Drumchapel
Encyclopedia
Drumchapel known to locals and residents as 'The Drum', is part of the city of Glasgow
, Scotland
, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire
in 1938. It borders Bearsden
to the east (in East Dunbartonshire
) and Clydebank
to the west (in West Dunbartonshire
). The area is bordered by Knightswood
and Yoker
in Glasgow. The name derives from the Gaelic meaning 'the ridge of the horse'. Drumchapel is also well known for table-tennis, lawn tennis, gymnastics, and football.
As part of the overspill policy
of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s to house 34,000 people - it is this estate that is now most associated with Drumchapel, despite there being an area known as Old Drumchapel
made up of affluent villas to the south of modern Drumchapel.
The area had well-known social problems, notably anti-social
behaviour and degeneration of often poorly constructed post-war housing. However, it remains popular with many of its residents and more recently there has been substantial private investment in the area, leading to the construction of new housing developments in the North West of the district. The area, along with Easterhouse
, Castlemilk
and Greater Pollok
are collectively known as 'Big Four' post-war social housing schemes. All are similar in terms of architecture and planning, and tend to suffer from a similar range of social problems.
The area is served by Drumchapel railway station
.
of New Kilpatrick
, becoming devolved in the late 19th century and a church parish in its own right in 1923. The Old Church (originally serving both Drumchapel and Blairdardie) was built in 1901 for an increasing local population. The parish boundary was redrawn to create the new parish of St Margarets
in Knightswood.
Civil administration
transferred from New Kilpatrick to Glasgow Corporation in 1938. As part of the overspill policy
of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s. The housing in the area is now 72% post-war tenement and 6% multistorey flats, the remainder being other flats and houses. The current population is estimated at 15,000, which is split into 6,000 households.
Located to the southern end of Drumchapel sitting on Great Western Road is the Junction Retail Park. The retail park has retailers which include; Sainsbury's, Pets At Home, Carpet Right, ScS, Allied Carpets. JJB Sports Comet, Curry's, Benson's For Beds, B&Q Warehouse and Mecca Bingo. Also within the retail park are places to eat which include Pizza Hut, Burger King and The Leven Valley (Carvery & Pub).
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...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire
Dunbartonshire or the County of Dumbarton is a lieutenancy area and registration county in the west central Lowlands of Scotland lying to the north of the River Clyde. Until 1975 it was a county used as a primary unit of local government with its county town and administrative centre at the town...
in 1938. It borders Bearsden
Bearsden
Bearsden ) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow, approximately from the City Centre, and is effectively a suburb, with housing development coinciding with the introduction of a railway line in 1863, and from where the town gets its name...
to the east (in East Dunbartonshire
East Dunbartonshire
This article is about the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. See also East Dunbartonshire .East Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It borders onto the north-west of the City of Glasgow. It contains many of the suburbs of Glasgow as well as containing many of...
) and Clydebank
Clydebank
Clydebank is a town in West Dunbartonshire, in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Situated on the north bank of the River Clyde, Clydebank borders Dumbarton, the town with which it was combined to form West Dunbartonshire, as well as the town of Milngavie in East Dunbartonshire, and the Yoker and...
to the west (in West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. Bordering onto the west of the City of Glasgow, containing many of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages as well as the city's suburbs, West Dunbartonshire also borders onto Argyll and Bute, Stirling, East...
). The area is bordered by Knightswood
Knightswood
Knightswood is a suburban district in Glasgow, containing 4 areas: Knightswood North or High Knightswood, Knightswood South or Low Knightswood, Knightswood Park and Blairdardie. It has a golf course and park, and good transport links with the rest of the city. Garscadden and Scotstounhill railway...
and Yoker
Yoker
Yoker is a western district of Glasgow, in Scotland, UK, lying on the northern bank of the Clyde to the east of Clydebank. It is located approximately 5 miles west of the City Centre. From the fourteenth century a ferry has linked Yoker with the burgh of Renfrew on the south bank...
in Glasgow. The name derives from the Gaelic meaning 'the ridge of the horse'. Drumchapel is also well known for table-tennis, lawn tennis, gymnastics, and football.
