Cathcart Parish Council Chambers
All the buildings featured in this exploration of the architecture of Glasgow's southern suburbs can be visited from stations on the Cathcart Circle railway line. I have not followed any strict geographical or political boundaries which have changed so much in the last 150 years.
The ancient parish of Cathcart in Renfrewshire extended over a much larger area than the present Glasgow suburb, stretching all the way from Langside to beyond Netherlee.
The establishment of Glasgow Central Station on 31st July 1879 had an enormous impact on the development of the city's southern suburbs.
Cathcart District Railway's line to Cathcart via Queen's Park and Mount Florida was opened to the public on 26th May 1886. The circular route back to Central Station by way of Langside and Pollokshaws was completed on 2nd April 1894. Destination Board at Central Station, 1965
Cathcart Circle trains leaving from platforms 7 and 8 are shown in the station's destination board (above), which was maintained manually by staff placing large boards in the window for each platform. Central Station, 1965
Views of Central Station at the "Heilanman's Umbrella" over Argyle Street, looking eastwards from the Oswald Steet/ Hope Street junction (left), and westwards from the Jamaica Street/ Union Street junction (right).
The Glasgow tramway, which operated its first electric tramcars on 13th October 1898, was extended from Langside to Cathcart in 1902 on its way to Netherlee. By this time the intensive house building which was to change a rural village into a bustling suburb was well under way.
Cathcart was now so accessible to the city by train and tram that its annexation in 1912 was almost inevitable.
The city boundary had been steadily moving outwards throughout the nineteenth century. Glasgow's borders first crossed to the south side of the River Clyde in November 1846 when the burgh of Gorbals became part of the city.
Pollok House
There are stately homes to be visited on the route, such as Pollok House (above), Camphill House and Haggs Castle. All these buildings are featured in pages in this site.
St Albert's Church Pollokshields
I have also illustrated some of the many interesting examples of church architecture on the Cathcart Circle line, such as the ruins of Cathcart Old Parish Church, St Albert's, Pollokshields (above) and Holy Cross, Crosshill.
Battlefield Rest
Some of the buildings included in the architectural tour are impossible to categorise, such as Battlefield Rest, (above).
Villa at Queens Park
There is a page devoted to the domestic architecture to be seen in some of the affluent areas which the trains pass through.
Cathcart Circle Architecture
Site created and maintained by Gerry Blaikie
Unauthorised reproduction of any image on this web site is not permitted.
The district was the base of the Cathcart family, whose hereditary seat was Cathcart Castle. The remains of the castle (left), which stood at the top of Old Castle Road, can no longer be seen, having been declared dangerous and requiring demolition in 1980.
The castle had been built by the Cathcart family around 1450. During the time of Wallace and Bruce an earlier structure was occupied by Alan de Cathcart, who was a staunch supporter of those legendary Scottish heroes. On 14th August 1336 he was recorded as giving 20s sterling out of the lands of Bogton to the Blackfriars Monastery.
The castle and surrounding lands of Cathcart, Bogton and Tankerland passed out of the possession of the Cathcarts in the mid 1500's, but were restored to family ownership in 1801 when purchased by the Earl of Cathcart.
Bogton had its own castle near to the present day Muirend Railway Station. Bogton Castle was actually a tower house built in 1543 for the Blair family. It was demolished without trace many years ago.
The boards for the Cathcart Circle were coloured blue, indicating that the route was provided by electric "Blue Trains" which came into service on the line on 29th May 1962, three years before this photograph was taken.
The green destination boards for platforms 4 and 5 were for local deisel trains which were painted dark green at the time.
The Police Acts of 1850 and 1852 allowed settlements with populations of over 1200, and later 700, to become independent Police Burghs with their own municipal authorities.
A number of small communities on the southern fringes of Glasgow took advantage of this legislation, creating burghs which had lifespans of less than 20 years.
Crosshill burgh lasted from 1871 to 1891, Govanhill from 1877 to 1891 and East Pollokshields from 1879 to 1891. The districts of Langside, Shawlands and part of Mount Florida were also absorbed in the "great annexation" of 1891.
The expansion of 1912 saw Govan and Pollokshaws joining Glasgow along with Cathcart.
The biggest loss to the city's architecture was Queen's Park
United Presbyterian Church designed by Alexander "Greek" Thomson, which was destroyed in the Second World War. This is featured in my "Outer Circle" page
These buildings are the product of a different age, when society and popular taste was so much different from today.
There are many large houses on the south side of Glasgow which were built in the extravagant style which was common before the First World War. There are also post 1918 houses featured, built in a more modest scale.
The houses can be seen in my
"Houses and Mansions" page
Introduction
South side suburbia
Cathcart Explored
Architectural heritage
Via Queens Park
Outer Circle showpieces
Via Maxwell Park
Inner Circle landmarks
Houses and Mansions
Domestic architecture
Links Page
Other sites of interest
All original artwork and text Copyright© G.Blaikie 2001-2008.