Had my first proper visit to Bristol. What a wonderful place.
Something interesting around every corner.
And lots of history wherever you look.
Bristol
Category: Travel
Glasgow archive photography round-up
Alan Dimmick
Alan Dimmick is a Glaswegian photographer, best known for photographing Glasgow’s art scene. He is posting archive photos on Instagram at the moment, fascinating to me because many are taken around Hyndland/Partick/Anniesland where I grew up.
The Windsor Cafe on Clarence Drive was my first local cafe, a real treasure trove of sweets and ice cream. The owners, pictured here, were a Scots-Italian brother and sister, with infinite patience from what I remember.
Jonathan Treen
Jonathan Treen is also posting archive photos of 1970s Glasgow on Twitter (@JonathanTreen) just now. Some of the locations are instantly recognisable, others changed beyond recognition.
Photos taken from this interview on Document Scotland.
Graham Gavin
Graham Gavin has some great photos of Glasgow’s music scene in the 1990s – some lost bands, and some familiar faces.
Warm winceyette
This is John Ferguson’s in Perth. One of the few remaining traditional urban outfitters.
Two shops on either side of County Place have been clothing the denizens of Perth since 1924.
One side sells outdoor equipment and workwear. The other, clothes and ‘napery’ (household linen).
Ferguson’s recently amalgamated these shops into new premises at South Methven Street. I’m sad now that I was there on a Sunday and didn’t get a chance to see inside.
Empty Barras
I’m missing my usual lunchtime walks around Glasgow.
This is the Barras, one year ago today.
It’s usually this quiet during the week when the markets aren’t on.
Can’t wait to have a good wander again.
Irvine
I visited Irvine a couple of months ago, after winning a night out there in a raffle.
The fifth of Scotland’s new towns – the others are East Kilbride, Cumbernauld, Glenrothes and Livingston – it was added onto an existing (and very pretty in parts) historic town.
The vision for Irvine was spectacular space-age Brutalism. The reality doesn’t quite match the vision but there are some interesting things going on with bus lanes, and a strange predilection for tiny, irregular windows.
Going to church
I’ve been enjoying the Twentieth Century Society’s focus on churches (@C20Society on Twitter). It sent me rummaging through my photos for some favourites.
Here is Moncreiff Parish Church in East Kilbride.
I haven’t been able to find any information about the building, but it is one of many fine churches in East Kilbride.
The Bell, The Fish, The Bird and the Tree
I’m not sure if any city is as proud of its coat of arms as Glasgow. You are never far from one – old or new, carved, engraved, painted, high or low – they are everywhere. Glasgow Coat of Arms started collecting them on Twitter @GlasgowCoA, and the crowdsourced results are currently on show at Glasgow City Heritage Trust in Bell Street until 6 Feb.
The story of St Mungo (Glasgow’s patron saint) and the book, the bell, the fish and the tree certainly caught my imagination at school, particularly the part about the salmon and the ring thrown into the river by the queen’s lover. That seemed a bit racey for primary school, particularly a Catholic one, but it did make saints seem cool.
I’m pleased to have contributed this wee St Mungo door knocker found on Easdale Island, 120-odd miles away from home. The collection is also on Instagram at instagram/GlasgowCoA and is growing all the time.
Alishia Farnan
Alishia Farnan, a graduate of Glasgow School of Art specialises in photographing (empty) social spaces. Her series Social State documents social clubs in the West of Scotland.
Her collection, What I Think About When I Think About the Sea moves on to seaside cafes and pavilions (found via Iain Sarjeant on Twitter).
Nick Cave: Until @ Glasgow Tramway
It’s the last couple of weeks of Nick Cave‘s exhibition, Until at the Tramway in Glasgow. Turns out there are two Nick Caves – this one is the Chicago-based artist, not the Australian Brighton-based singer.
Photos don’t really do it justice. It is crammed full of interesting objects, and each part of the exhibition offers up new surprises. On until 24 November.
Glasgow Doors Open Day 2019 – part 2
Following on from Glasgow Doors Open Day highlights, here are a few places to go outside the city centre.
Starting in Govan, Glasgow Press (Saturday only) is a real treat. Enjoy the smell and noise of old-timey letterpress printing, and get your name in headlines with a personalised newspaper, a collaboration with Newspaper Club. You can also enjoy a look at Govan’s historic graving docks while you’re there.
Heading further south, Camphill Gate, a historic tenement, and Langside Halls (across the road from each other) are interesting, and further afield Holmwood House, a spectacular Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson villa is worth the trip.
And I can’t wait to see what’s behind the doors of Govanhill Picture House.
In the west, Arlington Baths is one of my favourite buildings in the whole of Glasgow. This well-preserved Victorian baths has so many fantastic features, most famously the superb Turkish Baths. Not to be missed! I will be going along to see if the Slipper Room is still as ramshackle as it was in 2012 (above).
St Charles Borromeo RC Church, North Kelvinside – Saturday only. A striking Gillespie, Kidd & Coia church. This is a short walk from Jaconelli’s Cafe on Maryhill Road if you need to be revived by ice cream.
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