Bearsden History

Explore my collection of articles on notable residents, locations and other moments of history in and around the Bearsden area. Comments and feedback warmly welcomed on all posts.

Rescue on Ruchill Street: four brave men

In response to an earlier post on the award of a bravery medal for a canal rescue (link), Alex Oliver contacted me to say his stepfather had the same medal....
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A canal rescue: James Mudie Archer

On 11th April 1930, James Mudie Archer, 19, and a friend, Hugh Harper, were on the canal towpath walking to their jobs at the Maryhill Iron Works.  Two young women...
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Maryhill Road in 44 Comparisons

I’ve arranged a selection of photos of Maryhill Road from north to south, starting at Killermont and ending at St George’s Cross, together with a matched comparison photo for each...
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Garscube House

I cannot muster the least interest in the history of landowning families over the centuries and am not much more interested in where they lived.  I’m making an exception for...
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St Peter’s College

This post card shows the view along Drymen Road from today’s bus stop by Schaw House: This was the original row of houses called Courthill, but this post is about...
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The extraordinary owners of 6 Ferguston Villas (or 63 Roman Road)

Sheena Peters second volume of “Bearsden in Old Picture Postcards” contains some amazing photos, including this one taken from the tower of Buchanan Retreat (now Boclair House Hotel) on Milngavie...
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Bearsden from Above

This post is about the photos of Bearsden available on the Britain from Above website (link).  I’ve used these in previous posts including what was on the north side of...
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The Schaw Convalescent Home

Set on the gentle south-east slope of Courthill, Schaw House is the most prominent landmark in Bearsden.  The photo is from 1952, the white horizontal lines are marks on the...
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New Kirk Square: building and opening

The clearance In 1906 the farm and stables in the area bounded by Roman Road, Drymen Road and Stewart Place (now the western end of New Kirk Road) were cleared. ...
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Photos of The Cross and some of its shops

This post covers the period from the building of New Kirk Square to 1940, and I was looking forward to presenting and analysing photos of the shops at New Kirk...
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