Bellahouston is a district in the southwest of the Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 city of Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...

. It is bordered by Ibrox

Ibrox

Ibrox is a district of the city of Glasgow in western Scotland. It is located to the south of the River Clyde next to the district of Govan....

, Dumbreck

Dumbreck

Dumbreck is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde.The district is served by Dumbreck railway station. The only church in Dumbreck is St Leo the Great RC church....

 and Pollokshields

Pollokshields

Pollokshields is a district in the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. It is a conservation area which was developed in Victorian times according to a plan promoted by the original landowners, the Stirling-Maxwells of Pollok, whose association with the area goes as far back as...

.

History

The Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938

Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938

Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....

 was held in Bellahouston Park

Bellahouston Park

Bellahouston Park is a public park in the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland, between the areas of Mosspark, Craigton, Ibrox, and Dumbreck, covering an area of . It is based around Ibrox hill in the centre, with commanding views over most of the city, exceptions being views to the east that are...

 and attracted over 13 million people.

The park has been the focal point of the visits by two popes to the city of Glasgow: On 1 June 1982 Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

 celebrated Mass

Mass (liturgy)

"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...

 attended by around 250,000 worshippers (reputedly the largest crowd ever assembled in Scotland). Twenty eight years later on 16 September 2010 Pope Benedict XVI

Pope Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...

 celebrated Mass close to the same spot as his predecessor.

Bellahouston Park contains several sports facilities, including the Palace of Art, Sports for Excellence Centre, Bellahouston Sports Centre and the Glasgow Ski Centre (which is also home to Bellahouston Road Runners). The park also contains "House for an Art Lover

House for an Art Lover

The House for an Art Lover is based on a design produced in 1901 by Charles Rennie Mackintosh with his wife, Margaret MacDonald. The building is situated in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, Scotland. Construction began in 1989 and the house was finally opened to the public in 1996...

" based on designs by architect

Architect

An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

, Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh

Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...

, on which construction was completed in 1996. It was also the site of the futuristic Art Deco skyscraper, the Tate Tower, which was completed in 1938, but was subsequently demolished. Bellahouston is also home to the Bellahouston Sport Centre which has been renovated twice following two accidental fires. The latest revamp finished in 2001 means the centre now contains : Health Suite • Fitness Suite • Dance Studio • Main Pool • Leisure Pool • Flume • Outdoor Pool • Baby Pool • 2 x 5-court Sports Halls • Function Room • Gymnastics Centre • Crëche & Soft Play • Cafeteria • 2 Squash Courts. The swimming pools being the most notable new addition.

Rail

• Bellahouston railway station
  Bellahouston railway station
  Bellahouston railway station was a railway station serving the Bellahouston area of Glasgow, Scotland. The station was originally part of the G&SWR Paisley Canal Branch.-History:...
  
   on the Paisley Canal Line
  Paisley Canal Line
  The Paisley Canal Railway line was originally a Glasgow and South Western Railway branch line running from Glasgow, Scotland, through three stations in Paisley, to North Johnstone...
  
  .