Glasgow - The Green City

	The University of Glasgow is Six Centuries Old.1

Multi-cultural, multi-faceted and industrious, Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, with the population of the city proper plus Greater Glasgow reaching over a million. It is only 72 km (45 mi) from Edinburgh, but sustains its own individual personality through its expressive, animated and endlessly entertaining people. The Glaswegian accent has morphed the English language into its own distinctive form, the city's 500-year-old university has seen the development of theories that would eventually impact the globe and its ardent football enthusiasts have changed the meaning of what it is to be a true fan.

The name Glasgow was derived from the Celtic glas cau, which means "green hollow". Indeed, Glasgow has more green spaces and public parks than any other city in Europe, and was described as "the Dear Green Place," by Daniel Defoe. It has been home to the Celts and the Romans, and its modern manifestation is a mish-mash of citizens from all four corners of the world, each bringing life and passion to the city. It has been a prosperous Victorian hub, a world shipbuilding centre, and, following the First World War and during the Great Depression, a dilapidated and dangerous urban conglomerate. It has since hit its stride, however, and breeds artists, nurtures business and is cosmopolitan and charismatic. Their city motto is "Let Glasgow Flourish", and it was named the United Kingdom's City of Architecture and Design in 1999.

In the information below, WorldWeb.com Travel Guide overviews the history of Glasgow, including details on some of the city's most interesting and important attractions.

The River Clyde Shapes Glasgow's Past.2

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HISTORY AND ATTRACTIONS

The River Clyde first invited civilization during the Neolithic age (10,000 BC) because of the availability of a natural ford for ease of crossing. During these years of pre-Christianity the belief system was mainly paganism, and Scottish Gaelic, which is still spoken in the northern parts of the country, is derived from the Celtic languages that were used at the time. Characterised by a love and appreciation for the earth and the cycle of life, Celtic peoples were polytheists, and typically divided themselves into three groups. An aristocracy of warriors inhabited the upper echelons of society, druids, who were teachers and preservers of culture, were slightly lower, and the rest of the population followed, residing as citizens and labourers. Romans almost certainly used the land as well, although they tidied up nicely and left little evidence of their settlement except for a seed of Christianity that would flourish.

The early Scots practiced Celtic Christianity, said to be the original form of Christianity first introduced to the British and Irish peoples. It differs from Roman Catholicism in various ways, including the method for calculating the dates of Easter. The existence of "Limbo", which is believed to be a separate area of Hell for unbaptised children, is also contested. Normally, these children were buried in unsacred ground along with criminals, heretics and suicides, but the Celts chose to lay the hapless victims right next to the walls of their churches, asserting that the rainwater that dripped from the roof of the church was the children's baptism. Women were afforded a near-equal role both in the church and in society. Celts also invented the private confession, previously required to be public.

Saint Mungo, Glasgow's patron saint (also known as St. Kentigern), arrived in the area about 540 AD, and with the help of the Christian king of Strathclyde, Roderick Hael, built a simple church at the Molendinar Burn in the spot the city's cathedral stands today. Mungo lived a pious life, sustaining himself in a simple cell where the Burn and the River Clyde meet, all the while labouring intensely to create as many converts as he could. His holy example led to many followers, and they named their village Clasgu, meaning the "dear family", another variant of the city's present name. Mungo is popularly said to have performed four miracles while alive, remembered by the following rhyme:

Here is the bird that never flew
Here is the tree that never grew
Here is the bell that never rang
Here is the fish that never swam

The first line refers to a pet robin owned by Saint Serf, whose enemies killed the bird in an attempt to sully his name. Mungo somehow restored the bird to life. The second line recalls the time Saint Mungo used branches from a live tree to revive a fire that was supposedly dead, and the third line alludes to what was believed to be a heavenly bell brought by the Saint from Rome. Finally, a fish proved the innocence of an unjustly accused queen, whose jealous husband had thrown her wedding ring into the river, where it was swallowed. The king then blamed the queen for the ring's disappearance, hinting that she may have gifted it to a secret lover. Because of a premonition from Mungo, the fish was caught and the ring was retrieved, and the queen's reputation remained intact.

In 1136 a cathedral proper was built on the spot of St. Mungo's original, humble place of worship, and as a centre of faith, the city also became a centre for commerce. A weekly market was established and the first burgh was built. Long, narrow tracks were hidden behind tenements, where crops were grown and livestock tended to in a communal fashion.

