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Huntershill in Bishopbriggs is the birthplace of Thomas Muir - a Scottish hero, who along with others, fought for Democracy - in a heroic and dramatic way... He was an advocate and political reformer in the late 18th Century. He died at the age of 33 in revolutionary France. He fought for ordinary people to get a vote, and in the process his story is one of heroism and adventure worthy of a film! Part of the Scottish reform movement, a revolutionary hero in America, appointed Minister of The Scottish Republic by the French Revolutionary Government, as well as an inspiration for Robert Burns, a friend of Thomas Paine (who wrote the "Rights of Man"/"Common Sense") and a leading figure of the Scottish Political Martyrs. He was finally restored to the faculty of Advocates, after more than 200 years, in 2020: https://scottishlegal.com/article/father-of-scottish-democracy-thomas-muir-of-huntershill-restored-to-roll-of-faculty   https://www.thenational.scot/news/18565129.r...

The 1 938 Empire exhibition attracted over 12 million visitors to Bellahouston Park.   The Scottish Development Council and in particular two of its members  Sir James Lithgow, the industrialist and Britain`s foremost shipbuilder and the industrialist Sir Cecil Weir (see below), were the driving force behind this exhibition. With regards to European connections, a fascinating character is Sir Cecil McAlpine Weir,  the Glasgow industrialist Cecil McAlpine Weir (1890 - 1960), who had been involved in restarting industries in France and Germany at the end of WW2 and  was best known for his work as head of the United Kingdom Delegation to the High Authority of the  European Coal and Steel Community  from 1952 to 1955, a nd earlier as a prominent figure in the Control Commission for Germany. More about Cecil M Weir in the links below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Empire_Exhibition,_Scotland https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/ Cecil_McAlpine_Weir https://l...

At Great Western Terrace, just off Great Western Road, we can see the grand house which was previously the residence of Sir William Burrell, the shipping magnate and philanthropist and collector of art, sculpture and tapestries. He bought the house in 1901.   The house, and terrace were designed by Alexander “Greek” Thomson (1817-1875). Burrell collected many artworks from across continental Europe, and the various items are now housed as a collection at the Burrell Collection in Pollok Park in the South Side of Glasgow. Due to reopen in 2021, though the exact date is currently a bit uncertain due to Covid. https://www.homesubjects.org/2019/11/26/william-burrell-domestic-display-and-gothic-things/ He made his fortune from his family shipping business and collected art all his life.  Photos : J. Wilson Burrell donated 6,000 pieces that he had collected to the city of Glasgow and in addition provided the city with funds to build a museum to house the collection. This led to...

In Kelvingrove Park, this sculpture of a Tigress and Cubs was gifted to Glasgow by an ex Glaswegian John S.Kennedy, then living in New York. It was sculpted by  Auguste Nicolas Cain, a French sculptor . You can see his signature on the statue. Other similar statues by him can be found in New York Central and Les Jardins de Tuileries in Paris http://www.kelvingrovepark.com/heritage-tigress.html Photos : J.Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 5 : Around Kelvingrove

A monument by Glasgow artist William Kellock Grown, this monument to Thomas Carlyle, the 19th Century man of letters and translator of the German Romantics and who also wrote a history of the French Revolution. For more information:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Carlyle Carlyle Statue in Kelvingrove Park Photo: J. Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 5 : Around Kelvingrove

The Kelvin Way bridge has an interesting history. Completed in 1914, with four magnificent bronze sculptures on each corner representing "Peace and War", "Commerce and Industry", "Philosophy and Inspiration" and "Navigation and Shipbuilding" sculpted by Paul Raphael Montford, it was hit by a landmine during the Clydebank Blitz and ironically the "Peace and War" statue ended up falling into the River Kelvin,  War and Peace sculpture close-up The statue was finally rescued in 1949 and the sculpture was restored by Estonian born Sculptor Benno Schotz.  Finally, two arms from the statue were rescued from the river in the hot summer of 1991 to complete the restoration of the figures! (though I note that the plaque remembering the restoration seems to be on the Philosophy and Inspiration one ...)  Navigation and Shipbuilding (above) Commerce and Industry (above) Philosophy and Inspiration (above) Photos : J.Wilson Note:  Another Benno Schotz ...

