Consider that Arden, Glasgow, wasn’t always the housing estate it is today. Historically, Arden was a farm. It was part of Sir John Maxwell’s land. This land was granted to Walter Stewart by Robert the Bruce. That happened upon Walter’s marriage to Marjorie Bruce. She was the King’s eldest daughter.
Arden sits near Thornliebank. Thornliebank was a village known for cloth manufacturing. They also did specialized printing of cloth called beetling. Thornliebank linen was famous from the early-nineteenth century. The mill closed around 1920 ending an era. During the Second World War, a building near Arden served as a Prisoner of War camp. Imagine the stories those walls could tell.
The SSHA built the Arden estate between 1953 and 1957. Its purpose was to rehouse families. These families came from the overcrowded inner city tenements. The buildings consisted mostly of four-story tenements with a common close entrance. Arden faced tough times in the 1970s and 1980s. Grants helped to improve the area.
In 1999, Glen Oaks Housing Association bought the estate. There were challenges in making necessary repairs. They are funded only by rents. Arden became the first housing scheme with a privately built public house. It was called The Cuillins and opened in 1964-5. It became a brewery pub in 1968.
Ashpark Primary School opened on December 2, 2008. It replaced Arden Primary School and Carnwadric Primary School. St. Louise Primary merged with St. Vincent’s Primary in Carnwadric. St. Louise’s closed in June 2009. The buildings were later demolished. The nearest railway station is Kennishead. It’s named after another of Sir John Maxwell’s farms.
Arden featured in “Colin and Justin on the Estate.” The show looked at efforts to improve the area. Some residents were concerned about the show’s slant. They felt it focused on housing units scheduled for demolition. Alasdair McKee of Glen Oaks believed the program was a success. He thought “the improvements have helped to convince people that we can make a difference”.
Over the years, Arden gained a reputation. It was known as a center of social deprivation. This was particularly true near Nitshill Road. The life expectancy for males in this area is around 60 years. This is a result of the “Glasgow effect.”
Since Glen Oaks’ purchase, development has taken place. This includes the first new homes in Arden in 50 years. Undesirable older tenement properties were replaced. Modern energy-efficient affordable homes took their place. Kilmuir Crescent, Kilmuir Road, and Lunestone Court are examples. These areas have ensured that Arden is now an area in which people can aspire to live.
Arden is next to Junction 3 on the M77. This provides access to Glasgow city center and Ayrshire. A regular bus service links residents with Silverburn, Pollokshaws, and the City Centre. Kennishead and Priesthill & Darnley stations are a 10 minute walk from Arden.
Arden includes a local post office and continental-style delicatessen. There is a doctor’s surgery and dental surgery within the estate. Education provision is excellent with Ashpark Primary School. Arden has come a long way. From its humble beginnings as a farm. To its current status as a revitalized housing estate.