Elder Park, Govan Explained

Elder Park
Type:Public park
Location:Glasgow, Scotland
Coords:55.8626°N -4.3252°W
Operator:Glasgow City Council
Status:Open all year
Publictransit:Govan subway station

Elder Park is a public park in the Govan area of Glasgow, Scotland, located a short distance south of the River Clyde, to the east of the Linthouse neighbourhood. It contains, a boating pond, the original Fairfield farmhouse, and Linthouse Mansion portico.

History

The park was given to the people of Govan in 1885 by Isabella Elder, in memory of her husband, the shipbuilding magnate John Elder.[1] [2] It was created on the site of Fairfield farm, the farmhouse of which still stands. The headquarters of the family's Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company were directly opposite the park to the north on Govan Road – the buildings still exist as the Fairfield Heritage Centre. Elder gifted the park for "healthful recreation by music and amusement".[3]

The park's sandstone entrance gates were refurbished during 2021, with a small ceremony taking place at the conclusion of the project in February 2022.[4] [5]

Buildings

lies at the south-eastern end of the park, on Langlands Road. It was opened in September 1903 by Andrew Carnegie, gifted to the people of Glasgow by Isabella Elder, and designed by John James Burnett.[6] It is a Category A listed building.[7]

The Linthouse Mansion was built in 1791, however the only remaining part of the house now is the portico.[8]

Statues and memorials

There are two statues within the park, (Sir J. E. Boehm, 1906, Category A listed),[9] and one to her husband John Elder (Archibald Shannan, 1888, Category B listed).[10] [11] There are also two memorials, commemorating the SS Daphne disaster in 1883[12] [13] and the HMS K13 submarine disaster in 1917,[14] [15] [5] both of which involved the death of local shipyard workers (from Stephens and Fairfields respectively).

See also

References

  1. Web site: Digital. Innovation. History of Elder Park in Govan, Glasgow: Monument to shipbuilder John Elder of Fairfield Shipyard - Clyde Waterfront Heritage. 2020-07-04. www.clydewaterfront.com.
  2. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18928611.amp/ Lasting legacy of Govan's first 'lady' Isabella Elder
  3. Web site: O'Neill. Cordelia. 2014-02-05. Glasgow City Council park proposal music ban hits wrong note with Govan's Elder Park group. 2020-07-04. dailyrecord.
  4. https://getintogovan.com/elder-park-gates-ribbon-cutting-friday-11th-february-2022-at-3-30pm/ Elder Park Gates Ribbon Cutting
  5. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19924432.amp/ Govan K13 memorial safeguarded for future
  6. Web site: Elder Park Library Art UK. 2020-07-04. artuk.org.
  7. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19390808 Glasgow Life's plan to revamp Elder Park library revealed
  8. Web site: architectureglasgow.co.uk. 2020-07-04. www.derelictglasgow.co.uk.
  9. https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA01243 "Lady Elder" Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Postcards Collection
  10. https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/200376913-statue-of-john-elder-elder-park-glasgow-glasgow#.YglT7renxkw Statue Of John Elder, Elder Park, Glasgow
  11. https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA01235 Elder Statue, Elder Park Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Postcards Collection
  12. https://www.lostglasgow.scot/posts/the-daphne-disaster-689/ The Daphne Disaster
  13. https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/ss-daphne-memorial-257782 SS 'Daphne' Memorial
  14. https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA00913 K13 Memorial Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Bulletin Photographs
  15. https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19565136.amp/ Tragic tale behind K13 submarine memorial in Glasgow's Elder Park