Adjacent to St Andrews Roman Catholic Cathedral, on Clyde Street. The centrepiece is a memorial to the Arandora Star tragegy from WW2 when the liner, the Arandora Star, which was sunk while carrying mainly Scots-Italian civilians who had been rounded up from their homes, shops and cafes as “enemy aliens” in 1940.   http://www.italianscotland.com/index.php/cloister-garden Photo: J.Wilson There is a Panel to commemorate the Arandora Star tragedy on the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry:  http://www.scottishdiasporatapestry.org/barga-panel4 Map Reference: Eurowalk 2 : Along the Clyde

The first and grandest red sandstone tenement in the city, A fitting tribute to tenement living, which is found commonly in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as in USA in New York as well as in Berlin, Poland, Prague etc  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenement  and  http://peoplelovespaces.net/articles/24 Charing Cross Mansions was built in 1889-91, and was a modified version of JJ Burnet's French Renaissance-style entry in the City Chambers Competition of 1880.   Photos: J. Wilson The new design included a grand clock at the centre, with sculptures surrounding it, inspired by Michelangelo . The two reclining figures at the top represent Commerce and Industry. There are also four figures representing the seasons and if you look closely at the clockface there are the signs of the zodiac - find out more here:   http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_images.php?sub=charing_cross . The Glasgow Coat of Arms can also be seen. Some old photographs to see what Charing...

On the corner of Union Street and Gordon Street in the town centre of Glasgow, is this magnificent building modelled on the Ca D'Oro building in Venice. It is now Category A listed.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca_d%27Oro_Building Image Attributes: Thomas Nugent / The Ca D'oro Building https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dd/The_Ca_D%27oro_Building_-_geograph.org.uk_-_548181.jpg More information: https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA05148 Map Reference: Eurowalk 6: Around the Town Centre

This centre, which is situated at Garnethill synagogue, has archives of the history of the Jewish people who have arrived in Scotland, most arriving over the last couple of centuries.  The first record of Jews in Scotland dates back to the late 1600s. The Jews who came to Scotland in the late 1600s and early 1700s came in small numbers and tended to be academics, who were attracted by the fact that in the Scottish Universities they were not required to swear a Christian oath, unlike those in England and the continent. These early arrivals were then followed by businessmen and merchants of Dutch and German descent. And more recent history has included the arrival of refugees, in particular during the years of WW1 and WW2. This interesting document ( https://www.scojec.org/resources/files/jewish_experience.pdf ) produced by the archive centre has a few of the stories of people who have been very much involved in Scottish history and communities, including: Benno Schotz (see the ...

The design of Wellington Church on University Avenue was reputedly based on that of La Madeleine in Paris. Wellington Church Photo: J. Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 5: Around Kelvingrove

The City Chambers features Western Europe's largest marble staircase. The three ornate levels were built using Carrara marble imported from Italy.  As you climb the stairs there is a white lion carved in them.  It is considered “lucky” to rub the lion’s nose every time you pass by.  The City Chambers were designed by William Young,  The statue of a woman on top of the building is Truth and the statues beside her represent Riches and Honour. The dark wood in the Council Chamber itself is made from Spanish mahogany. The City Chambers also has on display information about links to Glasgow's Twin Towns. View from the City Chambers onto George Square Commemorative Plate from European City of Culture year 1990 Photos : J Wilson The magnificent interiors include marble staircases, grand rooms and wonderful paintings.  In the magnificent Banqueting Hall for example, you can this painting of Glasgow Fair on Glasgow Green: . Nelson Mandela received his Freedom of t...

The Dalmarnock Smart Bridge carries a pedestrian walkway and cycle path across the River Clyde, as well as carrying a range of power, telecommunications and IT connections over the river. It connects the areas of Shawfield and Rutherglen, aiding in the regeneration of both banks of the river. It forms part of the extensive  Clyde Gateway  regeneration which happened at the time of the Commonwealth Games. A substantial element of the costs of the SMART bridge have been met by almost £2m of support from the European Regional Development Fund and Glasgow and South Lanarkshire Councils took responsibility for the operation and maintenance aspects of the bridge after its completion in 2014.  http://www.clydegateway.com/downloads/Its%20Still%20All%20Go%202013%20Brochure%20complete%20online.pdf https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Shawfield_smartbridge.jpg Photo attribution: Crowsus, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by...

