Pollok House

Last updated

Pollok House Wfm pollok house.jpg
Pollok House

Pollok House, formerly the family seat of the Stirling-Maxwell family, is located at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland (which also houses the Burrell Collection). [1]

Contents

Overview

The house, built in 1752 [2] [3] and originally thought to be designed by William Adam (but who may only have been consulted on the design), [4] was subsequently extended by Rowand Anderson in the early 20th century. [5] It was given to the City of Glasgow in 1966 by Dame Anne Maxwell Macdonald, whose family had owned the estate for almost 700 years. It is now managed by the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) and is open to the public. The house was modernised internally in 1899 by Alexander Hunter Crawford. [6]

The approach to Pollok House The Pollok House at the Pollok County Park, Glasgow..JPG
The approach to Pollok House

Displayed within Pollok House is a large, private collection of Spanish paintings, including works by El Greco, Francisco Goya, Alonso Sánchez Coello and Bartolomé Esteban Murillo. There are also paintings by Rubens and William Blake, as well as glass, silverware, porcelain and antique furniture. The house features servants' quarters downstairs (accessible free of charge), which include two shops and a restaurant.

Front facade of Pollok House Facade of the Pollok House, Glasgow..JPG
Front facade of Pollok House

The house has an extensive garden, boasting a collection of over 1,000 species of rhododendrons. The gardens behind the main house contain the Pollok Park Beech (Fagus sylvatical), which is thought to be 250 years old. This tree has an unusual form, with a swollen trunk (7 metres (23 ft) girth at grade and 10 metres (33 ft) girth at 10 metres (33 ft) height) and a gnarled mass of branches. [7]

There is also a complex of offices, stables and a sawmill, part of which dates from the 18th century. [8] [9] The stone arch bridge leading to the house over the White Cart Water was constructed in 1757. [10] The heraldic lions on the gate piers were carved by John Marshall to a design by Huw Lorimer in 1950. [11]

In September 2023, the NTS announced that the house would close from the following November for approximately two years to allow for the second phase of a £4 million renovation project. [12]

Art collection

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollok</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Pollok is a large housing estate on the south-western side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The estate was built either side of World War II to house families from the overcrowded inner city. Housing 30,000 at its peak, its population has since declined due to the replacement of substandard housing with lower-density accommodation. As of 2021, the population was recorded at 81,951 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollokshaws</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Pollokshaws is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the residential neighbourhoods of Auldhouse to the east, Eastwood and Hillpark to the south and Shawlands to the north, with the Glasgow South Western Line railway and the open lands of Pollok Country Park to the west. The White Cart Water flows through the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollokshields</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Pollokshields is an area in the Southside of Glasgow, Scotland. Its modern boundaries are largely man-made, being formed by the M77 motorway to the west and northwest with the open land of Pollok Country Park and the Dumbreck neighbourhood beyond, by the Inverclyde Line railway and other branches which separate its territory from the largely industrial areas of Kinning Park, Kingston and Port Eglinton, and by the Glasgow South Western Line running from the east to south, bordering Govanhill, Strathbungo, Crossmyloof and Shawlands residential areas. There is also a suburban railway running through the area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawlands</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Shawlands is a Southside suburb of Glasgow, Scotland, located two miles south of the River Clyde. The area, considered the "Heart of the Southside", is known for its independent restaurants and cafés, art scene, public parks, period terraces, and red and blond sandstone tenements. Shawlands was named one of the best places to live in Scotland in 2022 and 2023 by The Sunday Times, and one of the world's coolest neighbourhoods by Time Out Magazine with judges describing it as "the city's best area to live and socialise”. It is located between Pollok Country Park – the home of the Burrell Collection and Pollok House – and the acclaimed Victorian park Queen's Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burrell Collection</span> Art collection in the city of Glasgow, Scotland

The Burrell Collection is a museum in Glasgow, Scotland, managed by Glasgow Museums. It houses the art collection of Sir William Burrell and Constance, Lady Burrell. The museum opened in 1983 and reopened on 29 March 2022 following a major refurbishment. It was announced as the winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year in July 2023. It is the only non-national museum to be the outright winner twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strathbungo</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Strathbungo is a mainly residential area of southern Glasgow, Scotland, bordered by the neighbourhoods of Crossmyloof to the south, Govanhill to the east and Pollokshields to the north and west. The settlement grew up as a small isolated village built along the Pollokshaws Road, one of the main arteries leading southwards from the centre of Glasgow, adjoined by the Camphill Estate, now part of Queens Park. Strathbungo lay just inside Govan parish, on its boundary with Cathcart parish, and at one time a line just north of Allison Street and Nithsdale Street formed the boundary or 'march' between the counties of Lanark and Renfrew.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollok Country Park</span> Park in Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Pollok Country Park is a 146-hectare (361-acre) country park located between Shawlands, Crossmyloof, and Pollok in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2007, Pollok Country Park was named Britain's Best Park, and in 2008 it was named the Best Park in Europe, beating competition from parks in Italy, France, Germany, Poland and Sweden. Despite this, by 2019 it was considered that the park was 'underused' with plans drawn up to encourage more visitors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow South (UK Parliament constituency)</span> Parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom, 2005 onwards

Glasgow South is a burgh constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (Westminster). It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election.