Glasgow was but a village at the time, boasting a stable population of about 1,500 permanent citizens, but it steadily attracted more. It continued to grow, and its influence on a national and international scale was eventually guaranteed with the founding of the University of Glasgow. Pope Nicholas agreed to create the institution in 1451 at the request of Scotland's King James II, who wanted the country to have two major places of learning to equal England's Oxford and Cambridge. The city was made an archbishopric in 1492, and its territorial powers were expanded to reach out over Argyll, Dunblane, Dunkeld and Galloway.

Glasgow's Cathedral is Beloved by Citizens.3

Another interesting place of worship found in the city is the Gothic Revivalist St. Mary's Episcopal Church.

Along with the Universities of St. Andrews, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, the University of Glasgow is an Ancient University of Scotland, all of which were originally ecclesiastical foundations, modeled after the venerated University of Bologna, Europe's oldest institution of higher learning. The school operated out of Glasgow Cathedral for its first years, in short time moving to High Street in 1460. Two centuries later the University's minds came together to create the Old College, then touted as the city's greatest building.

Researchers, scientists and philosophers of the school helped discover the materials, invent the machines and create the concepts behind the Industrial Revolution, which saw thousands of people abandon rural life for the industry and relative convenience of the city. Forced to vacate the city centre because of overcrowding, the majority of the university moved to quiet, suburban Gilmorehill. It has grown to offer a complete range of professional studies including law, medicine and engineering, as well as as every major academic field including the sciences, languages and fine arts. Today the school has approximately 20,000 students total, 16,000 of which are working on undergraduate degrees, the rest on post-graduate.

Some of the university's more famous alumni are -
•William Thomson (Lord Kelvin) graduated from the university, and shortly after took the position of chair of Natural Philosophy (Physics), where he stayed for 53 years. An eminent scholar of the physical sciences, Thomson is noted for his work on the Transatlantic cable. He also invented the mirror galvanometre, offered opinions on the Niagra Falls Power Station, created a new method of deep-sea sounding and developed the still-used measurement of the Kelvin, used to gauge levels of current.
• Adam Smith, economist, philosopher and author of The Wealth of Nations, was 14 years old when he began his career at the University of Glasgow. The book was one of the first historical inspections of industry and commerce, and laid the groundwork for business studies as they are recognised today. He supported free trade, division of labour and provided pivotal opinions on the supply-and-demand theory.
• Joseph Black taught both chemistry and medicine in the18th century, and made many important steps towards the understanding of gases and carbon-based elements.
• James Watt first began working with steam power while a student at the University, advancing the technology that would eventually drive the Industrial Revolution forward. The engine was mostly used for extracting coal, but it could also be used to drive a factory or mill directly.
•William Macquorn Rankine developed a theory of modern thermodynamics and wrote the first well-used and respected textbooks on engineering.

By the 16th century Glasgow was one of the most important ports of trade to the newly-founded Americas, receiving tonnes of sugar, tobacco and cotton to be distributed to the rest of Europe. The huge task of dredging the River Clyde to allow for large carrier ship was undertaken, and over thirty years millions of cubic metres of silt were removed from the river's bottom. The city's labourers and workforce produced textiles, mined coal and founded steel, and constructed the world's largest and finest ships.

The Industrial Revolution that spearheaded all of this economic activity occurred because of ingenuity, and more ingenuity was put into developing the habitable parts of the city. Designed by renowned Scottish architect Robert Adam, who is also responsible for the Register House in Edinburgh, Merchant City was developed west of High Street, and incorporated classic Victorian architecture with wide, straight streets and plenty of squares and public spaces. The area fell into disrepair in the 1960s, but has been recently revitalised and is now one of the jewels of the city, featuring high-end designer stores, fine restaurants and prestigious housing developments.

Glasgow's citizens have been treated to plenty of public spaces for centuries, and Glasgow Green, the city's oldest park, has seen its form and function evolve along with the needs of the city. Initially damp and swampy, with sporadic areas of lawn to graze cattle and livestock, the first design of the 1450s was drained and leveled in the early 19th century as part of a work project designed to help alleviate the poverty and need caused by the expenses of the Napoleanic wars. The Green has played part in many events in Glasgow's history, and is an often-visited and integral feature of the city. In 1816, 40,000 people rallied on the square in demand for a more representative government and less taxes. The 1870s saw women using the Green as a platform from which to lobby for the right to vote, and the original four players of the Rangers Football Club first passed the ball on its lawns. The People's Palace, which opened in the east of the park in 1898, now houses a premiere collection dedicated to the history of the city, and the Botanic Gardens nurture thousands of species of plants from around the world.

