Knightswood
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![]() Aerial photograph looking south-east over Knightswood (2015) | |
Location within Glasgow | |
Population | 17,525. |
OS grid reference | NS537692 |
Council area | |
Lieutenancy area |
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Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | GLASGOW |
Postcode district | G13 |
Dialling code | 0141 |
Police | Scotland |
Fire | Scottish |
Ambulance | Scottish |
UK Parliament | |
Scottish Parliament | |
Knightswood is a suburban district in Glasgow, containing three areas: Knightswood North or High Knightswood, Knightswood South or Low Knightswood, and Knightswood Park. It has a golf course [1] and park, and good transport links with the rest of the city. [2] [3] Garscadden and Scotstounhill railway stations serve Low Knightswood while Westerton station serves High Knightswood. Knightswood is directly adjoined by the Anniesland, Blairdardie, Drumchapel, Garscadden, Jordanhill, Netherton, Scotstoun, Scotstounhill and Yoker areas of Glasgow, and by Bearsden in the north.
Knightswood was a rural area of Dunbartonshire in the parish of New Kilpatrick with small-scale mining until the land was purchased for housing by the city of Glasgow and was annexed by the city in the 1920s. In subsequent years, housing developments were built on most of the remaining free plots (including two clusters of tower blocks – eleven in total, two since demolished), [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] but the area remains largely green in line with garden suburb principles, with the only businesses based in small or medium-sized retail units. There are a number of churches and various community events are run throughout the year. Knightswood has a purpose-built BMX stadium in the local park, allowing the area to host international cycling events, such as the 2018 European BMX Championships and the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.
Knightswood features on maps by Ordnance Survey cartographer William Roy dating back to 1748–55, which show it lying within the parish of New Kilpatrick in Dumbartonshire. [9] [10] The modern area is defined at its northern edge by the Forth and Clyde Canal (beyond which is Bearsden) [11] which began construction in the 1760s and opened as the Great Canal in 1790. [12] Drumchapel and Yoker lie to the west, beyond Duntreath Avenue and Yoker Mill Road. At its southern edge, Knightswood is bounded by Anniesland Road, beyond which lies Jordanhill and Scotstoun. Netherton and Temple lie to the east. Both of these settlements (with Jordanhill and Scotstoun) appear on Joan Blaeu's 1662 Atlas of Scotland, but Knightswood is not shown, either omitted or not yet of significance. [13] The earliest recorded settlement (1740) in the Knightswood area was known as the Red Town, a small village supporting ironstone miners and brickmakers. [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]
Just before the First World War, Knightswood consisted of an Infectious Diseases Hospital (founded 1877 [19] ) with a line of terraced cottages to the north called Knightswood Rows, a few houses on the site of Knightswood Secondary School (all that remained of Red Town), but the area was otherwise unpopulated farmland and disused mineworkings. [20] [21] [15]
Great Western Road was constructed under government patronage [21] between 1924 and 1927 from Anniesland Cross to Duntocher, north of Clydebank. [22] [23] Much of the housing in the area was constructed in three phases during the 1920s and 1930s on garden suburb principles. [24] [15] This housing was mainly of cottage flat and semi-detached types, [25] [26] [27] and is similar to other parts of the city such as Mosspark in the South Side and Carntyne in the East End [15] and used for the relocation of people from slum tenements cleared near the city centre. [28] [29] Land surrounding the junction of Great Western Road and Knightswood Road was designated for the use of several church denominations, [30] [31] [32] [33] and the nearby Knightswood Park, but there were no designated industrial areas or public houses, which remained in adjacent Temple and Scotstoun/Yoker.
