Pollokshaws


Pollokshaws is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is bordered by the residential neighbourhoods of Auldhouse to the east, Eastwood and Hillpark to the south and Shawlands to the north, with the Glasgow South Western Line railway and the open lands of Pollok Country Park to the west. The White Cart Water flows through the area.
The housing stock mostly consists of some sandstone tenement housing and modern brick tenement-style buildings. Eight tower blocks formerly stood in an area known as the Shawbridge Corridor; the final block was demolished in March 2016.
According to the 2001 Census, Pollokshaws had a population of 4,295. Its residents are a mixture of working class and middle class social groups, and the area also had a large South Asian community.

History

Pollokshaws was originally a village predominantly dedicated to weaving in the 17th century. A group of Flemish weavers were brought to the area in the 19th century by the landowners, the Maxwells of Pollok, on account of their exceptional weaving skills.
Pollokshaws was a burgh of Renfrewshire until 1912 when it was annexed to the City of Glasgow. Though it had been an industrial area, this changed in 1957 when it was proposed as the second Comprehensive Development Area in Glasgow. The area was demolished and rebuilt anew.

A large number of tower blocks were built in the 1960s, and later demolished between 2008 and 2016 in the Shawbridge Corridor regeneration. The areas where these blocks were will have a mix of social and private housing. The blowdowns of the first two towers in July 2008 was filmed in detail by an American company and can be seen as part of the documentary series "The Detonators".

Sport

's Newlandsfield Park is in the area, adjacent to Pollokshaws East railway station.
Pollokshaws Bowling Club was established in 1854 and has been based in Pollok Country Park since 1954. The land was donated by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell. The club celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2004, and were honoured with a civic reception in the Glasgow City Chambers.

Notable people