“Housing shortages and slum clearance led to the creation of Milton in the late 1940s.” This may not sound like the most glamorous start but it is part of the story of College Milton in Glasgow.
College Milton is located north of the River Clyde. It is about 2.5 miles from Glasgow City Centre. It marks the northern edge of the city’s urban sprawl.
Construction in Milton began after World War II. The Glasgow Corporation initiated a large building program. The goal was to address housing shortages and eliminate slums. Milton’s development reflects this post-war effort.
Milton is bordered by Ashgill Road to the south and east. This road separates it from Parkhouse. Liddesdale Road also forms a border. This road once connected Colston to Balmore Road.
Interestingly, the streets in Milton were named after Scottish islands. You will find names like Berneray and Birsay. Also Castlebay, Cathay, and Egilsay. Longay, Mingulay, and Ornsay are present. Raasay, Ronaldsay, Scalpay and Scaraway too. Shillay, Skerray, Stornoway, Torogay, Vallay and Westray complete the list.
Before this development, only a few private homes existed in the area. These were mainly on Liddesdale Road and Birsay Road and Loskin Drive. The initial construction phase finished around 1952. Later, in the 1960s, high-rise flats were added on Castlebay Drive.
Housing styles in College Milton were diverse. Some buildings were gray stone apartments. These had front and back doors. Others were brown or white pre-fabricated apartments. Four-story flats with eight units were also present. Some included open verandas. All of this housing was social housing for rent.
Sadly, Milton faced social challenges. Gang fighting and drug abuse became significant issues. By the late 1960s, urban decay was evident due to gang violence. Drug abuse made Milton one of the UK’s worst affected areas.
In the late 1980s, changes began. Many flats were replaced with more suitable social housing. The last original flats on Scaraway Street were demolished in 2006. Some parts of the area remain desolate.
For education, children attend St Monica’s Primary School. This school resulted from a merger. It combines St Ambrose and St Augustine’s schools. Miltonbank Primary School and Chirnsyde Primary School are non-denominational options.
Religious needs are served by churches in Liddesdale Square. These include Catholic and Methodist churches. The Methodist Church shares a minister. This minister also serves the Methodist Church in Kilsyth. They also serve Colston Milton Church in Egilsay Crescent. The Church of Scotland Manse is on Birsay Road.
Early planning in Milton had shortcomings. There was poor social planning. Amenities like pubs and cinemas required bus or car travel. A community center was built on Liddesdale Road in the early 1970s. The area lacked factories and industry. It offered few local jobs.
Shopping areas included Skerray Street and Scaraway Street. Also, Westray Circus and Liddesdale Square. Buses M3, 8, 75, and 128 serve the area.
Community activists successfully campaigned. They prevented the conversion of Saint Augustine’s Secondary School site into housing. Its future use is still uncertain.
LoveMilton, a community development trust, has plans. They obtained permission for a multi-purpose community facility.
Several notable people have connections to Milton. Kenny Dalglish, the footballer, had his first team here. They played on Egilsay Street and were called Milton Milan. Snooker player Stephen Maguire is also from Milton. Footballers Frank McAvennie and Dylan McGeouch hail from here. Ada Aline Urban, a film executive, was born here.
Today, College Milton is undergoing regeneration. It aims to provide better living conditions. It strives to create a stronger community for its residents.