Haven’t you always wondered about the story behind Kelvinbridge? It is more than just a crossing. Kelvinbridge is a name woven into Glasgow’s West End.
Kelvinbridge is the common name for the Great Western Bridge. This cast iron bridge carries Great Western Road over the River Kelvin. Completed in 1891 by Bell & Miller, it replaced an older stone bridge. The original stone bridge was completed in 1840. Kelvinbridge shares a similar design with the Partick Bridge. Both bridges cross the River Kelvin. Since 1986, Kelvinbridge has been a Category A listed structure.
In the early 19th century, the first Great Western Bridge appeared in 1825. It crossed the boundary into Hillhead. Hillhead later became part of the city. That first bridge was low-level. The second Kelvinbridge, built later, has a high span.
The River Kelvin lends its name to many places nearby. Kelvindale and Kelvingrove Park are examples. Because of this, there are several Kelvin Bridges. One is even located miles away in Torrance.
Adjacent to Kelvinbridge is the Kelvinbridge subway station. It is one of the deepest stations because it is so close to the River Kelvin. There was also once a Kelvinbridge railway station here. It was part of the Glasgow Central Railway. The name Kelvinbridge now also refers to nearby residential areas. These areas include parts of Woodside, Woodlands, Kelvinside, and Hillhead.
Close to Kelvinbridge is the Glasgow Academy private school. You can also find Lansdowne Church nearby. Its spire is 66 metres tall. That makes it one of the tallest structures in Glasgow. Kelvinbridge is close to the University of Glasgow. Because of this, many students live in this area. Time Out magazine included Kelvinbridge in its list of the 50 coolest neighbourhoods in the world in 2019.
The current Kelvinbridge is the third bridge on this site. Glasgow expanded west in the 19th century. It grew into Woodside and Hillhead. Underneath Kelvinbridge used to be railway lines and coal yards. These are now part of the walkway and car park. The railway line crossed the river and entered tunnels. These tunnels went under the Caledonia Building. The Caledonia Building was originally planned as a hotel by the railway company. The railway continued to Kirklee and Maryhill. The terminus is now under the Maryhill Shopping Centre.
Walkers Bridge was built in 1870, providing access to Great Western Road. It was demolished in 1971. Queen Margaret Bridge opened in 1929 nearby. The Botanic Gardens were built in 1890. Further along, the Ford Road Bridge was built in 1886. The owner of Kirklee house charged a ha’penny to cross it. He did not want the people of Maryhill to invade his land. The toll house is still there.
The Granite Kirklee Bridge was built for people from the east side of the river. It gave them access to the station at Kirklee. This arboretum was once an industrial site known as the Kirklee bleachfields. Bleaching was important to the textile process. The cotton industry was one of Glasgow’s most important industries.
The railway bridge structures provided access to factories on both sides of the Kelvin. One of the biggest industries was the Kelvindale paper mill. Before 1840 the building was a snuff mill. Snuff was ground tobacco. From 1840, it became a paper mill belonging to Edward Collins & Son. The site was ideal because paper manufacturing uses a lot of water. The business closed in the 1970s. Some of the workers’ houses remain.
Dawsholm gas works was also nearby. Gas, made from coal, was used to light streets and houses. It later became the main means of cooking and heating. Gas works became redundant in the 1970s. North Sea gas replaced coal gas.
Today, there is no industry left along the River Kelvin. The polluted waters are gone. The clean waters now have fish again. Birds populate the banks. People can enjoy the river once more. The remaining signs of industry tell a story of Maryhill’s recent history.
Kelvinbridge stands as a testament to Glasgow’s evolution. From its industrial past to its vibrant present, it connects communities and spans both the river and time.