Have you ever heard of the fun, surprising or terrifying facts about Glasgow? Whether you’re a history enthusiast, an art lover, or simply enjoy cozy and welcoming pubs, there’s something special for you. Keep on reading for some Glasgow facts!
A Brief Introduction to Glasgow
Glasgow, situated on the banks of the River Clyde in the west-central part of Scotland, is the most populous city in Scotland. And meanwhile it is the third city with the largest population in the UK. It pioneers in many aspects, such as culture, fashion, finance, industry, and shopping. During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, it was the “second city of the empire”. Glasgow has historically been a centre for science, art and learning, and the fabulous museums across the city are littered with artistic, cultural and scientific treasures. All these above are facts about Glasgow.
A Brief History of Glasgow
The following parts, roughly divided into 5 periods, are concerned with the past and facts of Glasgow:
- Medieval Era: Glasgow grew as a modest cathedral-centered burgh during the Middle Ages. The city’s prospects started to improve in the 1400s when King James II granted it a royal charter.
- Industrial Revolution: The Industrial Revolution turned Glasgow into a prominent industrial powerhouse and it began to thrive in shipbuilding sector and emerged as a heart for manufacturing textiles, chemicals, and various other products.
- 19th Century Growth: The 19th century was a time of Glasgow’s swift expansion and substantial growth. For example, its population skyrocketed and it evolved into a key cultural and intellectual hub.
- 20th Century Decline and Revival:Glasgow faced huge difficulties in the 20th century because the downturn in heavy industry caused unemployment and economic hardship. Nonetheless, it has turned itself into an urban center through a remarkable resurgence in the past years.
- Modern Glasgow: Glasgow is a leading cultural and economic hub in Scotland now and is renowned for the top-tier museums, galleries, and music culture. Meanwhile, it has also witnessed substantial revitalization, modern developments, and enhanced infrastructure.
Main Characteristics of Glasgow
As a major city of Scotland, there are several features and cool facts about Glasgow. Let’s continue to explore this special city.
- Industrial Heritage: Glasgow, an indispensable city of Scotland, has a long history of industry. It has many fabulous buildings, such as Victorian tenements and grand buildings.
- Cultural Hub: It boasts rich culture, strong art atmosphere, and excellent museums.
- Friendly Locals: It is famous for the warm-hearted and enthusiastic local residents.
- Fascinating Parks: The city is home to plenty of attractive parks, such as Kelvingrove Park and Pollok Country Park. All these parks can provide silent and comfortable environments for people to conduct outdoor activities.
- Unique Buildings: Mixed with a variety of styles, the buildings in Glasgow present the features from Gothic to Art Nouveau, which contributes to the charisma of the city.
- Affordable City: In comparison with other big cities of Europe, Glasgow is much more affordable, making it an ideal for cost-conscious people.
- Shopping Heaven: From luxurious shops to modern malls, Glasgow provides a wide range of options tailored to your need.
- Sports City: Glasgow is a sports-loving city and it has history of playing soccer and rugby.
Fun Facts about Glasgow
Glasgow is filled with fascinating stories and attractive scenery. From its rich history to its vibrant culture, here are 10 facts about Glasgow!
Some Trees Older than Dinosaurs
Fossil Grove, one of the most important natural heritage of Glasgow, is a special geological heritage in the Victoria Park. There are some special trees, whose fossilised tree stumps can date to the Carboniferous Period, and they have a history of 330 million years, double the age of the dinosaurs. These trees, Lepidodendron trees, were discovered in the late 19th century when the Victoria Park was under construction. Nowadays, the heritage is accessible to the public and then has become a popular destination. Fossil Grove is more than a heritage; it’s a crucial component of the natural heritage of Glasgow, which attracts the travelers worldwide who are interested in geology, paleontology and history.
Birthplace of the Tea Room Movement
Glasgow plays an important part in the tea room movement. Mackintosh, a renowned artist and architect, designed a rang of tea rooms, featuring art, architecture, and social situations. The Willow Tea Rooms were prominent and then regarded as a symbol of Glasgows cultural heritage. These tea rooms quickly became popular places for the middle-class residents, and ideal alternatives to the pubs. In these rooms, all people can share ideas with each others and talk freely. In fact, Mackintosh greatly helped Glasgow become an innovative and creative city.
