Glasgow

I

Introduction

Glasgow, city, administrative centre of Glasgow City unitary authority, south-west central Scotland on the River Clyde. Although not the capital, it is the most populous city, and principal commercial and industrial centre of Scotland. It is also a major tourist destination, possessing some of the finest architecture in Britain and hosting a variety of cultural events and attractions. The city occupies both banks of the Clyde about 32 km (20 mi) east of the river's mouth on the Firth of Clyde. It covers an area of some 180 sq km (70 sq mi), at the centre of the historical region of Strathclyde.

Although still the largest Scottish city, Glasgow has experienced a gradual decline in population from a peak of about 1,129,000 in 1939 to a current estimated figure of 578,700 (2001 estimate).

Structural reform of Scottish local government came into force on April 1, 1996, when Strathclyde Regional Council and Glasgow District Council ceased to exist and a new single-tier unitary authority—Glasgow City—came into being. The first elections for the new 83-member council (which is the biggest of Scotland's 29 mainland unitary authorities, and Glasgow's largest employer) were held in April 1995, and it operated in shadow form alongside the district and regional councils until the change of responsibility. Elections are held triennially.

The seven Glasgow constituencies returning Members of Parliament (MPs) to Westminster are Glasgow Central, Glasgow East, Glasgow North, Glasgow North East, Glasgow North West, Glasgow South, and Glasgow South West. In 2005 all the city's MPs were Labour Party representatives.

II

Economy

Glasgow is the commercial heartland of Scotland, although the service sector, rather than heavy industry, now underpins the local economy. The numbers of office-based professional, managerial, clerical, and sales jobs continue to grow, and this service-sector dominance is reflected in the city's position as the second-largest retail centre in the United Kingdom (after London) and as the main office and commercial centre in Scotland. There are more than 1.6 million sq m (1.9 million sq yd) of office floor-space. Developments completed in the 1990s include the St Enoch Centre (Europe's largest glass-covered shopping mall) and Princes Square in the city centre, and Parkhead Forge in the East End.

Glasgow is an important financial centre, and is the location for the headquarters of some long-established financial institutions including the Clydesdale Bank and Scottish Amicable Assurance. The London Stock Exchange's regional office in Scotland is also based in the city.

Glasgow has enjoyed increasing importance as a tourist centre. With approximately 2 million visitors each year (and over 4 million in 1988 when the city staged the National Garden Festival), spending approximately £200 million (US$300 million), a significant proportion of employment in Glasgow is sustained by tourism. As a growing tourist destination and conference venue (particularly since the opening in 1985 of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre), the city has attracted high-quality hotel developments and experienced a steady expansion of lower-priced accommodation.

Employment in manufacturing almost halved during the 1980s and now accounts for less than 20 per cent of jobs in the city. However, important and diversified manufacturing industries remain, including shipbuilding, printing, textiles, engineering, chemicals, alcoholic beverages, and processed foods.

Glasgow forms the hub of Scotland's transport system, and there are extensive road and rail links with the rest of Britain. Its internal transport network comprises modern motorways, a suburban commuter rail system (which is the largest in Britain outside London), and a modernized rapid transport underground railway.

Glasgow International Airport is 13 km (8 mi) west of the city centre. It is the sixth busiest airport in Britain, handling annually about 8.1 million passengers.

III

Places of Interest

Glasgow has been described as the finest surviving example of a great Victorian city (and was designated the City of Architecture and Design for 1999). Of particular interest is George Square in the heart of the city on the north bank of the Clyde. It is lined by several buildings constructed in the Italian Renaissance style, including the City Chambers (opened by Queen Victoria in 1888) and the Merchants' House.

Relatively few buildings pre-date the 18th century. The most prominent of these are Glasgow Cathedral, dedicated to the city's patron saint, Kentigern, and Provand's Lordship, which is the city's oldest house (c. 1471) and is now a museum. The cathedral, situated on high ground to the east of the city and dating in parts from the 12th century, is an outstanding example of Gothic architecture.

