowallan) who gifted the estate, mansion house etc. to the citizens of Glasgow. It was officially opened on 25th May, 1906 and leased to Eastwood District Council in June, 1984.[1]
[edit] Features
The glen has many of the typical features of an Edwardian urban park, such as a boating pond started in 1923 by Sir Robert McAlpine to replace a former curling pond. Rouken Glen includes a large waterfall surrounded by steep woodland; the waterfall is based on a natural waterfall, doubled in height to form a reservoir to supply the printworks downstream at Thornliebank during the early 1800's. There is a walled garden in the grounds of the former manor, Birkenshaw house. A large mini golf course from the early 1980's has been removed.
[edit] Trivia
It features in an episode of the Scottish 1990s television sitcom, Rab C Nesbitt, when Rab gets a job there. He is seen sweeping leaves by the pond. Also, the scene in the film Trainspotting with the shooting of the dog was filmed in Rouken Glen.
