Author: Andrew Downie (page 23 of 29)

The Ghosts of Strathbungo

October 29, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Much of the local history recalled on this site relates to the Victorian period when Strathbungo was built.

However, whilst this strange tale of mysterious goings on has clear overtones of a classic Victorian ghost story, the events described actually happened much more recently, in 2003. They remain etched in the memory of those who witnessed them. Although the police became involved, no crime was ever recorded, and nothing like it has been seen in Strathbungo since. If you weren’t there, read on…

Continue reading

Langside Primary School

History of Langside Primary School

October 7, 2017 / / 7 Comments

Not quite Strathbungo, but quite a few residents of Strathbungo are current or former pupils of Langside Primary School.

Back in 2006 I set about recording a history of the school for its centenary celebrations, and the resulting book was published and copies distributed to pupils.

It came about after watching an all-time classic episode of “Who Do You Think You Are?”, featuring Jeremy Paxman. He was reduced to tears when he discovered his great grandfather was a Glasgow school janitor, whose family was left destitute when he died. The program made reference to the head teachers’ diaries kept in the Mitchell Library, and the resultant book was based largely on entries from the Langside diaries.

It is reproduced here for posterity, if anyone wishes a read.

Life in a 20th Century School – Click to read (pdf, 1MB)

The motorway that nearly killed Strathbungo

May 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

I have long been aware of a story that Strathbungo was threatened by a motorway in the 1960s, and this was a crucial event in the formation of the Strathbungo Society, but I have never understood how this could be. The M77 perhaps? But that was always going to be further west. So what was the story?

There were occasional hints. A neighbour gave me an old article from Scottish Field dated 1977 in which Mike Stanger, then chair of the Society, described how properties were blighted by the planned South Link motorway, with no one able to get a mortgage, not even on 1-10 Moray Place.

A Society booklet of 1984 recounts the same story .

But what was the South Link? And why did it threaten the very existence of Strathbungo? With thanks to Stuart Baird, of the Glasgow Motorway Archive , we now know. Read on…

Continue reading

« Older posts Newer posts »

Recent Posts

Meta

Pages

Recent Comments

© 2025 Bygone Bungo

Theme by Anders Norén — Up ↑