As part of the overspill policy
Overspill estate
An overspill estate is a housing estate planned and built for the rehousing of people from decaying inner city areas usually as part of the process of slum clearance....
of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s to house 34,000 people - it is this estate that is now most associated with Drumchapel, despite there being an area known as Old Drumchapel
Old Drumchapel
Old Drumchapel is a district of Glasgow, Scotland. Old Drumchapel is located around Drumchapel railway station. The area formed part of the Cowdenhill and Garscadden Estates.-History:...
made up of affluent villas to the south of modern Drumchapel.
The area had well-known social problems, notably anti-social
Anti-social behaviour
Anti-social behaviour is behaviour that lacks consideration for others and that may cause damage to society, whether intentionally or through negligence, as opposed to pro-social behaviour, behaviour that helps or benefits society...
behaviour and degeneration of often poorly constructed post-war housing. However, it remains popular with many of its residents and more recently there has been substantial private investment in the area, leading to the construction of new housing developments in the North West of the district. The area, along with Easterhouse
Easterhouse
Easterhouse is a suburb about east of Glasgow city centre, Scotland. It was partially built on land gained from the county of Lanarkshire as part of a boundary expansion of Glasgow before the Second World War. Building began in the mid-1950s by the then local authority, Glasgow Corporation...
, Castlemilk
Castlemilk
Castlemilk is a district of Glasgow, Scotland. It lies to the south of the city adjacent to Rutherglen, Croftfoot, Simshill and the separate village of Carmunnock...
and Greater Pollok
Pollok
Pollok is a large district on the south-western side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It was built to house families from the overcrowded inner city...
are collectively known as 'Big Four' post-war social housing schemes. All are similar in terms of architecture and planning, and tend to suffer from a similar range of social problems.
The area is served by Drumchapel railway station
Drumchapel railway station
Drumchapel railway station is a railway station serving the Drumchapel area of Glasgow, Scotland. The station is managed by First ScotRail and is served by trains on the Argyle Line and North Clyde Line.The station is situated on Garscadden Road...
.
History
Drumchapel was part of the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of New Kilpatrick
New Kilpatrick
New Kilpatrick, is an ecclesiastical Parish and former Civil Parish in Dunbartonshire. It was formed in 1649 from the eastern half of the parish of Kilpatrick , the western half forming Old Kilpatrick...
, becoming devolved in the late 19th century and a church parish in its own right in 1923. The Old Church (originally serving both Drumchapel and Blairdardie) was built in 1901 for an increasing local population. The parish boundary was redrawn to create the new parish of St Margarets
Knightswood St. Margaret's Parish Church, Glasgow
Knightswood St. Margaret's Parish Church is a parish church of the Church of Scotland, serving part of the Knightswood area of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:...
in Knightswood.
Civil administration
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
transferred from New Kilpatrick to Glasgow Corporation in 1938. As part of the overspill policy
Overspill estate
An overspill estate is a housing estate planned and built for the rehousing of people from decaying inner city areas usually as part of the process of slum clearance....
of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s. The housing in the area is now 72% post-war tenement and 6% multistorey flats, the remainder being other flats and houses. The current population is estimated at 15,000, which is split into 6,000 households.
