Glasgow and West Scotland Ancestry Tours
Welcome to Glasgow and the West of Scotland!
Tell me about the history and development of Glasgow
Glasgow is Scotland's largest city (pop abouut 600,000).The city is located on the banks of the River Clyde in the South West of Scotland. There is evidence of human occupation dating back to at least 4500BC but we know that the the city in its current form can trace its history back to a small settlement clustered around a 6th century church built by St. Mungo. The cathedral was founded in 1136, the university in the 15th century and in 1454 the city achieved Royal Burgh status. The catalyst of the city's commercial prosperity was lucrative trading in tobacco and cotton with the emerging American colonies in the 17th. century which generated huge wealth for the mercantile class of the time. The River Clyde was critical to Glasgow's development, particularly as a gateway to the Americas. In order to expand trading opportunities the river was dredged and deepend in the 18th century to provide a navigable waterway to the heart of the city.
The early trading activities proved a strong foundation on which to grow further and the opportunities provided by the industrial revolution were readily grasped to propel Glasgow and environs into an industrial power base centred on shipping, railroads, canals and engineering. By the 19th century Glasgow was the greatest shipbuilding center in the world. This rapid industrialisation resulted in a population boom which in turn led to major social problems as manifested in appalling slum housing conditions for the working people. It was not until the 1950s and 1960s that the slums were finally cleared and replaced with new towns and modern social housing. Districts, such as the Gorbals, which were formerly synonymous with housing squalor are now almost unrecognisable having been extensively re-built leaving just an isolated building or two as a reminder of the past.
Tell me about the People of Glasgow
Glasgow was formerly part of the Kingdom of Strathclyde which was centred at Dumbarton Rock on the River Clyde. The name Dumbarton translates as Fort of the Britons which is apposite because the local people were native Britons who spoke a form of Welsh from which language the name Glasgow evolved from alas and cau meaning 'green hollow'. The ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde, which may have had its spiritual centre at Govan (slightly to the west of modern Glasgow city) lasted until the early 11th century. Thereafter, Glasgow absorbed various waves of people movements including Gaelic speaking Scots from Ireland, English speaking Anglo-Saxons and Vikings from Scandinavia. The demand for labour during the industrial revolution resulted in further immigration from Ireland, the Highlands of Scotland and from Europe (e.g.religious refugees such as the Flemings). In more recent times there has occurred a significant influx of people from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland. This immigration has resulted in a distinctive dialect of Scots spoken in and around the city of Glasgow known at The Patter.
Tell me about the main districts of Glasgow
Here are the main districts listed fron North to South:
Dalmuir, Clydebank, Bearsden, Summerston, Bishopbriggs, Lenzie,Chryston, Braehead, Knightswood, Maryhill, Balornock, Millerston, Gartcosh, Linwood, Cardonald, Partick, Govan, Dennistoun, Springboig, Easterhouse, Millikenpark, Johnstone, Paisley, Glenburn, Pollock, Govanhill, Gorbals, Pollockshaws, Rutherglen,Tollcross, Birkenshaw, Barrhead, Nitshill, Thornliebank, Cathcart, Giffnock, Castlemilk, Cambuslang, Uddingston, Bothwell.
Tell me about some of the major towns and communities in the West of Scotland.
Here is a list moving from West to East (it is not exhaustive):
Port Glasgow, Greenock, Gourock, Largs, Johnstone, Kilbirnie, West Kilbride, Kilwinning, Fenwick, Ardrossan, Saltcoats, Stevenston, Irvine, Kilmarnock, Newmilns, Riccarton, Galston, Dunlop, Troon, SymIngton, Stewarton, Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth, Bonnybridge, Falkirk, Cumbernauld, Milngavie, Airdrie, Coatbridge, Motherwell, Newmains, Shotts, East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall, Wishaw, Carluke, Strathaven, Stonehouse, Newmilns, Darvel, Mauchline, Happendon, Lanark.
How can Catswhiskerstours help?
Being Glasgow based and with experience of providing personalized ancestry themed tours we can help visitors with Glaswegian and/or West of Scotland Ancestry in various ways, viz:
- A photo or video record of specific sites/locations where ancestors lived or worked.
- Help with personal family history reserch.
- A personalized tour based on family history.
- A self-drive tour with itinerary and lodgings.
For help and information contact Nigel-
T 44 (0) 141 638 5500
E info@catswhiskerstours.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
For more information and help contact Nigel-
T 44 (0) 141 638 5500
E ncole67@googlemail.com
Or info@catswhiskerstours.co.uk
We look forward to hearing from you!