Mansewood is a residential district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde and is surrounded by the districts of Eastwood, Hillpark, Pollokshaws in Glasgow, and Thornliebank and Giffnock in East Renfrewshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet</span> British politician

Sir John Maxwell Stirling-Maxwell, 10th Baronet, KT, DL, FRSE was a Scottish landowner, Tory politician and philanthropist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollokshaws West railway station</span> Railway station in Glasgow, Scotland

Pollokshaws West railway station is a railway station in Glasgow, Scotland. The station is managed by ScotRail and is served by trains on the Glasgow South Western Line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haggs Castle</span>

Haggs Castle is a 16th-century tower house, located in the neighbourhood of Pollokshields, in Glasgow, Scotland. The richly decorated building was restored in the 19th century, and today is once more occupied as a residence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newlandsfield Park</span> Stadium in Glasgow City, Scotland, UK

Newlandsfield Park is a football ground in Newlands, Glasgow, Scotland. It is the home ground of West of Scotland Football League side Pollok F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jenny Lind, Glasgow</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Jenny Lind is a small neighbourhood in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated south of the River Clyde, contiguous with the larger Deaconsbank neighbourhood and across a dual carriageway from the Arden and Thornliebank Industrial Estate. It was extended slightly in the 21st century by the addition of Jenny Lind Court. Jenny Lind falls under the Glasgow City Council Greater Pollok ward and has a short border with Deaconsbank Golf Club and Rouken Glen Park in the East Renfrewshire council region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linn Park, Glasgow</span> 200 acre park in Glasgow, Scotland

Linn Park is an 82-hectare (200-acre) park in Glasgow, Scotland, surrounded by the suburbs of Cathcart, Muirend, Simshill, and Castlemilk, also bordering Netherlee in East Renfrewshire. It is Glasgow's third largest park, after Pollok Country Park and Dams to Darnley Country Park, although Dams to Darnley is half in East Renfrewshire. Both Linn and Pollok parks have the White Cart Water flowing through them. Some areas in the park are unsuitable for prams and the infirm.

Sir John Maxwell of Nether Pollok (1648–1732), also known by his judicial title Lord Pollok was a Scottish politician and lawyer.

<i>Lady in a Fur Wrap</i>

Lady in a Fur Wrap is an oil painting now generally attributed to Alonso Sánchez Coello, dated to 1577-1579 and now held at the Pollok House in Glasgow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lost portrait of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham</span> Painting by Peter Paul Rubens

The "lost portrait" of George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham is a portrait of English courtier George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham. It was painted around 1625 by Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastwood, Glasgow</span> Human settlement in Scotland

Eastwood is a residential neighbourhood in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated south of the River Clyde, and is part of the Newlands/Auldburn ward under Glasgow City Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollokshaws Burgh Hall</span> Municipal building in Pollokshaws, Scotland

The Pollokshaws Burgh Hall is a municipal building at the edge of Pollok Country Park, Glasgow, Scotland. The burgh hall, which was briefly the headquarters of Pollokshaws Burgh Council, is a Category A listed building.

References

  1. Glasgow, Pollokshaws Road, Pollok Park, Pollok House, Canmore
  2. "Pollok House". www.glasgowwestaddress.co.uk.
  3. "TheGlasgowStory: Pollok House". www.theglasgowstory.com.
  4. "TheGlasgowStory: Pollok House". www.theglasgowstory.com.
  5. "TheGlasgowStory: Pollok House". www.theglasgowstory.com.
  6. David Goold. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (April 22, 2019, 3:43 pm)". Scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  7. Rodger, Stokes & Ogilvie; Heritage Trees of Scotland
  8. "TheGlasgowStory: Pollok Estate Offices". www.theglasgowstory.com.
  9. Glasgow, Pollokshaws Road, Pollok Park, Pollok House, Stables
  10. Glasgow, Pollokshaws Road, Pollok Park, Pollok House, Bridge
  11. Tim Gardner - Webmaster (1 January 2002). "John Marshall (1888-1952), sculptor, a biography". Glasgowsculpture.com. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
  12. McKay, Gaby (8 September 2023). "Pollock House to be closed as it undergoes major £4 milion revamp". The Herald. Glasgow. p. 7.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Pollok House at Wikimedia Commons

55°49′40.54″N4°19′5.60″W / 55.8279278°N 4.3182222°W / 55.8279278; -4.3182222