Economy
The major employers for Drumchapel from the 1950s to the 1980s were the Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co (GB) Ltd, Beattie's Biscuit Factory, Singers Sewing Machines - Clydebank, The Reo Stakis Organisation - Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar, The Golden Garter Night Club and The Butty Public Bar, The Edrington Group Whisky Bond and the various shipyards on the Clyde. Beattie's Biscuit factory closed in 1978 and the Goodyear and Singers factories both closed in February 1979. Reo Stakis's Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar along with The Golden Garter Night Club closed in June 1988. The Butty Public Bar was sold to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries and is still going strong with Billy Bryson the Manager for over 30 years now holding the lease. The Edrington Group Whiskey Bond has grown over the years and is still a major employer in the area while the shipyards have all gone with the exception the now BAE Systems yards at Scotstoun and Govan. Drumchapel is now going through its 2nd regeneration with promises of better schools, better homes and higher employment.Located to the southern end of Drumchapel sitting on Great Western Road is the Junction Retail Park. The retail park has retailers which include; Sainsbury's, Pets At Home, Carpet Right, ScS, Allied Carpets. JJB Sports Comet, Curry's, Benson's For Beds, B&Q Warehouse and Mecca Bingo. Also within the retail park are places to eat which include Pizza Hut, Burger King and The Leven Valley (Carvery & Pub).
People
List of notable people who lived in Drumchapel:- Billy ConnollyBilly ConnollyWilliam "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin...
, famous comedian and entertainer, lived in Drumchapel, in Kinfauns Drive. His wife Pamela Stevenson mentions this in her biography of him.
- Andy Gray. Between the years 1973–1992 Andy Gray played for Dundee United, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Notts County, West Bromwich Albion, Glasgow Rangers, Cheltenham Town and finally Chelsea. He scored a total of 180 goals in his domestic and International career.
- Football player Danny McGrainDanny McGrainFor the former Clyde F.C. footballer, see Danny McGrain Daniel Fergus "Danny" McGrain is a Scottish former professional footballer who played for Celtic F.C. in defence. He made 657 appearances scoring 8 goals...
. Daniel Fergus McGrain played for Glasgow Celtic from 1970 to 1987 and is widely regarded as one of the most talented defenders Scottish football ever produced. McGrain finished his playing career with one season at Hamilton Academical in 1988 and amassed a total of 62 caps at international level.
- Football player Gregor StevensGregor StevensGregor Stevens was a Scottish former professional footballer, who played during the 1970s and 1980s.Stevens started his career at Motherwell in 1974 and moved to England with Leicester City in 1979 for a fee of £165,000...
. Gregor Stevens played for Motherwell, Leicester City, Glasgow Rangers, Hearts, Partick Thistle, Brechin City and Dumbarton.
- Football player John MacDonaldJohn MacdonaldJohn Macdonald may refer to:*John S. MacDonald, co-founder of MacDonald Dettwiler*John Macdonald , New Zealand forensic psychiatrist who coined the MacDonald triad of sociopathy- Government :...
. John MacDonald played for Glasgow Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Barnsley, Scarborough, Ardrieonians, Dumbarton, Fort William and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. MacDonald made 230 appearances and scored 77 goals while at Glasgow Rangers.
- Football player John WarkJohn WarkJohn Wark is a Scottish former footballer who spent most of his playing time with Ipswich Town. He won a record four Player of the Year awards before becoming one of the four inaugural members of the club's Hall of Fame...
. John played for Ipswich Town, Liverpool and Middlesburgh. Wark scored 172 goals in domestic and international matches
- Actor James McAvoyJames McAvoyJames McAvoy is a Scottish stage and screen actor. He made his acting debut as a teen in 1995's The Near Room and continued to make mostly television appearances until the early 2000s. His notable television work includes State of Play, Shameless, and Frank Herbert's Children of Dune...
was born and bred in Glasgow, McAvoy lived in Scotstoun until he was seven, before going to live with his grandparents in Drumchapel
- Gordon SmithGordon Smith (footballer born July 1954)Gordon Smith is a retired professional footballer who played as a defender. He was born in Partick, Scotland.He made over 100 league appearances for and during his time there he gained 4 Scottish under-23 caps....
footballer was brought up in Drumchapel. He played for St Johnstone, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Wolves and Pittsburgh Spirit
- Laurence Murphy QC Advocate was born and raised in Drumchapel