Modern developments have occurred along the River Clyde, including the Glasgow Science Centre, which houses a planetarium and an IMAX cinema, the Glasgow Tower, and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (with the “Armadillo” concert auditorium designed by Lord Norman Foster). Further planned development is expected as part of preparations for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. A new National Sports Arena and Velodrome will be built in the east of the city.

The city has numerous parks and ornamental open spaces, including the Botanic Gardens (which has a collection of orchids and tropical plants) and the zoological gardens.

Glasgow has extensive sports facilities. It hosts four senior football clubs: Glasgow Celtic, Glasgow Rangers, Queen’s Park, and Partick Thistle. In addition, Hampden Park is Scotland's national football stadium. The Crownpoint Sports Complex and Kelvin Hall Sports Arena are both venues for national and international competitions. In 2007 the city was chosen as the venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

More than 48,000 full- and part-time students attend the city's three universities. The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is the second oldest in Scotland and also one of the city's major attractions. The University of Strathclyde originated as Anderson's Institution in 1796, becoming the Royal College of Science and Technology in 1956, and a university in 1964. Glasgow Caledonian University was incorporated in 1993. Many more students are enrolled at further education colleges and specialist colleges, including the internationally renowned Glasgow School of Art, and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The High School of Glasgow, founded in 1124, is one of the United Kingdom's leading independent schools.

In 1990 Glasgow was designated by the European Community as the European City of Culture, reflecting the increasing international recognition of the city as a cultural and artistic centre of excellence. In 1999 it hosted the prestigious Festival of Architecture and Design.

Prominent among the many museums and galleries located in the city are the Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum at Kelvingrove (which attracts almost a million visitors a year); the Burrell Collection (of the fine and applied arts); the Museum of Transport; the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery (Scotland's oldest public museum); the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art; the McLellan Galleries; the People's Palace Museum; Provand's Lordship (see below); Pollok House; the Centre for Contemporary Arts; Tenement House (depicting living conditions in a city tenement in the early 20th century); Scotland Street School and Museum of Education; and Haggs Castle. The Gallery of Modern Art (featuring work by Scottish and international painters, photographers, and sculptors) opened in March 1996.

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, which opened in 1990, is a permanent legacy of Glasgow's period as European City of Culture. Other arts performance venues in the city include the Theatre Royal, Citizens' Theatre, King's Theatre, Mitchell Theatre, Henry Wood Hall, the Tramway Theatre, and the Tron Theatre. The Scottish Youth Theatre offers early acting opportunities to young people. The city is the base of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, the Scottish Ballet, and the Scottish Opera.

Notable festivals staged annually in Glasgow include the Mayfest (an arts festival held annually in May that is similar in purpose to the Edinburgh Festival), the Glasgow International Jazz Festival, the International Folk Festival, the World Pipe Band Championships, and Celtic Connections (a festival of Celtic music).

The city has several important libraries, including the Mitchell Library, founded in 1874, which is Europe's largest public reference library.

IV

History

Glasgow grew around a church built in the mid-6th century by St Kentigern (also called St Mungo), who converted the Scots to Christianity. In the 12th century the town's church was rebuilt for the reconstituted episcopal see of Glasgow. The great commercial growth of the community dates from the union of Scotland and England in 1707. The opening up of trade in the 18th century with the Americas (based largely on tobacco, and subsequently sugar and cotton) led to a major expansion of the city and its population. The dredging of the Clyde gradually created a deep-water port down-river from the city at Port Glasgow, capable of accommodating ocean-going vessels. At the forefront of the Industrial Revolution, Glasgow developed from the early 19th century into a flourishing centre for iron and steel-making, heavy engineering, and shipbuilding, and by the turn of the century it was known as the “Second City of the British Empire”.

Subsequent structural industrial and economic changes, particularly following World War II (in which considerable damage was inflicted by German air raids), resulted in serious urban decline and decay in Glasgow. However, innovative efforts to regenerate and redevelop large areas of the city have since improved the environment and brought about its renaissance as a thriving business, cultural, and tourist centre.