The sculptures "The Attendants" and "The Gatekeeper" at this development were sculpted by Afro-Hungarian Dan Dubowitz. He was  NSK Artist In Residence, Ljubljana, 1993-4.  Some interesting history behind these can be found here:  http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_biography.php?sub=heisenberg# https://www.artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-attendant-250428 The Gatekeeper symbolises the notion of Gorbals as a gateway for Irish, Jewish and Asian immigrant communities over the centuries: https://mccreathfamily.scot/places/glasgow/glasgow-public-sculptures/the-gatekeeper-g5/ Map Reference: Euro Driving Tour

Designed in 1905-07 by James Millar , the grand interior reflected the great success of the company. This is a Grade A1 listed building and was re-opened as a bar/restaurant in 2014. Some of the fabulous historic posters and documents have been reproduced from the University of Glasgow archives and can be seen on the walls in the restaurant - some are also on the website here. There is mention there of the ships stopping in Gibraltar. Our Story — The Anchor Line Some early history of the company can be found here - Shipping Line Histories - Anchor Line (Walter Runciman & Co. Ltd) (oceanlinermuseum .co.uk) Nicol Handyside, who along with his brother Robert, originally set up the company, was the Russian consul in Glasgow and the business traded with Russia and the Baltic! In the early 1850s, Nicol and Robert Handyside & Co had begun managing the ships of the Glasgow & Lisbon Steam Packet Co., and when that company went out of business in 1863, the trade was taken over by t...

The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been on this current site, adjacent to the River Kelvin, since  1839 when they moved from a site west of Sauchiehall Street. They opened in 1842.  The Kibble Palace glasshouse (see photograph below) was originally a private conservatory located at Coulport on Loch Long. It was moved to its present site in 1873 and was first used as a concert hall and meeting place, hosting celebrated speakers such as Gladstone and Disraeli.  Photos by J.Wilson (Glasow Loves EU) The Kibble Palace and the magnolia tree in the foreground was bred in Paris ! The statues in Kibble Palace include ones by the Italian Antonio Rossetti: http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_biography.php?sub=rossetti_a# the Italian sculptor Scipio Tadolini whose sculpture "Eve" can be seen:  http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_biography.php?sub=tadolini_s# .  Also "Ruth" by Giovanni Ciniselli  http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_biography.php?sub=ciniselli_g# Glasgo...

Very interesting history about the artist Hilda Goldwag, who as a young person had to flee Austria: http://hiddenlanegallery.com/exhibitions/hilda-goldwag-drawings-from-the-dustbin-or-what-the-lawyers-missed/ There was an exhibition of her work at the Hidden Lane Gallery off Argyle Street Glasgow Photo: J.Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 5: Around Kelvingrove

The house was recreated finally in 1990, from drawings by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret MacDonald. The House for an Art Lover was an entry into a German design competition to design a “Haus Eines Kunstfreundes” or “Art Lovers House” set by German design magazine “Zeitschrift Fur Innendekoration”. Mackintosh's designs arrived late so were excluded, but when the other competitors saw what he had produced, they withdrew from the competition! https://www.houseforanartlover.co.uk/about/history-of-the-house The House for an Art Lover features in the background of the painting by Jenny Wilson (whole painting is here  http://www.jenniferwilsonart.co.uk/wedding.html )  which alludes to the painting The Opera of the Seas by Margaret MacDonald  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margaret_MacDonald_-_Opera_Of_The_Seas_1903.jpg Map Reference: Euro Driving Tour

La Pasioniara” (“The Passion Flower”) sculpture by Dan Dooley (http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/) La Pasioniara was Dolores Ibárruri, a Spanish Republican politician, communist, and prominent anti-fascist propagandist during the Spanish Civil War of 1936 to 1939.  Her phrase "Better to Die on your feet than live forever on your knees" is carved on the plaque. La Pasionaria served as inspiration for sculptor Arthur Dooley in 1974, when various trade unions and Labour movement supporters funded the memorial. It is a memorial to British citizens who served in the brigades during the war. Photo: J. Wilson On the plinth it says: " 2,100 VOLUNTEERS WENT FROM BRITAIN; 534 WERE KILLED, 65 OF WHOM CAME FROM GLASGOW".  These volunteers  from across Europe went to Spain to join the brigades and help in the fight against a fascist insurgency, all sadly in vain as the fascists rose to power under the leadership of Francisco Franco. An interesting blog about some of this ...

