Glasgow, Scotland
1906 - Glasgow

Glasgow, the industrial and commercial metropolis of Scotland, and next to London, the most populous city of Great Britain, in the co. of Lanark, on both sides of the river Clyde, 42 miles W. by S. of Edinburgh and 405 1/ 2 miles by rail NW. of London... It is one of the best built cities of Great Britan, with broad, spacious streets lined with handson residences, a fine river-frontage, and several open squares. Of these the most important are Glasgow Green in the SE. of the city, a broad strech along the river containing Nelson's monument, the People's Palace, a museum, art gallery, and winter-garden; George Square, the finest park of the city, surrounded by splendid public buildings and containing, in addition to a column 80 feet high to the memory of Walter Scott, equestrian statues of Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort, and statues of Peel, Pitt, Gladstone, Burns, and others; West End Park, crossed by the river Kelvin and containing the Stewart Memorial Fountain and the Corporation Art Galleries, including the City Industrial Museum (1901); Queen's Park in the SW. of the city, and Alexandra Park in the extreme E. Of the streets the most important are Sauchiehall, Buchanan, Union, and Argyll.

Glasgow contains many handsome buildings, although, with the exception of the cathedral, none are of historic interest. The cathedral, built between 1197 and 1446, in the Early English Gothic style, is chiefly remarkable for its richly ornamented and exceedingly beautiful crypt. It has recently been embellisshed with superb stained-glass windows. The municipal buildings, post-office, Bank of Scotland, Merchants' House, and many others, all fronting on George Square, are massie and perfectly proportioned edifices. Among other noteworthy structures are the new buildings of the university. the University of Glasgow was founded by 1451 by Bishop Turnbull. It is attended by over 2000 students. Its library contains 175,000 volumes. To the university belongs the Hunterian Museum, with its famous anatomical collection. The Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, founded in 1886, has a large attendance. Among other noteworthy institutions are St. Mungo's College and Anderson's College, the Mitchell Library, containing 150,000 volumes, the Corporation Public Libraries, and the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum.

The extraordinary growth of Glasgow and its development as a commercial city are due to the fact of its situation on the river Clyde and to its location in a rich coal and iron region. About half a century ago, the Clyde at Glasgow was so shallow that it could be forded, but as a result of a vast outlay of money upon engineering works of great magnitude the harbor has been enlarged so as to permit of large ocean steamers lying at anchor in it. There are over 6 miles of quays. Glasgow Bridge, crossing the Clyde, was rebuilt in 1899. In the extent of its merchant marine Glasgow is surpassed by few cities in the world. In 1901 it comprised 1586 vessels (1141 steamers), with an aggregate tonnage of 1,606,852. the banks of the Clyde are lined with ship-building and engineering works. The other great industries of the town include the manufacture of steam-tubes, boilers, locomotives, machinery for sugar-mills, muslins and other textiles, chemicals, starch, sugar, paper, glass, china, tobacco, whiskey, and beer. Spinning and dyeing are extensively carried on. The St. Rollox Chemical Works, with a chimney 435 feet high, exceeded in height only by a neighboring one of 455 feet, are famous. The water-supply of Glasgow is drawn from Loch Katrine, 42 miles distant. Among the suburbs of Glasgow are Govan and Patick, with a combined population of 125,000. The city of Paisley is in the outskirts.

Glasgow is a very ancient city. It came into existence in 580, when St. Kentigern built an abbey on the site of the present cathedral. In 1636 it became a royal burgh, but it was not until the union in 1808 that it rose to industrial importance. Then, by the opportunities for trade with America offered to it, it entered on its career of commercial prosperity. Glasgow is the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishop and of an Anglican bishop. Pop. in 1801, 77,385; in 1881, 511,415; in 1901, 760,423.

Lippincott's New Gazetteer: A Complete Pronouncing Gazetteer Or Geographical Dictionary of the World, Containing the Most Recent and Authentic Information Respecting the Countries, Cities, Towns ... in Every Portion of the Globe Publisher J.B. Lippincott Company, 1906

Visit Glasgow, Scotland
Discover the people who lived there, the places they visited and the stories they shared.