Question: Ever wondered about the origins of a place where time seems to pause? Welcome to Old Drumchapel. This Glasgow neighborhood holds stories far beyond its modern appearance.
Old Drumchapel wasn’t always part of the bustling city. Once, it belonged to the Parish of Kilpatrick. Its fate was intertwined with the surrounding lands of Garscadden, Drumry, and Blairdardie.
In the 19th century, Old Drumchapel consisted mainly of farms and fields. Drumchapel West Farm stood where Drumchapel St Andrew’s Church is today. Drumchapel East Farm was at the junction of Glenkirk Drive and Drumchapel Road. Garscadden Estate owned much of the land. However, Cowdenhill Estate owned most of the land Old Drumchapel was built on.
Coal mining briefly touched Old Drumchapel. Two small mines operated in the late 19th century. One was between the stone villas in Drumchapel Gardens. It closed in 1879. The other was west of the path from Essenside Ave to the railway. This one closed in May 1891.
After the mines closed, the owners of Cowdenhill and Garscadden Estates had an idea. They encouraged builders to construct large semi-detached stone villas. The first five villas overlooked Garscadden Business Park. In 1891, each cost a staggering £1200. More villas sprang up around Drumchapel railway station. The station had opened on 1 May 1890.
To attract even more residents, Drumchapel Lawn Tennis Club opened in August 1904. Drumchapel Golf Course followed in 1905. Imagine Harry Vardon playing an exhibition match on that very course. He played 36 holes against J.H. Taylor in June 1909. Sadly, the golf course was dug up in March 1917 during World War One to provide land for food production. The clubhouse was converted into two semi-detached villas on Garscadden Road. The tennis club still thrives. It has floodlights and all-weather courts.
Blairdardie School first opened in 1780. It was located at Lock 35 on the canal. It quickly outgrew its location. The school moved to Garscadden Road. The new village school opened there in 1905. Today, the building has been converted into flats.
In the 1920s, John Lawrence built bungalows. In the 1930s, he built semi-detached villas. The bungalows cost £650. That was 21 shillings a week for 25 years. Further houses were built next to the Post Office. The Post Office had opened in 1901 by Mr. Goldie.
Opposite the Post Office, Mrs. Mackenzie ran a nursery. They grew Ailsa Craig tomatoes for the Glasgow Fruit Market. After the war, the Rose family took over. Eventually, the nursery closed. Shops and a filling station replaced it. Later, Olivers Function Suite and St Benedicts Church appeared.
The miners’ row in Drumchapel Road near Drumchapel Hospital was demolished in September 1939. Residents were rehoused in Dalsetter Place just before World War Two.
Other industries shaped Old Drumchapel. P & M Hurll ran a brick works on the Edrington Holdings site. Garscadden Brick and Tile Works operated at Lock 35 on the Forth and Clyde Canal. Another brick works, run by Gilmours, closed in 1904 due to a clay shortage.
Garscadden Road’s post office closed in 2008. In 1959, the 204th Scouts were founded. Based in Golf Drive, they are the only Scout Group in Drumchapel.
Old Drumchapel offers a glimpse into Glasgow’s past. From farms and mines to villas and tennis clubs, this area has evolved. The story continues with every passing year.