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Next batter up in the hometowns of overseas Byters/contributors, David and Gill B, vintage pics of their hometown, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow, Scotland.
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About the locale:
Kirkintilloch is a town and former barony burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal and on the south side of Strathkelvin, about 8 miles (13 km) northeast of central Glasgow. Its long name is often shortened by locals to the colloquial Kirkie or Kirky.
The first known settlement on the site of what is now Kirkintilloch was a Roman fort established in what is now the Peel Park area of the town. Dating from the mid-2nd century, the Antonine Wall, one of the northernmost frontiers in Roman Britannia was routed through Kirkintilloch; its course continues through the centre of the town to this day, although little trace can now be seen above ground.
St Mary's church, Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire.
The Church was completed in 1914 at a cost of £15,000 to house the congregation of St Mary’s, who can trace their roots back to 1190 and the St Ninian’s Church beside the Old Aisle Graveyard.
There is no strong evidence of habitation on the site for the following thousand years until Clan Cumming established a castle and church there in the 12th century. A small settlement grew and was granted burgh status in 1211, becoming an important staging post for west–east journeys from Glasgow to eastern and north-eastern Scotland. From this time, a weekly market was held in the town.
The original Cumming parish church, St Ninian's, was constructed around 1140.
Following the Scottish victory in the wars of independence and the subsequent decline of Clan Cumming, the baronies of Kirkintilloch, Lenzie, and Cumbernauld were granted by Robert Bruce to Sir Malcolm Fleming, Sheriff of Dumbarton and a supporter of the Bruce faction in the war.
On 3 January 1746, the retreating Jacobite army of Charles Stuart made its way through Kirkintilloch, on its way back from Derby, and on the march to Falkirk and ultimately Culloden. One of the Highland army's stragglers was shot dead at the town cross by a man hidden in a barn at the Kiln Close (where the library now stands). On hearing of the murder, Charles halted his army on the Kilsyth road and threatened to turn back and burn the town. The town magistrates persuaded him to continue marching, in return for an unspecified payment, and the town was spared.
The town was one of the hotbeds of the Industrial Revolution in Scotland, beginning with the emergence of a booming textile industry in the area. With the construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal through the town in 1773, and the establishment of the Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway in 1826, Kirkintilloch developed further as an important transportation hub, inland port and production centre for iron, coal, nickel and even small ships. This industrial heritage lives on in the town's designation as the "Canal Capital of Scotland", and in the redevelopment of the canal and surrounding former industrial sites in the early 21st century.
Kirkintilloch was a "dry town" for much of its recent history, with the sale of alcohol on public premises banned from 1923 until 1967. The prohibition on the sale of alcohol had long been demanded by the Liberal Party and the temperance movement, both of which had a strong influence in the town in the early part of the 20th century, largely due to the perceived negative effects of alcohol on the town's inhabitants.
(Who would have thought it? Scots banned from having alcohol!!!)
Kirkintilloch today:
War Memorial marble Archway
See a video by clicking on:
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Gallery:
Undated card of Kirkintilloch main street, The Cowgate, with the fantastic Alexanders Stores, where generations of children obtained straw for their rabbit hutches at the side door in the Broadcroft where the china, etc., was unpacked. The Watson Fountain Monument stands in front of the store.
Eastside Kirkintilloch, looking East.
Kirkintilloch, High Street c.1895
Kirkintilloch town centre, showing the town hall, Regent Gardens and Mooney's ladies outfitters (with sunshade), with the town clock in the background. Undated, 50s to early 60s.
The Cross, Kirkintilloch, 1928.
A rare old photo of the Kirkintilloch Cross taken from the road up to the Peel Park. The first two buildings on the left are still here, the next two have been demolished to be replaced by the new library. The Black Bull Cinema with the peaked white gable has been turned into a night club.
Eastside, Kirkintilloch, 1928.
Eastside view looking towards the Cross and the town clock steeple. The Co-operative grocery store is now the undertakers. Apart from the sweet shop on the left with the tobacco advertising the rest of the buildings up to the Luggie bridge are still here.
A view of St Mary's Church, Townhead, Kirkintilloch. The building on the right is the police station (now a Wetherspoon's pub, The Puffer) and the gates to shut traffic off when the canal bridge is opened are shown. The Post Office is on the left. It's now Nonna's Kitchen restaurant. Undated card, but likely 1940-1950s. The building between the police station and the church is the bridge-keeper's house.
Kirkintilloch's Cowgate in quieter times.
The card is postmarked 1949. The buildings on the left were pulled down to be replaced by new shops and a small shopping mall. The famed Alexanders Stores is in the centre of the picture behind the Guthrie Fountain. The woman with the bag is just approaching Queen Street.
Bishopriggs, Kirkintilloch Road looking towards Bishopbriggs Cross, 1938.
This area of Bishopbriggs is usually referred to as 'The Village' by locals.
Industry Street, Kirkintilloch, 1934
The majority of the houses shown have been pulled down and replaced by new-builds with the new Parliament Road cutting through them and joining Waterside Road. The two houses on the far right remain intact.
Kirkintilloch West High Street and Barony Chambers, 1907
View of Kirkintilloch Cross looking north up the hill on a tinted postcard. The building on the left has become a small public park with toilets before new flatted housing was built on the site. It's obviously before the time the town went 'dry' (1920-1968) as you can see ''Ye Olde Wine and Spirit Company'' advert on the side of the building in the middle of the scene.
Townhead Bridge, Kirkintilloch, 1937
The large building on the left-hand corner was the police station. It has now become a Wotherspoons pub. The police office has moved to a fenced compound on the outskirts of the town. The sandstone building on the right was owned by the Co-operative Society and one of their shops is seen here. This is the old bridge over the Forth and Clyde Canal. The buildings are still the same today, just the type of shops have changed.
A Big Hat Day in Kirkintilloch.
Old photograph of Luggie Bridge in Kirkintilloch, Scotland.
Railway Station Kirkintilloch Sccotland, undated
This Scottish train station was opened by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway, the station passed to the North British Railway in 1858, the London and North Eastern Railway in the 1923 Grouping, and then to the Scottish Region of British Railways on nationalisation in 1948. It was then closed by the British Railways Board in September
Alexandra Street, Kirkintilloch, 1928.
Exactly the same today with this view looking down Alexandra Street towards St. David's and Park Memorial Church. Kirkintilloch Bowling Club is behind the hedge on the left.
Old photograph of a horse and cart, Tram and shops on Main Street in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow, Scotland. This part of Scotland was once in the historic parish of Cadder, originally lands granted by King William the Lion to the Bishop of Glasgow, Jocelin, in 1180. Bishopbriggs' close geographic proximity to Glasgow now effectively makes it a suburb and commuter town of the city.
Kirkintilloch Railway Station, 1956
With steam train 67667 heading towards Glasgow. The station was a victim of the Beeching rail cuts of the 1960s.
Hope you enjoyed that Dave, Gill.
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