In 1926, the district was brought under the official control of the city of Glasgow, [34] which had purchased land outside its existing boundary from the Summerlee Iron Company for the building of the estate. [21] During the Second World War, Knightswood Hospital treated wounded soldiers. [35]
Knightswood, along with Jordanhill and Temple have been linked to stories of the Knights Templar; but according to the late Lord Lyon King of Arms there is no evidence for their presence in this area. Nevertheless, the theories continue to persist and are sometimes actively encouraged, as in the use of "heraldic" local street names (Archerhill Road, Arrowsmith Avenue, Ivanhoe Road, Minstrel Road, Talisman Road, Templar Avenue, Turret Road) by Glasgow Corporation, even though Knightswood only appears in the records from the 18th century, long after the days of knights. [36]
Immediately following the war, spare land on the estate was used for temporary housing in the form of prefabs. [37] These were replaced in the 1960s with high-rise buildings. [15] [38] In 1958, Glasgow Corporation opened a Fire Station [39] which now houses a specialist water rescue unit. [40]
Knightswood Hospital gradually lost services to other Glasgow Hospitals from the 1960s onwards, ending up as a Geriatric Unit and finally closing in March 2000. [41] The hospital site is now the Academy Park residential development. In 2008, Knightswood gained a new church congregation at Knightswood Cross when the Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) moved from temporary premises in Thornwood to the former Brethren Gospel Hall. [42] [43] [44]
In the 2010s, concerns were raised that some of the land of Knightswood was liable to flooding in times of extreme rainfall, which had been increasingly common in recent times and was considered likely to continue; in 2019, plans were outlined to have prevention measures put in place. [45]
Glasgow City Council run Knightswood Park Gala Day, [47] an event for council and community groups in the area. It has been held on a Saturday at some time during the summer since 2008. The first event on 12 July 2008 was supported by Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Fire Brigade, local churches (St David's Church of Scotland [32] and Knightswood Baptist Church [30] ) and local clubs. [48] [49] [50]
The second Gala Day took place on 27 June 2009. The event started with the arrival of the Kingsway carnival parade at midday. [51] There were demonstrations of falconry and sheepdog trials (herding Indian Runner Ducks due to space restrictions), live music, live entertainment, bouncy castles, stalls promoting community groups and clubs, Baptist church and fire brigade (as 2008). On site catering was provided this year, and first-aid cover was provided by St. Andrew's Ambulance Association. [52]
In 2010 and 2011, Trinley Brae Allotments took part in the Open Gates event as part of Glasgow's Doors Open Day. This has developed links with the local community and other community events have taken place since the first event in September 2010. [53] [54] Members are currently researching the history of the allotment site and have the worked with the city council on other community events. [55]
Knightswood caters for its residents with a community centre, [56] library, [57] secondary [58] and primary schools. Knightswood Swimming Pool, opened in 1971, was permanently closed in March 2010. [59] Construction of Scotland's only Olympic standard BMX racing track was undertaken in Knightswood Park; the facility was used to host the 2018 European Championships, and means that Glasgow is the only city in the world that can host all four Olympic cycling disciplines (BMX, MTB, Road and Track) within its boundaries (the others are the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome at the Emirates Arena (Track), Cathkin Braes Mountain Bike Trails and the city's streets for road races as used during the 2014 Commonwealth Games). [60] These facilities were put to use again in the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. [61]
Knightswood Secondary School is also home to the Dance School of Scotland. [62] Shopping in Knightswood can be done in many places, mostly in Knightswood Shopping Centre, an area comprising around 10 shops. There are also some shops on Alderman Road, both at Dyke Road and near the community centre. [63] Trinley Brae Allotments (between Knightswood Road and Turret Crescent) provide space for local residents to grow their own fruit, vegetables and flowers. Children's & Youth Clubs are operated locally for school age children on Thursdays in the south of the area at the Congregational church [64] and Fridays in the North at the Baptist Church. [30]
Several denominations of churches are situated in the area of Knightswood Cross (junction of Knightswood Road and Great Western Road). The Church of Scotland is represented locally by St. David's Parish Church [32] and St. Margaret's Parish Church. Knightswood Baptist Church has been at its current site since 1929. [30] Episcopalian (now closed), [65] Roman Catholic, [33] United Free Church of Scotland [66] and Free Church of Scotland (Continuing) [67] churches are all nearby. Low Knightswood is served by Knightswood Congregational church [64]
Glasgow City Council is the local government authority for Glasgow City council area, Scotland. In its modern form it was created in 1996. Glasgow was formerly governed by a corporation, also known as the town council, from the granting of its first burgh charter in the 1170s until 1975. From 1975 until 1996 the city was governed by City of Glasgow District Council, a lower-tier authority within the Strathclyde region.
Jordanhill is an affluent area of the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The area consists largely of terraced housing dating from the early to mid 20th century, with some detached and semi-detached homes and some modern apartments.