This war memorial is the work of Sculptor Ernest George Gillick ( 1874 – 1951)   and architect, John James Burnet and was erected in 1924. Photo: J Wilson Ernest Gillick, the sculptor was born in Bradford, the son of a local tailor and, aged 11, he left the city and went to Nottingham, where he was apprenticed to a lace designer. He then attended Nottingham School of Art, where he studied under the sculptor, Oliver Shepphard.  At Nottingham he won a scholarship that enabled him to study in London at the Royal College of Art, where he was tutored by the French sculptor, Edouard Lanteri, who helped Ernest obtain a traveling scholarship in 1902 to Italy and Paris. Europe where he gained inspiration for future work. Ernest’s work in the 1930s included sculptures on the memorial to The Missing, at the Vis-en-Artois war cemetery, France. https://www.notjusthockney.info/gillick-ernest-george/ John James Burnet is also mentioned on our tours regardi...

The Italian Centre opened in 1991. The design is based on an Italian-style palazzo, with cafes and fashion boutiques around a central courtyard. Many famous brands have been located here, including Versace Collections (the UK's first Versace store) and Emporio Armani. However although these brands are no longer situated here, it is still home to some high class fashion boutiques and eating places. John Street Mercury statue (finance ..) and the Italia statue on the rooftop (pictured). https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/lifestyle/13273920.eye-spy-glasgow-the-messenger-of-the-gods-in-glasgows-italian-centre/ They were designed by architect Alexander Stoddart and  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Stoddart   Also Artist Shona Kinloch has two statues in the courtyard "Thinking of Bella" - of a man and a dog both gazing upwards.  http://www.glasgowsculpture.com/pg_biography.php?sub=kinloch_s#   Map Reference: Eurowalk 6: Around the Town Centre

There is an interesting Glasgow connection with Luxembourg in that the a ward winning Glasgow design and motion studio Playdead won an award for creating a short film for the Luxembourg Space Agency  https://www.playdead.tv/ portfolio/space-resources/ https://www.playdead.tv/ They won the Grand Prix at the 2020 Scottish Design Awards with ‘Driving the future of Space Exploration’ film. Image Credit: ESA/Hubble, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons Image Attrib: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Starsinthesky.jpg Map Reference: Eurowalk 2: Along the Clyde

Finnieston Crane The Titan Crane at Finnieston (adjacent to the SEC complex)  is one of four Titan cranes which have been preserved on the Clyde out of the numerous cranes which used to be seen on the Clyde. The Titans were the biggest!  The Finnieston crane was used to load newly produced railway engines onto ships for shipping worldwide. If you look further down the river, you will see another Titan crane which was situated at the Barclay, Curle & Co.  Clydeholm Yard at Whiteinch.   In 1912, Barclay, Curle & Co. built ship called the Jutlandia ,  for the East Asiatic Company, a Danish business with headquarters in Copenhagen. Two sister ships were built in Denmark at the same time (the first was Selandia). These three were the first large sea-going ships in the world to have diesel engines. Rudolf Diesel , a German, patented his engine in 1892. Almost immediately the Glasgow shipbuilders negotiated a licence and by 1914 had the first works in...

The Greek Community of Glasgow and the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St. Luke, in the leafy West End of Glasgow, have the only community-owned home of Orthodox Christians in Glasgow, Scotland.  The Cathedral welcomes Orthodox people of all nationalities, such as Scots, English, Russian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Ethiopian etc. Photos : J. Wilson Cypriot Hotel Magnate Reo Stakis made possible the purchase of the church building to become the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Further information:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reo_Stakis  and  http://www.greekcommunitystluke.scot/istoria-koinotetos   Map Reference: Eurowalk 3: West End Wander

Òran Mór , Gaelic for 'great melody of life' or ' big song',  is situated within the former Kelvinside Paris church that sits at the crossroads of Byres Road and Great Western Road. Interesting church history here including a sculpture that can be seen within the church which is a carving of the face of a famous Swiss figure from the Reformation, amongst others.   https://oran-mor.co.uk/history/ Photos of Oran Mor : J Wilson Map Reference: Eurowalk 3: West End Wander