Founded by Saint Mungo
It’s said that Glasgow was established by St Mungo who was a Christian missionary in the 6th century. Nevertheless, it’s proven that since prehistoric times, many citizens have inhabited here and the Romans established a lot of outposts in the place, which is called Glasgow today, to keep out the intruders. But Saint Mungo, also known as Kentigern, built a settlement for missionaries in the central part of Glasgow. Then, it rapidly turned into a significant bishopric and trading hub during the early medieval period.
Home to the Oldest Surviving Music Hall
Glasgow is home to the Britannia Panopticon, the oldest surviving music hall of the world built in 1857, and today, it is protected as a heritage site and helps the visitors to learn about the past of Glasgow’s culture, which is one of the fun facts about Glasgow. If you are interested in live performances or the history of the city, you can get to know more details by exploring the Britannia Panopticon.
Oldest Subway in the World
It is one of the interesting facts about Glasgow that it boasts one of the oldest subway systems. The Glasgow Subway was introduced in 1896 and acts as the third globally oldest underground metro, following only London and budapest. The system was called “The Clockwork Orange” because it has circular routes and orange-painted trains, and over the past century, it has been an indispensable part of the local infrastructure. In fact, compared with the networks of other major cities, the Glasgow’s system was relatively small, however, it was inscribed in the city’s history. The subway system serves thousands of passengers day by day, which showcase its durability and efficiency. In addition, taking the subway for tourists is both an effective way to get around and a chance to try the transportation legacy in the world.
Birthplace of the First Ultrasound Machine
The first ultrasound machine, invented in the 1950s, was created by Professor Ian Donald, Dr John McVicar and Tom Brown in Glasgow. Since then, women’s lives have been greatly changed thanks to the awesome machine, which you can see in the Hunterian Museum in the University of Glasgow. Moreover, if you’re willing to learn more scientific facts about Glasgow, you can go to the Glasgow Science Centre to explore more cutting-edge interactive exhibits.
Birthplace of Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken tikka masala was a widely popular dish in the UK and a top choice in Indian restaurants, however, the supposedly Indian meal was invented in Glasgow. Though similar to some Indian traditional foods, such as “butter chicken”, it was not actually created in India. The story is rather interesting: Ali Ahmed Aslam was a British Bangladeshi chef and one day a customer complained the curry was too dry. He added some tomato soup into the food and then it became creamy, and the customer was surprised at this special taste. From then on, the new meal was named “chicken tikka masala” and gained popularity nationwide.
Entrance of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery was an excellent art museum and established with red sandstone at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s believed that the iconic construction was originally built back-to-front and the entrance was on the wrong side, which greatly depressed one architect and made him to commit suicide. Nonetheless, it’s just a urban gossip because the entry was facing the Kelvingrove Park with intention, serving for the Glasgow International Exhibition.
Home to the Remains of St Valentine
Saint Valentine was the patron saint of lovers and his remains can be accessible in the Church of Blessed St John Duns Scotus. In 1868, the remains were donated to the Franciscan church. Saint Valentine was an enigmatic figure because there were several Christian martyrs named Valentine in the early times. All kinds of legends and traditions seem to contribute to the Valentine’s Day. No matter whose remains are actually housed in the chapel, the friars adorn the relics with flowers every February 14th and offer prayers for lovers worldwide.
Cradle of International Football
Though Scotland isn’t a fierce competitor in terms of international football today, in fact, Glasgow is the birthplace of the global match. The first international football match was held in 1872 between at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick, and fortunately, the match ended in a 0-0 draw and avoided any potential diplomatic tensions!
Surprising Glasgow Facts
Can you believe Glasgow is full of surprises? There are some unexpected and interesting things about Glasgow. Let’s uncover the secrets of Glasgow!
