Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
canyon as it bores through the city center. The West End's development began in the
19th century, as the booming city needed more space to house its ever-growing
population, which made Glasgow the Second City of the British Empire.
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Start at:
1
Cameron Fountain
From the red stone fountain, built in 1896 and listing considerably eastward,
detour briefly a few streets south on North Street to see the Mitchell Library,
among the largest public reference libraries in Europe, with its prominent
dome.
From the fountain walk up Woodside Crescent to:
2
Woodside Terrace
This late Georgian row of homes (designed by George Smith in the 1830s)
began an exemplary New Town development. Here you'll find Greek Doric
porticos unlike any in the city. But most of the credit for the overall elegance
and charm of Woodlands Hill goes to Charles Wilson, whose designs in the
middle of the 19th century are mostly responsible for the terraces up the hill-
side to Park Circus.
Continue on Woodside Terrace, turning right (north) on Lynedoch Terrace to Lyne-
doch Street and proceed left (west) to:
3
Trinity College & Park Church Tower
The former Trinity College (now Trinity House) is a landmark whose three
towers are visible from many approaches to the city. Designed by Wilson, it was
constructed in 1857 as a Free Church College. Most of the original interiors
were lost when the complex was converted to flats in the 1980s. Across the
broad triangular intersection is the cream-colored Park Church Tower. Part of
J. T. Rochead's 1856 design, it is the other feature of the neighborhood recog-
nizable from some distance. Alas, the church that went with the tower was
razed in the late 1960s. Similar to the Tolbooth and the Tron Church at
Glasgow Cross, only a steeple remains.
From here, go left (south) and follow the gentle curve (west) of Woodlands Terrace,
turning right (north) at Park Street South to:
4
Park Circus
This oval of handsome and uniform three-story buildings around a small central
garden is the heart of Wilson's plans, designed in 1855. No. 22 (the so-called
“Marriage Suites” where the city conducts civil marriages and other ceremo-
nies) offers remarkable interiors with Corinthian columns and an Art Nouveau
billiards room. Attendants are not impressed when uninvited visitors just wan-
der in, however. Luckily, the external door is impressive enough. At the western
end of Park Circus is Park Gate, leading to an entrance to Kelvingrove Park.
This promontory offers excellent views toward the University and south to the
River Clyde.
