Report any broken links to gww@whisperingwalls.net
Glasgow
Click on the Play button
Saint Mary’s Parish, Abercromby Street, Glasgow
Not all that imposing, you may think.
But take a look inside.....
This Catholic Church opened on 15th August 1842, on the Feast of the Assumption. The Parish is known as Saint Mary's, but the full name is Saint Mary Of The Assumption.
There's nothing left of Saint Mary's Primary School, or the 'Wee Mary', as we locals called it. (The 'Big Mary' was the secondary school in Kerr Street). All that's left is Saint Mary's church, and the priests' house, which can't be seen at this angle.
St Mary’s School for boys, girls and infants was built in 1850 in Rose Street, and was opened by Father Peter Forbes, Saint Mary's parish priest. The school was built mainly for the children of Irish cotton weavers and Irish labourers.
On 9 June 1927, Glasgow Corporation renamed Rose Street as Forbes Street, in honour of Father Forbes.
One of the features of this school, was the playground on top of the school building. There were high railings to stop the pupils falling off, but some misguided urchin would sometimes try to climb up the railing for a better view. We were built of stronger stuff in those days, and had to 'play' outside on the roof, come rain or shine. It had to be monsoon weather before the sadistic teachers considered bringing their bedraggled pupils back downstairs to the classrooms.
But Saint Mary's Parish has even more significance to at least half the Glaswegian football fans. For it was here in the Parish hall in 1887 that Brother Walfrid founded the Glasgow Celtic Football Club.
This inscription is on the Glasgow Green end of the suspension bridge.
It reads.....
BEN AND SARAH PARSONAGE GATE
Ben Parsonage officer of Glasgow Humane Society from 1923 to 1979.
"A shy and unassuming boatman who single handedly rescued more people from drowning than any man in Britain"
Daily Record 2 October 1979
The Lady Well
The Lady Well, or Our Lady's Well was used by the ordinary people of Glasgow to draw their water. The well dates back to the thirteenth century and was used right up to the nineteenth century, but the water was said to be contaminated by the ever-growing population of the Glasgow Necropolis, which inhabits the hill above the well.
John Houldsworth of Cranston Hill Mausoleum
On a recent visit to the Glasgow Necropolis, near Glasgow Cathedral, I came across this mausoleum.
There were no inscriptions that I could see, and at that time, I knew nothing about this fine monument.
On peering through the rusting green railings into the gloomy chamber, I could just make out the figure of a statue in the fading light of the overcast sky.....
I set my digital camera to night mode and gingerly put the camera through the railings. I had no way of telling if the statue was in view, because it was too awkward to view the LED display.
Holding the camera as steady as I could, I took this one photograph.....
This photograph is not unique, as I've since seen other (professional) photographs of this statue on the Internet while I was researching - but you can imagine my astonishment at stumbling across this statue for the first time!
The two statues outside are Hope, on the left, with an anchor at her feet, and to the right is Charity, who is holding a baby. Inside, in the gloom, is Faith, who is holding a bible. Two angels sit at her feet.
The sculptor was John Thomas, who later did some work on the Houses Of Parliament and who designed the furniture for Number One Park Terrace, Kelvingrove. John Houldsworth had bought this property, but sadly John Thomas's designs were never realised, because John Houldsworth died before the house was completed.
John Houldsworth (1807-1859)
John Houldsworth came from Nottingham, and was the son of a cotton spinner who moved to Glasgow. Houldsworth became the head of the family business, and later the company expanded into making iron, forming the famous Anderston Foundry and Machine Works.
Houldsworth was a senior baillie and the last Lord Provost of Anderston, before it became part of Glasgow. He was an accomplished musician and devoted his leisure time to music and the arts.
Sir Charles Cameron Memorial Fountain Charing Cross Glasgow
Designed by Clark & Bell, Glasgow, and Doulton & Company, Lambeth. Erected in 1896.
The fountain is not sitting level and leans towards the east.
The fountain is located at the bottom of Woodside Crescent and Sauchiehall Street. The underground toilets next to the fountain have now been sealed.
Sadly, the fountain no longer works.
Sir Charles Cameron was a member of Parliament representing Glasgow.
Glasgow Buskers
Until recently, The Whisperer was under the mistaken impression that Glasgow City Council allowed busking in Glasgow city centre. I have since been informed that it is in fact illegal to busk in Glasgow, and no street trader licences are issued. It's the responsibility of the police, at their discretion, to move buskers on.
Which is a great pity, because Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street are filled with the sound of music. You can see bagpipe players, guitar players, or even on occasions two or three buskers getting together to form a makeshift band.