More Marble in City Chambers than Vatican City
The Glasgow City Chambers was among the most gorgeous buildings in Scotland and, interestingly, the interior used to serve as a substitute for the Vatican in different films. They, officially opened in 1888, is inscribed in Glasgow’s history and have many luxurious staircases. No travel to Glasgow is complete without visiting the City Chambers.
First City to Give Nelson Mandela “Freedom of The City”
In 1981, Nelson Mandela was praised as the “Freedom of The City” by the concil of Glasgow and that title is a prestigious honor given to those who have contributed a lot to the city. But at that time, Mandela was still imprisoned and couldn’t receive it on site himself. So after eight years, he came to Glasgow again in order to express his gratitude to the city and citizens for the unwavering support during his imprisonment. In addition, the St George’s Place was renamed to “Nelson Mandela Place”, which was an crucial political move.
Templeton Carpets Manufactured Carpets for White House and the Titanic
Templeton Carpets is a carpet company in Glasgow and its products have been considered as the best around the whole world for more than 160 years. The factory workers used to make carpets for Queen Elizabeth II for her coronation and for the Houses of Parliament in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Templeton once was the largest company with exceeding 7,000 employees. At one time, Templeton was Glasgow’s largest employer with over 7,000 employees in its roster.
Criminals Banished to Glasgow
The southern area of the Clyde, a historic settlement, is renowned as Gorbals, which became a significant part of Glasgow in the 19th century. Until the 18th century, criminals were banished to the north of the Clyde as a form of punishment, and in this way, troublemakers, thieves, and drunkards could be removed from Gorbals.
Legendary Facts about Glasgow
- The Legend of the Kelpies: It’s believed that the Kelpies sculptures comes from a mythical creature from Scottish folklore and they are shape-shifting water spirits that often take the form of horses.
- The Legend of the Glasgow Necropolis: It’s said that the Glasgow Necropolis is haunted by the spirits of those buried there and some people even said that they have seen ghosts moving among the graves.
- The Legend of the Barrowland Ballroom: The Barrowland Ballroom is said to be disturbed by the ghost of a young woman who was devastated after being abandoned by her lover.
- The Legend of the Glasgow Subway: It’s said that the Glasgow Subway is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who disappeared in the tunnels and was never seen again.
- The Legend of the Tenement House: The Tenement House museum is believed to be haunted by the ghost of a former resident who was tragically murdered.
Fascinating Facts about Glasgow for Kids
Do you wanna help your children learn about the facts on Glasgow? It’s a fascinating place with multitudes of stories behind it.
- “Glasgow” is “green hollow” in Celtic languages.
- The University of Glasgow is the 4th oldest university in the UK.
- Glasgow is the first place where you could watch TV.
- Glasgow is the greatest urban economy in Scotland, as well as the second-largest shopping heaven in the UK.
- Glasgow was ranked as as a “special city of culture” by UNESCO in 2008.
- Glasgow Tower, used to be known as the Millennium Tower, is the tallest fully-rotating construction globally with a height of 127 meters.
Conclusion of Facts about Glasgow Scotland
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FAQ of Facts about Glasgow
What are some interesting facts about Glasgow?
Glasgow is the birthplace of the world’s first ultrasound machine. The bones of Saint Valentine reside in Glasgow. The first ever match of international football was held in Glasgow.
Why was Glasgow called Glasgow?
Because the name Glasgow is thought to derive from the Brythonic Celtic “Cleschi” meaning “Dear Green Place”. The city is located on the broad valley floor of the River Clyde. There are hills to the north, north-west and south which provide a backdrop and beautiful views. The River Clyde bisects the city from east to west.
Why is Glasgow so special?
Because the city is an UNESCO City of Music, and it is home to all but one of Scotland’s national performing arts organisations and an exciting calendar of world-class festivals and events.
What is Glasgow famous for?
The city was the European Capital of Culture in 1990 and is notable for many things, including architecture, culture, media, music scene, sports clubs and transport connections. In addition, it is the fifth-most-visited city in the United Kingdom. The city is also well known in the sporting world for football.
