GLASGOW
PEACEFUL SETTING ON THE RIVER CLYDE
IN THE HEART OF GLASGOW.
The
favourite derivation of Glasgow’s name is that it comes from a
celtic phrase meaning ‘the dear green place’. Years ago, in
the industrial scruffiness which afflicted the city, that description
often provoked a cynical response. More recently, and particularly in
the approach to Glasgow’s remarkably successful year as European
City of Culture in 1990, it has been cleaned up, renovated and given
back its old confidence in itself. Since then it has simply gone from
strength to strength.
This is largely due to the efforts of public, private and commercial
institutions. They have an enviable record of setting their political
and other differences aside when some project is suggested, clearly
for the
general good.
You can still see exactly where the hilly city of Glasgow started. Its
well furnished cathedral was protected from the ravages of the Reformation
by the point-blank refusal of the trade guilds of the city to allow
it to be harmed. The present building stands on the site of the 6th
century church established by St Kentigern — more popularly known
as St Mungo — who was Glasgow’s first bishop and later
its patron saint.
Dating in part from the 12th century, the cathedral is the oldest building
in the city. Across Castle Street, Provand’s Lordship is
the oldest house, built in 1471.
