Woodside Heritage Discovery

NEW!

Walking Tour

Woodside library 343 St Georges Road G3 6JQ

Discover the historical significance of the Woodside area as an early centre of progressive education. Explore the impact of redevelopment and depopulation. Find out how the area is once again becoming a centre of educational excellence for the 21st century.

The Woodside area has made a significant contribution to Scottish Education over the previous two centuries. A number of dedicated individuals have recognised the value of a good education and worked tirelessly to ensure that every child, including the poorest, received the best education available.

In an area with high levels of poverty and deprivation, the education available was of the highest standard and remarkably progressive ideas were developed and implemented.

These included the first teacher training college in the UK, and one of the earliest kindergartens in Scotland. Many schools were established, then had to change and develop with the changing population. Today, only St Joseph’s and Oakgrove Primary Schools remain, alongside Abercorn School.

By the 1960’s the industry had all but disappeared and Woodside had been designated a Comprehensive Redevelopment Area (CDA), removing the slum housing and dilapidated factories, and driving through the M8 Inner Ring Road. The community was dispersed across the city and beyond. For those who remained local employment opportunities were negligible. The canal – which was crucial in the development of Woodside was closed as road transport had taken over by then. The use of the library was greatly reduced with the massive fall in population, and there were even plans to close it in the 1990’s.

The canal has now reopened as a leisure facility, and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the National Theatre of Scotland and Scottish Opera have been established around its banks. Student accommodation is rising where tenements and factories once stood and Woodside is once more becoming a centre of educational and cultural excellence.

Discover Glasgows Industrial Heritage: There will be some discussion during the walk regarding the deindustrialisation of the area.

Number in Brochure: 131

Tour Times

Sat 2pm; 1 hour

Advanced Booking Essential

Additional Booking Information:

Booking opens at 10am on Wednesday 26th August 2015.

Please be aware that Doors Open Day events are very popular and will book out quickly.

Spaces are limited per person.

Please only book for events that you intend to go to and cancel your space as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.

If the event is fully booked please feel free to add yourself to the wait list, if a space becomes available you will be contacted and will have one day to respond. Please be aware that you must add yourself to the waitlist for every space and for the times that you want ie. if looking for three spaces at any time, add your name 3 times to each event time.