Ordnance gazetteer of Scotland

GLASGOW
much crowded with gravestones and monuments; the
newer parts are laid out in somewhat more modem
taste. There are a number of interesting monuments,
including one to some martyrs of the Covenanting times.
The other old cemeteries show no peculiar features.
Inside the city there were also intramural cemeteries
at North Street and Main Street in Anderston, Cheap-
side Street in Anderston, Christ Church in Mile End,
Greendyke Street Episcopalian Church, and for Roman
Catholics in Abercromby Street ; but most of these are
now closed and the others are used only in very special
circumstances. The cemeteries in use are — the Necro-
polis, which is now, however, owing to the growth of
Dennistoun and the extension of the northern district
eastward, almost wholly surrounded by houses; Sight-
hill Cemetery, the Eastern Necropolis or Janefield,
the Southern Necropolis, Craigton at Paisley Road,
Sandymount at Shettleston, Dalbeth at London Road,
Cathcart at New Cathcart, the "Western Necropolis at
Maryhill, and Lambhill Cemetery, near Possilpark.
The Necropolis is the parent of all the garden ceme-
teries throughout Scotland. It lies E of the cathedral,
from the grounds of which it is separated by the ravine
of the Molendinar Bum, partly filled up, and now form-
ing a delightful roadway. The entrance (greatly im-
proved in 1891-92 when Cathedral Square was remodelled)
is by a Tudor gateway at the Bridge of Sighs, already re-
ferred to. The site lies along the slope and brow of a steep
hillside — formerly known as Craig's or the Fir Park, the
property of the Merchants' House — rising to a height of
225 feet above the level of the Clyde, and commanding
from its summit an interesting and beautiful view, with
the city and its spires to the SW, and a long stretch of
finely diversified and wooded country to the E. It was
begun in 1828, the intention being to lay it out after
the model of Pere Lachaise at Paris, to which, in point
of situation, it bears some resemblance, and was opened
in 1833. It is beautifully laid out and kept, and has,
with its trees, flowers, shrubs, and gravel walks, the
appearance of a fine terraced garden. Many of the
monuments show considerable architectural and artistic
taste. One of the oldest and most conspicuous is a
monument to John Knox. It consists of a Doric column
of somewhat heavy proportions, rising from a square
base, and with a broad capital on which is placed a
statue of the Reformer, 12 feet high, by Forrest. The
sides of the base are nearly covered with an inscrip-
tion, giving information relative to Knox and the Refor-
mation. Another conspicuous monument is a Tudor
structure on a quadrangular base, with a colossal statue,
also by Forrest, to the memory of William M 'Gavin,
author of the Protestant. Other interesting monuments
are a beautiful Ionic structure to the memory of the
Rev. Dr John Dick ; a large circular Norman mausoleum
for the late Major Monteith ; a mausoleum for Mr
Houldsworth, with fine figures of Faith, Hope, and
Charity; a pretty facade at the sepulchre of the Jews
at the lower NW corner of the grounds; and statues or
other structures to perpetuate the memory of Charles
Tennant of St Rollox, Colin Dunlop of Tollcross, Colonel
Patterson, the Rev. Dr Heugh, the Rev. Dr Wardlaw,
the Very Rev. Principal Macfarlane, the Rev. Edward
Irving, the Rev. Dr Black, the Rev. Dr W. Anderson,
James Ewing of Strathleven, Sheridan Knowles, William
Motherwell the poet, Dr Macnish, J. H. Alexander of
the Old Theatre Royal, Michael Scott, the author of
Tom Cringle's Log, and John Elder the well-known
shipbuilder.
Sighthill Cemetery, near Springbum, on the NE, laid
out in 1840 by a joint stock company, occupies a sloping
situation, rising to a height of nearly 400 feet above sea-
level, and contains 46 acres of land available for burial
purposes. The grounds are entered by a fine gateway
— close to which is a tasteful chapel designed and used
for burial services — and are well laid out with winding
walks and shrubberies. There is a magnificent view
extending from Tinto to the Grampians. There are a
number of fine monuments, including an obelisk erected
to the memory of Hardie and Baird, who were executed
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GLASGOW
at Stirling in 1820 on a charge of high treason in con-
nection with the early Chartist troubles. More inter-
ments take place at Sighthill than at any of the other
cemeteries in Glasgow. The Eastern Necropolis is on the
E at Parkhead, off the Great Eastern Road. It contains
about 10 acres laid out with walks intersecting at right
angles. The Southern Necropolis on the lands of Little
Govan is about $ mile SSE of Albert Bridge. The
ground, which extends over some 12 acres, is flat, and is
laid out with flower-beds and walks. The Western
Necropolis is on undulating ground at Lochburn Road,
Maryhill. It belongs to a joint stock company, and
covers 54 acres, of which only a small portion is as yet
taken up. It is tastefully laid out, and there are ex-
tensive views to the N and W along to the Campsie and
Kilpatrick Hills, with Ben Lomond and the Gleniffer
Braes. None of the other cemeteries call for particular
comment.
Public Parks. — Glasgow is well supplied with public
parks, which are well laid out and kept, and carefully
tended. The oldest of these is the Green, which lies
along the river in the eastern part of the city for a dis-
tance of more than a mile, and covers a space of about
136 acres. It is all that now remains of the extensive
commonty belonging to the city, which at one time
swept all round the E side from this point to Cow-
cadaens, but which has from time to time been appro-
priated for building purposes. In some of the earlier
charters the Green is mentioned under the name of
the Bishop's Forest, but probably at that time but little
of it was available for the use of the citizens. The Old
Green extended from the present Green to Stockwell
Street, but was given up for buildings in the end of last
century. The first part of the present Green devoted
to the amusement of the people was the E portion,
known as the King's Park, which was granted by James
II. in 1450 for the use of the community. Parts of it
seem, however, to have been alienated, for in 1574 the
community protested against any further encroachments,
and in 1576 the magistrates and council resolved that
thereafter no parts of the city, ' commoun muris, ' were
to be given to any one. Notwithstanding this, fresh
efforts at alienation on the part of the council had again
to be resisted by popular effort in 1600 and in 1745. In
1756 the town council gave off a portion of the ground for
a saw-mill, which, however, they had to send men to
destroy, so strong was the popular outcry; and the
tenacity of the citizens in resisting all encroachments
has been shown many times since. In 1847 resistance
was successfully made against a bill promoted by the
Glasgow and Airdrie Railway Company to enable them
to lay a line across the Green. In 1868 the citizens had
to resort to interdict, in order to prevent their own town
council from throwing more than 2000 yards of the
Green into Greenhead Street, and though there are
valuable seams of coal and iron known to exist beneath,
yet nothing short of the bankruptcy of the city would
allow of their being worked.
The Green was enlarged in 1773 by the purchase of
about 30 acres from various persons, and the addition
then made came to be known as the High Green ; and
in 1792 a still further addition was made of the land
lying between the King's Park and the bend of the
river, and known as the Provost's or Fleshers' Haugh.
This last was formerly lower in level than the rest of
the ground, but was raised in 1892-93 by depositing the
soil excavated during the formation of the Central
Railway. For generations the Green was allowed to
remain almost in a state of nature, being cut up with
springs, runnels, and marshy places; latterly it has,
however — especially for the purpose of providing em-
ployment for workmen in times of distress in 1820 and
in 1875 — been drained aud improved as to level and
laying out, and has now a fine sward, with numbers of
excellent paths and drives crossing it in various direc-
tions. Near the centre is a public gymnasium furnished
with all the common appliances. A large space west-
ward from the gymnasium and round the obelisk erected
to the memory of Lord Nelson, is used for grea«