Scotstoun is an area of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Garscadden and Yoker to the west, Victoria Park, Jordanhill and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde to the south. At the heart of Scotstoun lies Scotstounhill, an enclave of late Victorian and post-war housing centred on Scotstounhill railway station. Scotstoun is home to BAE Systems Surface Ships, and to the Glasgow Warriors rugby team.
Glasgow North West is a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster). It was first used at the 2005 general election.
Glasgow Garscadden was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1974 until 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.
Drumchapel, known locally as 'The Drum', is a district in the north-west of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It borders Bearsden to the north-east and Drumry to the south-west, as well as Blairdardie, Garscadden, Knightswood and Yoker in Glasgow to the south; land to the north is undeveloped and includes the course of the Roman-era Antonine Wall. The name derives from the Gaelic meaning 'the ridge of the horse'.
The city of Glasgow, Scotland, has many amenities for a wide range of cultural activities, from curling to opera and from football to art appreciation; it also has a large selection of museums that include those devoted to transport, religion, and modern art. In 2009 Glasgow was awarded the title UNESCO Creative City of Music in recognition of its vibrant live music scene and its distinguished heritage. Glasgow has three major universities, each involved in creative and literary arts, and the city has the largest public reference library in Europe in the form of the Mitchell Library. Scotland's largest newspapers and national television and radio companies are based in the city.
Anniesland is a district in the West End of the Scottish city Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde, and centres on the major road junction of the Great Western Road (A82) and Crow Road/Bearsden Road (A739), known as Anniesland Cross.
Broomhill is a district in the West End of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. North of the River Clyde, it is bounded by the districts of Thornwood and Partick to the south, Hyndland to the east, and Jordanhill, Scotstoun and Victoria Park to the west.
Blairdardie is a neighbourhood in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde in the north-west of the city and is surrounded by other residential areas: High Knightswood, Knightswood, Old Drumchapel, Drumchapel and Garscadden. It was built between the 1950s and early 1960s.
Garscadden is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde. It lies between Yoker to the west, Scotstoun to the east and Knightswood to the north. It has a train station close to Knightswood shopping centre and Yoker Railway Depot.
Glasgow Scotstoun was a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 until 1974. It elected one Member of Parliament (MP) using the first-past-the-post voting system.
Glasgow Anniesland was a burgh constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1997 until 2005, when it was replaced by the larger Glasgow North West, with the exception of Kelvindale which joined Glasgow North.
Scotstounhill is a small area situated in western Glasgow, between south Knightswood and Scotstoun. Housing is mainly in a terraced or villa style, although several high rise flats can be found in the area. These were built near to the site of the Scotstoun House mansion.
Glasgow Anniesland is a constituency of the Scottish Parliament (Holyrood), being one of eight constituencies within the Glasgow City council area. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality method of election. It is also one of nine constituencies in the Glasgow electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole.
Scotstounhill railway station serves Scotstounhill in Glasgow, Scotland. The station lies on the Argyle and North Clyde lines, serving the districts of Scotstoun and Knightswood, with trains to and from Glasgow Central or Queen Street stations and on into the east end.
Old Drumchapel is a neighbourhood of Glasgow, Scotland. It is located around Drumchapel railway station and formed part of the Cowdenhill and Garscadden Estates. It is situated to the south of the larger and newer Drumchapel housing estate, and to the north of the arterial Great Western Road running from Glasgow to Clydebank. The Blairdardie neighbourhood lies immediately to the east, while a retail park separates Old Drumchapel from the Linnvale and Drumry areas of Clydebank to the west.
Netherton is a district of Glasgow, in the north of the city, bounded by Temple to the south, Knightswood to the west while Westerton in Bearsden lies to the North and East. Netherton appears in Joan Blaeu's 1662 Atlas of Scotland and many subsequent old maps. It is currently not shown on Ordnance Survey maps greater than 1:25000 scale. The street was founded in around the 1930s. It is a street close by local shops, the hut, and a park district. Part of the city council.
Garscadden/Scotstounhill is one of the 23 wards of Glasgow City Council. Since its creation in 2007 it has retained the same boundaries and returned four council members, using the single transferable vote system.