Home Report Gorbals

The Gorbals is a historic district in the southeast of Glasgow on the banks of the River Clyde, which also separates it from the city centre proper. It is sandwiched between Tradeston to the west and the Southside to the south. The Gorbals area dates back to at least the 13th century when it was just a small village close to a bridge over the River Clyde.

In more modern times, the Gorbals has had a reputation as a poor and rough area with many social problems. Indeed, it was once one of Europe’s worst slums housing as many as 90,000 people. Despite this many thousands of Glaswegians have called the area home in decades past and have a fierce pride of the area and upbringing, remembering fond memories of people pulling together with a sense of community when they had little else.

Today, the Gorbals is in the middle of a metamorphosis, and is quite different even from 30 years ago. The area still has its issues, but it is undergoing a major investment and regeneration plan to transform the area which includes much of the housing stock and available amenities. As a result of this the area is at the lowest population it has been in recent decades of some 8,500 residents, as many of the previous buildings – where many families lived often in just one or two rooms – demolished after falling into disrepair and becoming derelict, now replaced by modern flats which are still being built. People from all walks of life mix from families who have called the area home for generations, as well as students, and economic migrants coming to the city for work.

Most of the working people in the area work in Glasgow City Centre or close by. They benefit from such a close proximity as most of the Gorbals area is about 2 miles or less from Glasgow City Center proper with Crown Street being the main route in leading to Clyde Street, Saltmarket and High Street. This makes walking to the city a viable option, though there are also frequent bus services depositing travellers into the heart of Glasgow in about 10 minutes. Many people also cycle in. The area is unconnected by train but there is a subway station on the Glasgow subway nearby at Bridge Street.

As for amenities and things to do, the Gorbals area has some pockets of services to call its own such as supermarkets like Aldi, and Co-Op, as well as a B&M store. There are other independent businesses in the area and a small industrial estate behind the Southern Necropolis. Indeed, the Southern Necropolis is a draw for sightseers who wish to see the site and listed architecture of the 19th century cemetery. The cemetery contains the graves of merchants, traders, shipbuilders and architects, mainly from the 19th century such as Sir Thomas Lipton, and Alexander “Greek” Thomson. Another draw for those with interests in history and architecture is the Caledonia Road Church, a Category A-listed mid-Victorian structure of remaining walls and tower designed by Alexander “Greek” Thomson. Glasgow Green Park – the oldest of the city’s parks – while not officially in the Gorbals boundary is a short walk away for most residents. Glasgow City Centre, the bustling Southside, and West End, are all relatively easily to reach with public transport too.

In terms of local schooling, being an urban area there are several nearby schools. These are the Blackfriars Primary and St. Francis Primary. The nearby high schools are Holyrood Secondary School, and Bellahouston Academy. The private Hutchesons Grammer school is also nearby as is the City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus.