Photos and the City

Tag: Scotland

  • Glasgow – Necropolis

     

    I think it was around half past 6, I was already pretty exhausted (and a little bit wet, which I didn´t mind after the heatwave back in Vienna) but still, there was the one “thing” I didn´t want to miss – the Victorian cemetery Necropolis, up on a hill next to the Cathedral of Glasgow.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    In 1650 the Merchants’ House bought the land, part of the estate of Wester Craigs, now known as the Glasgow Necropolis. As the west side was rocky and not able to be developed it was subsequently planted with fir trees and became known as Fir Park. However, in 1804, the Scots Firs in the park started to die and were replaced by mainly elm and willow and the area became a Victorian park and arboretum. In 1825 the foundation stone of the John Knox monument was laid in Fir Park. (Friends of Necropolis)

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    In 1831 the idea of transforming Fir Park into a Père Lachaise kind of cemetery was set into action by advertising a competition for the conversion in the newspapers. David Bryce of Edinburgh and his brother John Bryce of Glasgow won the first and second price, but the actual work was done by the landscape gardener George Mylne.

    So far the parish church had been responsible for burying the dead but with fewer people attending church, alternatives were needed. The laws were changed and “burial for profit” allowed. The Cemeteries Act was passed in 1832 and Necropolis officially opened in 1833.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    This burial ground was always intended to be interdenominational and the first burial in 1832 was that of a Jew, Joseph Levi, a jeweller. In 1833 the first Christian burial was of Elizabeth Miles, stepmother of the Superintendent, George Mylne. After 1860, the first extensions east and south were to take up the Ladywell quarry and in 1877 and 1892/3, the final extensions to the north and south-east were constructed, doubling the size of the cemetery. (Friends of Necropolis)

    Over the years 50.000 burials have taken place and 3500 tombs have been built.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    Even on such a dreary day, it was lovely to walk around Necropolis, even if you don´t have that soft spot for beautiful cemeteries like I have.  The view towards the city and cathedral isn´t too bad either.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

    Necropolis is laid out like an informal park, the path slowly goes uphill to the summit where the (predated) John Knox monument is surrounded by larger monuments.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlandsglasgow, scotland, uk, cemetery, victorian, travel, my trip to the highlands

  • Glasgow – City Center

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelglasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    Some of the first things I noticed about Glasgow were all those bridges, some in use some others not anymore, beautiful abandoned buildings waiting to be woken up again and a lot of stunning murals all over the city.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    After a short stop at my Airbnb room to get some rest, it was about time for the next tearoom. Still raining and tea is always a good idea. The Willow Tea Rooms at 217 Sauchiehall Street opened in 1903 and are currently under renovations to be opened again in 2018. Just before the turn of the century Kate Cranston, a local businesswoman and daughter of a tea merchant, had the idea

    of a series of “art tearooms”, venues where people could meet to relax and enjoy non-alcoholic refreshments in a variety of different “rooms” within the same building. This proved to be the start of a long working relationship between Miss Cranston and Mackintosh [architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh]. Between 1896 and 1917 he designed and re-styled interiors in all four of her Glasgow tearooms, often in collaboration with his wife Margaret MacDonald. (The Willow Tearooms)

    I had my afternoon tea at the tea rooms at Buchanan Street, which were first built and designed in 1896 by George Washington Browne, Mackintosh designed the murals on the interior.Mackintosh’s trademark high-backed chairs made their first appearance at the existing rooms at  Argyle Street in 1898.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    Named after King George III George Square is the principal civic square in Glasgow. Surrounded by beautiful (and probably important) buildings you´ll find the City Chambers on one side. They are supposed to be stunning inside but were already closed when I walked by.

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelglasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelglasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelglasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelglasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travelThe McLennan Arch

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    Back at the River Clyde I had walked about 18km around town at this point and decided that The Riverside Museum designed by Zaha Hadid had to wait for my next visit to Glasgow – I was done for the day!

    glasgow, scotland, uk, rain, travel

    Later in the evening, the sky cleared up – view from my Airbnb room.

  • Glasgow – The West End

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    After arriving with the Caledonian Sleeper early in the morning I started my walk around Glasgow with The West End and started into my holiday with breakfast at Kember & Jones. There are so many lovely cafés and restaurants that it was hard to decide, but it was possible the smell of freshly baked bread and the cozy interior that brought me in.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainRefreshed and filled with coffee and avocado it was time to explore the West End. Glasgow started to wake up and I wasn´t the only one on the streets anylonger. From vintages stores to cafés and bookshops to fancy delis – the West End is fun and colourful. And don´t forget those hidden little lanes that open up to more discoveries.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    And suddenly I was standing in front of the Botanic Gardens. Created in 1817 and run by the Royal Botanic Institution of Glasgow. The big glasshouse, know as The Kibble Palace, covers 2137 m2.   Originally designed for the home of John Kibble at Loch Long in the 1860ies. Brought up via the River Clyde it was erected in the Gardens in 1873.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainEve by Scipione Tadolini

    I made my way back down in direction of the city center via the Glasgow University. Catch a first glimpse of the University below.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    Located on Gilmorehill the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the english-speaking world and was founded in 1451 and relocated to Gilmorehill in the West End in 1870.

    Glasgow originally educated students primarily from wealthy backgrounds, however it became a pioneer in British higher education in the 19th century by also providing for the needs of students from the growing urban and commercial middle class. Glasgow University served all of these students by preparing them for professions: the law, medicine, civil service, teaching, and the church. It also trained smaller but growing numbers for careers in science and engineering. (University of Glasgow)

    The Campus was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the Gothic revival style and it´s said that it had inspired the look of Hogwarts for J.K.Rowling.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    To be a student again and spend the rainy afternoon sitting behind one of those windows just reading (and watching people passing by).

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainView towards the Kelvingrove Art Museum.

    Through the adjoint  Kelvingrove Park I continued my walk towards the innercity. The park was created in 1852 by the well known gardener Sir Joseph Paxton and was open for the public right from the beginning. The City Council had bought the estate for recreation purposes for the middle class. Today the park seems to be a favourite place for walking dogs, I met so many cute and playful ones (even so it was raining cats and dogs at that time..)

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    And as it was raining cats and dogs it was about time for a little brake for tea and I chose the supercozy Hidden Lane Tearoom in a hidden lane which was surprisingly colourful and fun.

    glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rainglasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain glasgow, west end, scotland, uk, travel, ursula schmitz, destination photography, rain

    Next stop: my Airbnb near the Central Station to freshen up and have a little nap.