Whispers of history echo through North Kelvinside. This charming Glasgow district wasn’t always the tranquil residential area we see today. It started as part of a grand country estate. Lord Provost Sir James Campbell owned Kelvinside House. His son future Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was even born there in 1836.
North Kelvinside developed gradually. Many buildings date from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The area’s name comes from its location on the north bank of the River Kelvin. It’s not directly north of the more affluent Kelvinside. The housing is a mix. There are tenements grand villas converted Victorian townhouses and even a small council estate. Despite its central location North Kelvinside maintains a quiet atmosphere. Intentionally designed roadblocks discourage rat-running making it a uniquely peaceful haven within the city.
The architecture is stunning. You can admire the Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church. J J Stevenson designed it in 1898. St Charles Parish Church designed by Gillespie Kidd & Coia in 1959 boasts a striking hyperbolic paraboloid concrete roof. Benno Schotz’s Stations of the Cross sculptures grace its walls. Don’t forget the iconic Mackintosh Church at Queen’s Cross the only church designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Alexander “Greek” Thomson’s Sixty Steps from 1872 another notable landmark are possibly part of John E Walker’s 1869/1870 engineering works.
North Kelvinside isn’t just about grand buildings. The Crosslands pub featured prominently in the film Trainspotting. The Kelvin Walkway offers beautiful riverside strolls connecting Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens. Local green spaces like the North Kelvin Meadow and the Children’s Wood provide tranquil escapes. The Scottish Squash and Racketball Club established in 1934 is a local institution.
Famous residents have graced North Kelvinside’s streets. From former Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman to the actor Robbie Coltrane the comedian Stanley Baxter and director Lynne Ramsay. The area has drawn a creative community. Teenage Fanclub members TV interior designers Justin Ryan and Colin McAllister and YouTube sensation Rombodog have all called it home.
North Kelvinside was also home to North Kelvinside Secondary School. It closed later. Most students transferred to Cleveden Secondary School. The area’s history includes the North Kelvinside Parish Church. Famous after World War II for the work of its minister Rev Tom Allan its building has since been demolished. The congregation is now uniting with the nearby Ruchill Parish Church.
The area shares its postcode with Maryhill but has a distinct character. Hillhead is to its south Maryhill to its north. Kervindale and Kelvinside are to its west and Firhill and Woodside lie to its east. It’s truly a unique blend of history architecture and community spirit. North Kelvinside is a place that invites you to discover its layers of stories with every step.