Bridgeton, Glasgow
Encyclopedia
Bridgeton is a district to the east side of Glasgow
city centre. It is bounded by Glasgow Green
to the west, Dalmarnock
to the east and south and Calton
to the north-west at Abercromby Street/ London Road. It used to be bounded by a village named Mile-End to the north, however this district seems to have vanished over the years, resulting in Bridgeton's boundary moving north to Crownpoint Road. It started as a small weaving village in 1705, when the third John Walkinshaw marked out a portion of his Goosefauld estate for rent. However not much interest was shown until 1775 when Rutherglen Bridge was constructed across the River Clyde
and the area became known as Bridge Town. A major employer was carpet manufacturer James Templeton & Co
.
Bridgeton's most notable feature is the "Brigton Umbrella", a Victorian cast iron structure covering the centre of Bridgeton Cross. Bridgeton also has one of Glasgow's original Carnegie libraries, deftly designed by the Invernessian architect, James Robert Rhind
.
For many years Bridgeton has been the centre of the Orange Order in Scotland
.
Their marches are a common sight in Glasgow during the summer months but reach a peak around the 12th of July when the celebrations commemorating the Battle of the Boyne
are in full flow.
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...
city centre. It is bounded by Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green
Glasgow Green is a park situated in the east end of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde. It is the oldest park in the city dating back to the 15th century.In 1450, King James II granted the land to Bishop William Turnbull and the people of Glasgow...
to the west, Dalmarnock
Dalmarnock
Dalmarnock is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde. It is bounded by the Clyde to the south and east, Parkhead to the north, and Bridgeton at Dunn Street to the north west...
to the east and south and Calton
Calton, Glasgow
Calton is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. The name Calton is derived from the Gaelic "coillduin", which means "wood on the hill". It is situated north of the River Clyde, and just to the east of the city centre...
to the north-west at Abercromby Street/ London Road. It used to be bounded by a village named Mile-End to the north, however this district seems to have vanished over the years, resulting in Bridgeton's boundary moving north to Crownpoint Road. It started as a small weaving village in 1705, when the third John Walkinshaw marked out a portion of his Goosefauld estate for rent. However not much interest was shown until 1775 when Rutherglen Bridge was constructed across the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
and the area became known as Bridge Town. A major employer was carpet manufacturer James Templeton & Co
James Templeton & Co
The Glasgow based textile company James Templeton & Co was one of the leading carpet manufacturers in Britain during the 19th and 20th centuries. The firm was established in Bridgeton in 1839 by James Templeton 1802-1883. At its peak, its Bridgeton factory employed 3000 people before closing in 1979...
.
Bridgeton's most notable feature is the "Brigton Umbrella", a Victorian cast iron structure covering the centre of Bridgeton Cross. Bridgeton also has one of Glasgow's original Carnegie libraries, deftly designed by the Invernessian architect, James Robert Rhind
James Robert Rhind
James Robert Rhind, architect, was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1854 and trained as an architect in his father's local practice.He was successful in the architectural competition for new libraries to be constructed in Glasgow following Andrew Carnegie’s gift of £100,000 to the city in 1901...
.
For many years Bridgeton has been the centre of the Orange Order in Scotland
Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland
The Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is the autonomous Grand Lodge that organises the Orange Institution in Scotland. A staunchly protestant fraternity, the Grand Orange Lodge of Scotland is one of the largest political forces advocating unionism in Scotland and the continuance of the United Kingdom...
.
Their marches are a common sight in Glasgow during the summer months but reach a peak around the 12th of July when the celebrations commemorating the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
are in full flow.