Edit Shawland's past
in the 18th Century Shawlands was completely undeveloped, except for a solitary cottage at the Cross (the meeting place of Pollokshaws Road and Kilmarnock Road, and not as is sometimes assumed, the junction of Langside Avenue/Minard Road and Pollokshaws Road).
This would change dramatically within the next century.
Today, housing in the Shawlands area consists mainly of tenement flats and two-storey terraced cottages along with a small number of detached and semi-detached houses.
The area has seen a gradual gentrification over the past 20 years, leading some to dub it "the new West End".
South of Shawlands had traditionally been designated, Dry Areas, where pubs and alcohol have been forbidden, so people have traditionally come from miles around to shop, work and have a night-out in Shawlands.
On Tantallon Road, there is what was once the largest co-ownership developments in Europe - flats and garages set in manicured gardens, built in the 1970s.
There are 1920s semi-detached houses, 1890s semi-detached villas, terraced cottages, detached houses, council flats with verandas, and even some post-modern flats with elevators, curved glazed exteriors and penthouses.
There are bowling clubs and greens, Queen's Park which has allotments, a botanical garden glass house, public tennis courts, a public golf course, children's play areas, a boating pond, farmer's markets and a hill affording unrivalled views of the city.
Within walking distance are The Tramway theatre (and The Hidden Gardens), Pollok Park, Burrell Collection; the Victoria Infirmary; Hampden Park; Newlandsfield Park, home of Pollok F.C.; and Alexander Skirving's Battlefield Monument, erected to commemorate the 1568 Battle of Langside.
Is Queen's Park bigger than Pollok Park?
I very much doubt it, having jogged round Pollok Park earlier today.It strethches all the way from Haggs Road, round to Corkerhill Rd(Pollok) borders the M77 and follows the River Cart towards Paisley.
Was raised in Shawlands from 1947 until leaving 20 years later. Was disappointed some five years ago with what I thought was general degrading of the area with nightmare parking and what I consider almost claustrophobic atmosphere, probably as a result of thousands of cars parked on both sides of streets. The main shopping area (Kilmarnock Road) looks run-down and somewhat slummy.
I lived on Tantallon Road for 13 years in one of the prefabs at the Millbrae end where there are now apartments. For those who do not know about prefabs, these were small two-bedroom homes, each with its own front and back garden. They were built just after WWll as 5 year temporary accomodation for families with no homes. At the time many people were green with envy as the prefabs all came with fridges, wash boilers,water heaters, separate toilet and bathroom, airing cupboard and a coal shed. The 5 year term stretched to almost 13 before the tenants were re-housed so the apartments could be built. The prefabs backed onto the River Cart and on one or more occasions heavy rain caused the river level to rise to the top of the wall and on one occasion it overflowed at the bridge at Millbrae Road end and began coming down Tantallon Road. We had started stacking the furniture and rugs but fortunately the Clyde tide went out and the river level fell. As kids we had great play areas. At bottom of Holmbank Avenue we had the Bluebell Woods with a good sized flat area where we played soccer and cricket all year round. The woods ran all along the rear of the flats going to the Millbrae end and we played Cowboys and Indians, Hide and Seek and took picnics there in the summer and sometimes would build fires and roast potatoes. Across the road from our house there was a block of flats with some shops. At both ends of that building was were walled grounds of a convent and we would often see the nuns walking on the road. Being kids we would often climb the walls to get to the apple trees and some of the vegitables the nuns' grew in their garden. Of course, in those days, no TV, video games or iPODS. I'm sure many areas wish there were such facilities available today to their kids.