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Showing posts with the label Germany

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and 1990, when Glasgow was European Capital of Culture

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Glasgow has a thriving musical and artistic scene. In fact, the European Commission commented in 2019: "As the UK’s top cultural and creative city, Glasgow is home to world-class museums, galleries, family-friendly attractions and an edgy contemporary art scene that shows the city at its energetic finest." Photos : J. Wilson "Glasgow crowned UK’s top cultural and creative city", Sunday Post, 2019:  https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/396198/ The concert hall was built when Glasgow was designated as European Capital of Culture for 1990. Designed by Sir Leslie Martin, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall was officially opened on 5 October 1990 by Princess Anne. Photo: J. Wilson It was also the venue for a famous speech by Gordon Brown about the benefits of being in the EU: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/uk-politics/188045/eu-offers-safety-net-tory-devastation-claims-gordon-brown-glasgow-rally/amp/ Being European Capital of Culture really gave the Glasgow arts scene...

Scottish Jewish Archives Centre - historical links to Lithuania, Latvia etc

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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 ...

Templeton Carpets, a Venetian Connection (& German Beer!)

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This magnificent building was modeled on the Doge's Palace in Venice. Built in 1892 and features orange, yellow, and blue bricks. The story goes that T empleton wanted to build a factory to make his carpets. However, he was always refused planning permission. In exasperation, he asked his architect which he thought was the most famous building. The Doge’s Palace was the reply. "Model the factory on that" was his instruction! At one time 10% of people in Glasgow were involved in the production of carpets and textiles at the peak of the industrial revolution.  Templeton’s Carpet Factory: Historic attraction at Glasgow Green - Clyde Waterfront Heritage  - you may also want to stop of for a beer as there is a brewery/pub/restaurant famously also making beer in the German style here -  WEST Brewery – Glaswegian heart. German head. (westbeer.com) . The West Brewery brews its beer according to the German Purity Law of 1516, so can only be brewed using four ingredients: wate...