Whispers of the past echo through The Village. This wasn’t always a quiet suburb. Once upon a time The Village was one of many thriving communities that surrounded Glasgow. Aileen Smart’s books Villages of Glasgow detail their fascinating histories. Each village had its own unique stories. Think of Anderston with its handloom weavers or Bridgeton’s bustling carpet industry. Imagine Govan a major center of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. The Village too had its own identity. It played its part in the city’s growth.
The Gorbals for example was once known as Little Govan. Molly Gillespie an Irish woman ran a lodge house there. Over thirty years 50000 lodgers slept under her roof. Her thirteen beds were always full. The Gorbals also boasted the Gorbals Gravitation Water Company. It brought water to the area a decade before Glasgow received its supply from Loch Katrine. They drew water from streams and lochs in Renfrewshire. This shows that The Village was not unique in its early development.
Partick the royal residence of King Hydderch and Queen Languoreth has its own legends. St Mungo performed his miracle of the salmon and the ring there. The Village too may have had its own local legends and traditions. Stories passed down through generations. Stories now sadly lost to time. The rapid growth of Glasgow and the changes that followed inevitably overshadowed much of their unique heritage.
The industrial revolution transformed these villages. Anderston’s cotton mills and Govan’s shipyards boomed. The Village may have experienced similar growth and change. Perhaps it had its own industries. Perhaps its own unique character. The Victorian expansion of Glasgow led to the incorporation of these villages. This led to changes. Many of the old buildings were demolished. New housing and infrastructure replaced them. The Village’s own story is part of this bigger picture.
The story of The Village reminds us of a time before Glasgow’s rapid expansion. Each village is a piece of Glasgow’s past. Their stories help us to understand the city today. So next time you’re in The Village remember the past. Remember the lives lived there long ago. Remember the unique character of these villages.