Parkhouse, Glasgow G22 Explained

Country:Scotland
Official Name:Parkhouse
Gaelic Name:Taigh na Pàirce
Os Grid Reference:NS593686
Coordinates:55.8906°N -4.2511°W
Unitary Scotland:Glasgow City Council
Lieutenancy Scotland:Glasgow
Constituency Westminster:Glasgow North East
Constituency Scottish Parliament:Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn
Post Town:GLASGOW
Postcode District:G22 6
Postcode Area:G
Dial Code:0141
Static Image Name:Trinity Possil and Henry Drummond Church of Scotland - geograph.org.uk - 1458735.jpg
Static Image Caption:View to Trinity Possil Church and nearby housing from Broadholm flats (2005)

Parkhouse is a neighbourhood of Glasgow, Scotland. Within the G22 postcode area and the Canal ward of the Glasgow City Council administration, it is mainly residential in character having been constructed as a development primarily consisting of cottage flats in the early 1930s, prior to which it was open farmland.

It is one of two places in Glasgow called Parkhouse, the other being a more modern housing development near Nitshill in the far south of the city. However, they are rarely confused as neither is particularly well known outside local circles, and wider discussions of issues affecting the neighbourhoods take place under the names of their wider wards or constituencies.

Location and history

Its boundaries are not precisely defined, but Parkhouse occupies a roughly rectangular area with the larger suburbs of Milton to the north (the house styles and sub-postcode altering after Ashgill Road), and Possilpark to the south at the Maryhill Line railway tracks. Lambhill and Ruchill are the adjacent neighbourhoods to the west, and an expanse of railway lines with no connecting bridges (the Glasgow–Edinburgh via Falkirk line and part of the Cowlairs depot) separate its territory from Springburn to the east.

At the time of construction, a primary school was also built; Greenview School (also known by other names)[1] in Buckley Street was latterly used as a special education facility before being the target of an arson attack in 2017 while in the early stages of being converted into residences[2] – the work continued regardless.[3] Another, older school in the area, High Possil Senior Secondary School was demolished due to structural problems and replaced by modern apartments,[4] [5] with only its 'category C' Listed gymnasium building on Balmore Road remaining, but in a dilapidated condition.[6]

There is one church serving the community[7] which stands opposite the only multi-storey block of flats in the vicinity (eight stories). A branch of Londis on Ashfield Street provides limited shopping facilities, with some other amenities such as a post office and chemist at Milton, and a wider range at Possilpark. Those areas have experienced drug-related violence and organised crime,[8] [9] and incidents related to this have also occurred in Parkhouse.[10] [11] [12]

On the west side of Balmore Road, outside the residential part of Parkhouse, is a small industrial estate also using that name.[13] This was previously the regional control centre for Scottish Water before the company moved to new premises in Stepps.[14] The disused buildings of Possil railway station are also located there, and it was the also roughly the site of the farm which gave the area its name.[15] In addition to the existing railway, a cutting which once contained the tracks of the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway bisects the neighbourhood from east to west. The Hamiltonhill Branch of this line also crossed the territory diagonally (following the line of today's Crowhill Street) towards a goods yard at the Forth and Clyde Canal.

Transport

In the 21st century, the area is served by two railway stations on the same line: to the west and Ashfield to the east. Bus provision (operated by First Glasgow) is via the frequent (6 per hour)[16] '7A' via Balmore Road and the '75' via Ashfield Street.[17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Glasgow, 165 Glenhead Street, Balmore School. Canmore. 10 July 2018.
  2. Web site: Blaze destroys roof of former primary school in Glasgow. STV. 19 June 2017. 10 July 2018.
  3. Web site: Historic Greenview School set to be turned into flats for rent. Evening Times. 9 February 2018. 10 July 2018.
  4. Web site: 426 Balmore Road, Hodge Court, former Possil School Gymnasium including Gatepiers and boundary walls. Historic Environment Scotland. 10 July 2018.
  5. Web site: Possil School Gymnasium Block (Former), 426, Balmore Road, Possil. Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. 3 July 2018. 10 July 2018.
  6. Web site: Possil School Gymnasium. Architecture Glasgow. 19 May 2011. 10 July 2018.
  7. Web site: Welcome. The Trinity Possil and Henry Drummond Church . 6 July 2018. 10 July 2018.
  8. Web site: The Lyons v the Daniels, the incredible inside story of Glasgow's gang wars. Glasgow Live. 18 May 2017. 10 July 2018.
  9. Web site: Glasgow's dark legacy returns as gangland feuds erupt in public killings . The Guardian. 22 July 2017. 10 July 2018.
  10. Web site: City park thugs stamped and kicked man to death. Evening Times. 28 June 2007. 10 July 2018.
  11. Web site: Appeal over stabbing attack in Parkhouse, Glasgow. BBC News. 2 December 2011. 10 July 2018.
  12. Web site: Double weapon attack in North Glasgow sparks crime wave fear after EJ shooting. Evening Times. 3 December 2016. 10 July 2018.
  13. Web site: Parkhouse Business Park. Novaloca. 10 July 2018.
  14. Web site: National Operations Control Centre - Stepps Introduction. Scottish Water. 10 July 2018.
  15. Web site: Ordnance Survey 6 inch, 1892-1914 . National Library of Scotland. Explore georeferenced maps. 10 July 2018.
  16. Web site: Frequency Guide . . 1 January 2018. 10 July 2018.
  17. Web site: Glasgow Network Map . . 1 January 2018. 10 July 2018.