Performers included a sand dance routine, a Peruvian band, dancers, robot men, and of course pavement artists - all entertaining the Glasgow shoppers.
Sometimes, as you can see in one of the photos, a member of the public joins in, making it that more special.
The Whisperer is yet to capture on camera a beautiful young lady, seen in Sauchiehall Street - playing the bagpipes! But watch this space.
Despite the advent of online shopping and out of town shopping malls, Glasgow city centre still attracts huge crowds of shoppers, and even more pleasing, a growing number of tourists.
The cafes now have tables and chairs outside their shops on the precincts, daring diners to brave the unpredictability of the Glasgow weather, to sit and dine, just like they do in other European cities.
Sit at a nice table on a warm sunny day, sip your coffee, and if you're lucky, a busker will entertain you. But don't forget to leave a donation.
,br>
Dr Who Lands in Buchanan Street
This is a real police box. I remember when I was a lad seeing a man being 'huckled' into that very police box by two burly policeman. I saw inside the box. All it had was a shelf on the wall at the back, and a telephone. There was a box on the floor, locked.
There were quite a few of these police boxes in the city. They made excellent shelters for the bobby on the beat.
Although the new BBC TV series of Dr Who is excellent, the Tardis (police box) seems out of place, and I wonder if many children watching it realise that those blue boxes did really exist in the UK.
This particular police box was used as an electronic information centre until recently, but is not used now.
UPDATE: 06 October 2006 - this police box is now used as a coffee shop. There's not much room for the assistant in there, but at least the coffee is nice.
Here's another police box. This one is in Cathedral Square, just off Castle Street. It looks so out of place here, and one wonders if the good Doctor is enjoying a tour of Glasgow Cathedral?
Glasgow City Chambers Headquarters of Glasgow City Council George Square
FREE guided tour of the City Chambers 10.30am and 2.30pm weekdays
The design of the City Chambers was determined by the result of a competition, the eventual winner being the Paisley-born architect William Young. The building was completed in 1888 and was officially opened by Queen Victoria.
An extension was opened to the east side of the building in John Street in 1923, and the latest addition in George Street, Exchange House was completed in 1984. The City Chambers covers an area of 14,000 square metres.
The Lord Provost resides in the City Chambers. The title of 'Lord Provost' is similar to the Mayor of English cities. The Lord Provost presides over 79 councillors, and they meet formally in the Council Chambers.
The Lord Provost is Glasgow's 'First Citizen', the Lord Dean of Guild (Merchants House) is the 'Second Citizen", and Deacon Convenor (Trades House) is the "Third Citizen". Council meetings are open to the public, and there is a separate gallery for journalists.
The Whisperer joined a guided tour of the City Chambers one day, and was struck by the warmth and friendliness of the staff when they greeted their visitors. We were allowed to take photographs - and we were even allowed to sit on the Lord Provost's seat, which was a gift to Glasgow by Queen Victoria!
We visited the Grand Ballroom, the Council Chambers, and walked up the marble staircase - which had been used by film companies to depict the staircases in the Vatican and the Kremlin.
If you are visiting Glasgow, or even if you are a resident, and you've never been on a tour of the City Chambers - it is highly recommended. There is so much to see, and the decor, paintings and wonderful rooms with their rich ornamentation are a joy to behold. There is so much about the City Chambers that can be written, but The Whisperer will leave it to your tour guide to astound you with the sheer magnificance of this stunning building.
It does not look much from the outside, but if you enter the shop, which is Hendersons The Jewellers, go through the back, you will discover a lovely little tea room, designed by Charles Rennie MacIntosh. A great tribute to the "Glasgow Style", that was so much in vogue then.
Macintosh designed the 2 Willow Tea Rooms in 1904, this one, and the other in Buchanan Street. Recently, the Billiard Room was opened to the public. Although the billiard table and the original fittings are no longer there, the Willow Tea Room has made it into a little museum, where you can see examples of Macintosh's work, and a large photograph of the billiard table itself, the only known photo in existence is on display. The proprietors are quite happy for you to take photos and to sit on the Macintosh chairs on show.
The Willow is on the balcony and you can see the jewellers shop below.
The Whisperer sat at table 16, and enjoyed cranberry juice, haggis, neeps and tatties - and a pot of lovely Darjeeling tea. They have a fine selection of Indian and Chinese tea, and to enjoy the flavour in The Whisperer's opinion, you should not spoil it with milk or sugar.
The service was excellent, the staff were polite and well turned out in their smart uniforms. The cost was very reasonable, just over 10 pounds.
You really must visit this Tea Room. The Whisperer may visit their Buchanan Street establishment one day.
