This evening, my theme is the Doulton Fountain in Glasgow Green.

This is the largest terracotta fountain in the world. It was made in 1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's golden jubilee of that year and was unveiled at the Empire Exhibition in 1888. The structure was moved to its present location in 1890.

The structure is full of carvings and sculptures representing the British Empire which at that time was approaching its zenith. Not surprisingly, a statue of Queen Victoria sits atop the structure.

The fountain measures 46 feet in height and 70 feet in width. It is usually visited in conjunction with the nearby People's Palace and is a popular visitor attraction.

Elsewhere today:

• I transferred recent guest to Glasgow Airport after a successful 4 day tour of Edinburgh and Glasgow.
• Finalised a new Whisky Tour for visitors from Canada.
• Posted information to my GlasgowAncestry blog on McApine family history from an old memorial stone in St Andrews in the Green.

Weather in Glasgow has been very poor today due to incessant heavy rain which has eased off this evening.

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 12:11 PM  0 comments

This morning, Glasgow remained gripped in the maw of a harsh winter. The sky was overcast, temperature at or below zero together with intermittent snow storms. On the plus side, being a public holiday, the roads were incredibly quiet. Not surprisingly, I returned home very cold and wet due to penetration of the wet snow through gloves and footwear.

I decided to set off on my bike to visit Glasgow Green, a historic working class area near the centre of Glasgow and close to the River Clyde. Most of the time I was taking photographs during a snow storm, a feature which obviously impacts on the quality of the images.

Here is Nelson's Monument approached from the City end of the park.

A close up of the Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world which dates from 1888. At this time Britain's global empire was at its zenith and the various carvings depict scenes and stereotypes from the empire. Refer also video clip at foot of this post.

Here is a view of the Doulton Fountain with the Peoples Palace in the background. The Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens date from 1898 on historic Glasgow Green and were established for the benefit of the industrial workers of Glasgow's East End. Today, the building is primarily a social history museum.

Tour bus-still running despite the inclement weather.

This was the Templeton Carpet Factory, an Italian inspired design based on the Doge's Palace in Venice. Now a Business Centre.

This strange assemblage of metal posts were originally set up for the drying of clothes. Glasgow Green was the site of traditional 'Scotch Washing' which entailed tramping washing in large tubs, a practice superseded by the wash house.However, Glasgow Green continued to be used for bleaching linens in the sun well into the 20th century.

There is a long tradition of rowing on the Clyde. The following two images show sculling in process.

Here is a video of the Doulton Fountain. Bear in mind snow conditions.

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 6:00 AM  1 comments

This morning I paid another to the Glasgow Green area. Light conditions were reasonable. The video below was taken from a position on St. Andrew's Bridge (1854-55) and shows the Clyde looking towards Glasgow.

Whilst taking the video there was a chance enounter with a horse drawn vehicle operated by Glasgow Council. A video clip of this unusual transport is also provided.

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 6:46 AM  0 comments

This morning, I visited an old part of Glasgow, namely Glasgow Green, the oldest public place in Britain dating from 1450.

The short video below commences with the Templeton Carpet Factory which dates from the late 19th century with a design modelled on the Doge's Palace in Venice. This building is now used as business centre.

Next site of interest is the Doulton Fountain which originally appeared in the 1888 International Exhibition in Kelvingrove, Glasgow. The fountain incorporates carvings and statues reflecting the diversity of Britain's then world empire.

The camera next focuses on the Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens, a centre dedicated to the people and culture of Glasgow.

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 7:42 AM  0 comments

This morning I am presenting some images of a recent visit to Glasgow Green in the East End of Glasgow.

Here is the Doulton Fountain which dates to the 1888 International Exhibition and is a manifestation of Britain's then empire.


Here is the Templeton Carpet Factory, a very unusual design based on the Doge's palace in Venice.

Here is inside of the the Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens (1888). This was built as a cultural centre for the East End population.

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 1:08 AM  0 comments

View of Glasgow from the Clyde

Ben and Sarah Parsonage's Bridge (over the Clyde).


Cacti inside the Winter Gardens

Tropical foliage within the Winter Garden's


Queen Victoria silhouetted against the sun


Doulton Fountain (1888) by A E Pearce. The largest terracotta fountain in the world was created for Glasgow's first Great Exhibition and later removed to Glasgow Green.


The People's Palace and Winter Gardens were built in 1898 on historic Glasgow Green for the benefit of the industrial working people of the east end.


Picture of the Green in sunlight. Note vertical iron poles.

More detailed picture of iron poles. These were erected to hold washing lines at a time when the working people used communal facilities for washing -and drying-clothes.



Stunning architecture at Templeton's Carpet Factory (1889). Glasgow's most colourful brick building-a bit of Venice marooned in Glasgow!

Labels: Glasgow Green

posted by Nigel Cole @ 8:41 AM  0 comments