Yorkhill
Encyclopedia
Yorkhill is a district
in the Scottish
city of Glasgow
. It is situated north of the River Clyde
in the West End of the city. It is known for its famous hospitals; the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill
and the Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital.
The Kelvin Hall
and the Glasgow Museum of Transport
are also located in Yorkhill. The area is mostly residential, with the housing stock consisting of sandstone tenement housing built in the 20th century by the Overnewton Building Company.
The ancient name of the lands was Over Newton. It is thought that a small Roman
station existed on Yorkhill. In 1868, while workmen were trenching ground on the summit of the hill, where faint indications of earthworks had long existed, they found Roman remains. These included several brass Roman coins (one of which was of Trajan
), bronze finger-rings and fragments of Samian pottery. This discovery was interesting because previously almost no traces of Roman footsteps had been found in what is now Glasgow.
In the early 19th century, the lands of Over Newton belonged to George Bogle and Robert Barclay. The westmost section of Over Newton became the property of Robert Fulton Alexander, a merchant who, in 1805, erected a mansion on the hill.
In 1813 the mansion and grounds were sold to Andrew Gilbert, another merchant, who purchased other adjoining lands and included these and the mansion under the general title of Yorkhill. The whole Yorkhill estate was left by him to his niece, Jane Gilbert, when he died in 1838. She had married the painter John Graham in 1834 and when Mrs Graham inherited her uncle’s estate, her husband assumed the surname Graham-Gilbert. In later years he worked from a studio in Yorkhill House and on his death his collection was left to the City of Glasgow.
In 1914, the estate was acquired by Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and Yorkhill House was demolished to make way for their new hospital. The new hospital was opened in 1916 by King George V
. In 1940, all the patients at the RHSC were evacuated after the cruiser HMS Sussex, berthed at Yorkhill basin, was hit by German bombers.
In 1966, the Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital opened on the Yorkhill site adjacent to the RHSC. In 1966, the RHSC was relocated to Oakbank Hospital and the original hospital was demolished to make way for a new hospital. It was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II
in 1972.
In 1868, Yorkhill Quay was built on the river and the Yorkhill Basin added in 1907. The eastern section of the district is residential, comprising traditional Glasgow sandstone tenements and includes the Kelvin Hall to the north.
The family home of writer A. J. Cronin
was located at 29 Esmond Street.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
in the Scottish
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...
city of Glasgow
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...
. It is situated north of the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
in the West End of the city. It is known for its famous hospitals; the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Yorkhill
The Royal Hospital for Sick Children is a hospital in Yorkhill, Glasgow, specialising in paediatric healthcare. It is commonly referred to simply as Yorkhill...
and the Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital.
The Kelvin Hall
Kelvin Hall
The Kelvin Hall in Glasgow, Scotland, is a mixed-use arts and sports venue that opened as an exhibition centre in 1927. It has been a music hall, indoor arena and barrage balloon factory, and is currently home to the Kelvin Hall International Sports Arena and from 1987 to 2010, Glasgow's Museum of...
and the Glasgow Museum of Transport
Glasgow Museum of Transport
The Glasgow Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland was established in 1964 and initially located at a former tram depot in Pollokshields. From 1987 the museum was relocated to the city's Kelvin Hall...
are also located in Yorkhill. The area is mostly residential, with the housing stock consisting of sandstone tenement housing built in the 20th century by the Overnewton Building Company.
The ancient name of the lands was Over Newton. It is thought that a small Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
station existed on Yorkhill. In 1868, while workmen were trenching ground on the summit of the hill, where faint indications of earthworks had long existed, they found Roman remains. These included several brass Roman coins (one of which was of Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
), bronze finger-rings and fragments of Samian pottery. This discovery was interesting because previously almost no traces of Roman footsteps had been found in what is now Glasgow.
In the early 19th century, the lands of Over Newton belonged to George Bogle and Robert Barclay. The westmost section of Over Newton became the property of Robert Fulton Alexander, a merchant who, in 1805, erected a mansion on the hill.
In 1813 the mansion and grounds were sold to Andrew Gilbert, another merchant, who purchased other adjoining lands and included these and the mansion under the general title of Yorkhill. The whole Yorkhill estate was left by him to his niece, Jane Gilbert, when he died in 1838. She had married the painter John Graham in 1834 and when Mrs Graham inherited her uncle’s estate, her husband assumed the surname Graham-Gilbert. In later years he worked from a studio in Yorkhill House and on his death his collection was left to the City of Glasgow.
In 1914, the estate was acquired by Glasgow's Royal Hospital for Sick Children, and Yorkhill House was demolished to make way for their new hospital. The new hospital was opened in 1916 by King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
. In 1940, all the patients at the RHSC were evacuated after the cruiser HMS Sussex, berthed at Yorkhill basin, was hit by German bombers.
In 1966, the Queen Mother's Maternity Hospital opened on the Yorkhill site adjacent to the RHSC. In 1966, the RHSC was relocated to Oakbank Hospital and the original hospital was demolished to make way for a new hospital. It was reopened by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
in 1972.
In 1868, Yorkhill Quay was built on the river and the Yorkhill Basin added in 1907. The eastern section of the district is residential, comprising traditional Glasgow sandstone tenements and includes the Kelvin Hall to the north.
The family home of writer A. J. Cronin
A. J. Cronin
Archibald Joseph Cronin was a Scottish physician and novelist. His best-known works are Hatter's Castle, The Stars Look Down, The Citadel, The Keys of the Kingdom and The Green Years, all of which were adapted to film. He also created the Dr...
was located at 29 Esmond Street.