Was it a golf course or a graveyard of dreams? Blackhill in Glasgow’s northeast has a story to tell. A story woven from the threads of a former golf course and the harsh realities of 1930s council housing.
Blackhill wasn’t always a residential area. Once it was a country golf course. People strolled across its fairways. They enjoyed the summers. They rambled along the Molendinar Burn. This burn is a hidden treasure. It’s the only place you can still see this historic burn. It flows to the loch at Hogganfield.
Then came the 1930s. The need for housing was urgent. Glasgow’s slums needed to be cleared. Blackhill became a council housing estate. The new buildings were three-storey tenements. They were made of reconstituted stone. They had slate roofs. The housing was divided into grades. “Rehousing” was the lowest grade. “Intermediate” was a step up. The “Rehousing” houses cost just £250 each. The “Intermediate” houses cost £1000 each.
Blackhill was close to industry. It was close to a gasworks and a distillery. This wasn’t good for the health of the area. It gained a reputation for being difficult. It was difficult to rent houses in the area. The area had issues with crime and gangs. It was notorious for drug dealing. But St Paul’s Church stepped in. It started a youth forum. This aimed to fight these issues. It aimed to create better lives. Since 2006 the church reports a 96% decrease in violence.
Much of the 1930s housing was demolished in the 1990s. The rest was redeveloped in the early 2000s. All of the remaining tenements are gone. They were replaced by Newfields. Newfields is a housing development. It features detached and semi-detached houses. A landscaped park was created around the Molendinar Burn.
Blackhill’s past is complex. It’s a story of hardship and hope. It’s a story of transformation and resilience. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of a community. It is a place where the past whispers to the present. It’s a place that is always changing. But it’s always Blackhill.