Comments for SGHET

Comment on How did Mount Florida get its name? by Richard Keltie

Richard Keltie — Tue, 13 May 2025 01:07:28 +0000

Regarding the fire which destroyed Mount Floridon, I can confirm it occurred on Monday 2 July 1849. It was widely reported, both in Scotland and England. The Glasgow Chronicle of Wed 4 July 1849 reported :
‘FIRE AT MOUNT FLORIDA HOUSE.
‘On Monday evening, about 6 o’clock, a report reached the Police office in the city that a fire had broken out in Mount Florida House, upon the Cathcart Road, a distance of upwards of two miles from Glasgow. Mr Turner and the fire brigade belonging to the West of England Company, the Gorbals and the Central Police offices, speedily set out for the spot, which they reached in a very short time. From the period that had elapsed, however, before word could be conveyed to town, the roof of the building had fallen in when they arrived, and they consequently applied themselves to check the progress of the flames, and if possible, to prevent their rechingthe two wings of the house. Their efforts were, however, almost in vain from the fact that, when the butts belonging to the Gorbals office were emptied of the water brought in them, the utmost difficulty was experienced in procuring further supply. Had water been at hand, the flames would have been got under by 8 o’clock, whereas it was between 1 and 2 before the engines left the place. The nearest spot at which water could be got was a water-hole, beyond Hangingshaw brick and tile works, upwards of a quarter of a mile distant. Here one engine was stationed, for the purpose of supplying the butts; these, after being filled, were carted up a steep road to the engine belonging to the West of England Coy., from which the water was conveyed by a pipe of 1,100 feet in length to the Central Police Office engine, stationed at the house. With this supply they succeeded in extinguishing the flames, not, however, till the whole building had been completely gutted. The house is a large two-storey building, the property of Mr. Dixon of the Govan Iron Works: it was occupied by Mr. Smith and Mr. Robert Clark. The tenants succeeded in removing part of the furniture from the burning building, but a great portion of it they were unable to get out. The fire is supposed to have originated in one of the vents which had been in a dirty state. One of the firemen was slightly injured from a brick partition falling on him while engaged in removing some rubbish; otherwise no accident occurred.’

Comment on How did Mount Florida get its name? by Richard Keltie

Richard Keltie — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:13:11 +0000

Regarding ‘The earliest note of the house and lands is in a notice from September 1814’, I’ve located several earlier references to Mount Floridon. The earliest one I’ve come across is nearly 6 and a half years earlier, in 1808.
From Old Parish Birth Records, 24 April 1808 :
‘Robert Kalley and Jean Reid in Mount Floridon had their 1st child born and baptised Jane Dow.’

On 8 Sept 1809, the Old Parish Birth Records recorded :
‘8 Sept. Robert Kalley & Jean Reid in Mount Floridon had their 2nd child born, and baptized 16 October named Robert Reid.’

On 15 Aug 1810, the Aberdeen Press and Journal carried a death intimation : ‘At Mount Floridon, Mr Robert Kalley, merchant, Glasgow’. A check of death records confirms Robert Kalley died on 30 July 1810.

On 9 Sept 1812, the Aberdeen Press and Journal reported the marriage :
‘At Mount Floridon, David Kay, Esq. of Duntiglenan, merchant, to Mrs Jane Reid.’ The Scots Magazine and Edinburgh Literary Miscellany for Sept 1812 also carried the same intimation. The Old Parish Marriage records confirm this was the second marriage of Jane/Jean Reid, and that the marriage took place on 31 Aug 1812. The marriage banns on 19 Aug 1812 recorded :
‘Mr David Kay, accountant in Glasgow, and Mrs Jean Reid, relict of Mr Robert Kalley, merch’t, late of Mount Floridon in this parish.’

Comment on Nithsdale Mission Hall by Bygone Bungo

Bygone Bungo — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 16:14:23 +0000

Bit late to reply. My best guess is this was the meeting to establish the UP Church on Balvicar Street (just off Pollokshaws Road), which later became Church of Scotland, then (and currently) Queen’s Park Baptist Church. There was a meeting to establish the church in June 1872 (this advert), the Mission Hall was opened in June 1873, and the church by 1876. So I guess it was a temporary meeting room on the site of (or near) the current church.

Comment on Southside Memories : Growing up in South Nitshill by linda wallace

linda wallace — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 20:36:47 +0000

Hi im linda wallace,lived in 7 whithope road from june 1960 to june 2003,loved south nitshill it was a vibrant community when i was younger.South Nitshill primary school was my school then onto craigbank secondary school.loved reading all the comments,recognised a few names.would like to see a few more old photos of southie. I now live in old Pollok.

Comment on The Maxwells of Pollok by S. Pollock

S. Pollock — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:48:29 +0000

Nobody seems to have much detail on the link between the Maxwell and Pollok families. This history states that the Maxwells received land from Alexander I and built the first castle, and seems to treat the name "Pollok" as a description of where the first castle was built (near a pool). An admittedly questionable article on the Pollocks on scotclans . com states that the first historically known Pollok (Peter) "was given a grant of Upper Pollock in Renfrewshire... sometime between 1150 and 1153, during the reign of David I, by Walter fitz Alan (d. 1177), the 1st High Steward of Scotland, as a thanks for his father’s service to Scotland, particularly at the Battle of the Standard in 1138." Any details?

Comment on The Maxwells of Pollok by Karl

Karl — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 18:53:01 +0000

I can trace my Grand Father all the way back to Maccus some 30 generations, I would love to connect with others to share information

Comment on Gas, Petrol and Alchemy in Cathcart by Stephen

Stephen — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:09:12 +0000

First class

Comment on The Maxwells of Pollok by Anne S Maxwell

Anne S Maxwell — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 16:32:13 +0000

In reply to Carol Bennie. I think we are related. Are you on ancestry and, if so, would you be willing to connect with me?

Comment on DIXON IRON WORKS by Ronnie

Ronnie — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 02:50:54 +0000

Memories from my childhood many years ago my faither drove for the British Road Services (BRS) somewhere around Dixon Ironworks although I think he called it Dixons Blazes and I seem to remember seeing the night sky lit up and ocassion sparks flying up in the air… I think that was maybe the mid to late 1950s.
I emigrated to Canada in 1976 in search of Fame & Fortune & I just found this wee page

Comment on LANGSIDE HALLS by Carole Scott

Carole Scott — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 10:48:02 +0000

I am appalled to see that this beautiful building is now being allowed to be blighted by graffiti. This has started appearing since the council decided to make the site open plan and hence so easily accessible to vandals. Surely CCTV should have been installed so that this wonderful local community centre piece is protected. The building is comparable to any seen abroad and it would shameful if it was just allowed to deteriorate.