Blythswood Hill
Encyclopedia
Blythswood Hill is an area of Glasgow
, Scotland
.
It lies to the immediate west of the city centre and as the name suggests rises to a plateau before dipping again towards the west end area of Woodlands
.
Blythswood Hill was developed as a result of the westward expansion of the city in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Likened to Edinburgh's
New Town
, it housed the city's wealthy merchants and shipping
magnates in four (or more) floored Georgian
townhouses. The centrepiece of the area is Blythswood Square, which was originally intended by the Georgian architects and planners of the time to be the "new" centre of the city, and, although this is largely true from a geographical standpoint, George Square
which fronts the Glasgow City Chambers
still remains Glasgow's "official" centre.
Blythswood Hill became infamous as the home of Madeleine Smith
, a young woman who in 1857 was tried for the murder of her lover Pierre Emile L'Angelier. Although the verdict was not proven
the story scandalised Scottish society, and is recounted in Jack House
's 1961 book Square Mile of Murder
.
Today, relatively few people live in Blythswood Hill, it being given over mainly to offices and forming, along with neighbouring Anderston
, Glasgow's financial district. Though in 2009 the conversion of the former RSAC building by the Town House Company Ltd (8-13 Blythswood Square) to form the 5 Star Blythswood Square Hotel http://www.BlythswoodSquare.com is considered to be a catalyst to the re-development and improvement of the whole Blythswood Square. This project was successfully Project Managed by Thomson & Partners http://www.Thomson-Partners.com who have been responsible for other notable projects (ABC Complex, Hallion Club) in recent years.
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...
, Scotland
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...
.
It lies to the immediate west of the city centre and as the name suggests rises to a plateau before dipping again towards the west end area of Woodlands
Woodlands, Glasgow
Woodlands is a residential area in the west-end of Glasgow, Scotland. It is to the east of Hillhead, the south of Maryhill and Woodside, and north of the city's Park District...
.
Blythswood Hill was developed as a result of the westward expansion of the city in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Likened to Edinburgh's
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
New Town
New Town, Edinburgh
The New Town is a central area of Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. It is often considered to be a masterpiece of city planning, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site...
, it housed the city's wealthy merchants and shipping
Shipping
Shipping has multiple meanings. It can be a physical process of transporting commodities and merchandise goods and cargo, by land, air, and sea. It also can describe the movement of objects by ship.Land or "ground" shipping can be by train or by truck...
magnates in four (or more) floored Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
townhouses. The centrepiece of the area is Blythswood Square, which was originally intended by the Georgian architects and planners of the time to be the "new" centre of the city, and, although this is largely true from a geographical standpoint, George Square
George Square
George Square is the principal civic square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is named after King George III.-Historical development:George Square was laid out in 1781, part of the innovative Georgian central grid plan that initially spanned from Stockwell Street east to Buchanan Street—which...
which fronts the Glasgow City Chambers
Glasgow City Chambers
The City Chambers in Glasgow, Scotland has functioned as the headquarters of Glasgow City Council since 1996, and of preceding forms of civic government in the city since 1889, located on the eastern side of the city's George Square...
still remains Glasgow's "official" centre.
Blythswood Hill became infamous as the home of Madeleine Smith
Madeleine Smith
Madeleine Hamilton Smith was a 19th century Glasgow socialite who was the defendant in a sensational murder trial in Scotland in 1857...
, a young woman who in 1857 was tried for the murder of her lover Pierre Emile L'Angelier. Although the verdict was not proven
Not proven
Not proven is a verdict available to a court in Scotland.Under Scots law, a criminal trial may end in one of three verdicts: one of conviction and two of acquittal ....
the story scandalised Scottish society, and is recounted in Jack House
Jack House
Jack House was a prolific and popular Scottish writer and broadcaster, with a significant attachment to the City of Glasgow.-East end:He was born in Tollcross, then technically outside of the Glasgow city boundaries...
's 1961 book Square Mile of Murder
Square Mile of Murder
The Square Mile of Murder relates to an area of west-central Glasgow, Scotland. The term was first coined by the Scottish journalist and author Jack House, whose 1961 book of the same name was based on the fact that four of Scotland's most infamous murders were committed within one square mile of...
.
Today, relatively few people live in Blythswood Hill, it being given over mainly to offices and forming, along with neighbouring Anderston
Anderston
Anderston is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is on the north bank of the River Clyde and extends to the western edge of the city centre...
, Glasgow's financial district. Though in 2009 the conversion of the former RSAC building by the Town House Company Ltd (8-13 Blythswood Square) to form the 5 Star Blythswood Square Hotel http://www.BlythswoodSquare.com is considered to be a catalyst to the re-development and improvement of the whole Blythswood Square. This project was successfully Project Managed by Thomson & Partners http://www.Thomson-Partners.com who have been responsible for other notable projects (ABC Complex, Hallion Club) in recent years.
Notable buildings
- Blythswood Square Hotel (2009) converstion of former RSAC.
- St. Vincent Street Church (1858–1859) by Alexander 'Greek' Thomson, St Vincent Street. One of Glasgow's greatest buildings and possibly its most important ecclesiastical building after the CathedralGlasgow CathedralThe church commonly known as Glasgow Cathedral is the Church of Scotland High Kirk of Glasgow otherwise known as St. Mungo's Cathedral.The other cathedrals in Glasgow are:* The Catholic Metropolitan Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew...
. - Blythswood Square (c.1823-1829) by John Brash
- St. Stephen's Renfield Church (1849–1852) by J.T. Emmett, Bath Street
- Elgin Place Congregational Church (1865) by J.J. Burnet, corner of Bath Street and Pitt Street (demolished 2005)
- King's Theatre (1904) by Frank MatchamFrank MatchamFrank Matcham was a famous English theatrical architect. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery.-Early career:...
, Bath Street - Strathclyde Police Headquarters (1934), Pitt Street (formerly Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College)