Near the new campus of the University of Glasgow, Kelvingrove Park encompasses 34 ha (85 acres) of land. The expansive grounds are popular with walkers and bikers, and are jammed with statues and monuments commemorating important moments in Glasgow's past. It has hosted three international exhibitions, and is the home of the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

Outside of the city is Chatelherault Country Park, formerly the site of the Hamilton Palace, the stately home of the powerful Dukes of Hamilton. After falling into disrepair due to nearby coal mining, the palace was demolished in 1921, but the hunting lodge, almost destroyed as well by quarrying, has survived and been restored to include a Visitor's Centre, and its fine Georgian plasterwork remains. About an hour from the city is the popular Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, a natural wonderland encompassing the fresh waters of Loch Lomond and the romantic glens of the Trossachs, both of which have inspired writers and artists' imaginations.

The People's Palace at the Winter Gardens.4

On pristine lands just south of the city is the Pollock County Park, where the Burrell Collection is housed. Born in 1861, Sir William Burrell was a businessman and philanthropist who built his fortune in shipping through shrewd business decisions. He then spent his time studying and collecting antiques. The location of the museum outside of the city of Glasgow was stipulated by Burrell himself in an attempt to ensure his carefully-amassed treasures would be allowed to escape the pollution of the city. His renowned collection includes works ranging from pieces representing the medieval era to priceless paintings by Degas and Cezanne, plus modern sculpture and original examples from around the world.

SPORT
Among the most avid football fans in the world, Glaswegians split their support between their two historic teams, both of which compete for the top spot in the Scottish Premier League. Originally formed in 1872 by only four men, Rangers hold claim to the title of the oldest team. In their first year they only played two matches. The name Rangers was suggested by one of the team's founding members, Moses McNeil, after reading about an English rugby team who had adopted the same moniker. McNeil would be called up to play for Scotland's international team four years later. Over its more than century-long history, the team has been carefully managed by a succession of only one dozen men, who sculpted out a legacy that today includes the 1972 European Cup and 51 Scottish League Championships, which in the 1990s the team won an unprecedented nine-in-a-row. The team are affectionately known to fans as the Teddy Bears, and sport blue-and-white home uniforms in the colours of the Scottish flag. Their home pitch, located just west of the city centre, is the impressive Ibrox Stadium, which has a capacity of 50,411.

Across the city is the pride and joy of Celtic F.C. fans - Celtic Park. Affectionately called "Paradise", the stadium is capable of holding more than 60,000 fans, and is the second largest club stadium in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1888, the team is also known as the Bhoys, and has the distinction of winning every single competition they played in 1967. The victorious squad was comprised entirely of Scottish talent. The team was created through of the wishes of an Irish monk, who wanted to use attendance as a method of fundraising. Players proudly wear green and white in reference to the team's Irish roots, and they are a true soccer heavyweight, boasting 40 Scottish League Championships, the most recent title attained in 2006. In 1938, the capping of the Scottish Cup against Aberdeen was witnessed by 146,433 people, which remains a European attendance record today. Supporters of the team are not exclusive to Glasgow - organisations of fans have formed around the world.

The two teams first met in 1888, and a crowd of 2,000 saw Celtic win 5-2. Together they are termed the Old Firm (Auld Firm), and native Glaswegians will recall the deep-seated rivalry between the teams, which sometimes resulted in violent confrontations between their fans. Their matches nearly always ended in bloody brawls, and pitches today have taken pains to keep groups of supporters separate. Celtic were founded through the Catholic church, and indeed the team was comprised entirely of Catholic players for a good deal of its history. The Rangers represented the Protestant sector of the city, and the physical battles on the pitch became representative of the theoretical and theological differences within the Christian religion. The intensity of the animosity attracted viewers from all over the United Kingdom and beyond, and was even rumoured to be a ruse, set-up by the Scottish government to ensure interest in their league.

Scotland's emotional relationship with its favourite game is chronicled at the Scottish Football Museum in Glasgow.

TRANSPORTATION
Strathclyde Passenger Transport (SPT) is in charge of shuttling Glaswegians safely to and from work and play. The underground system is quick and efficient, and stops at all of Glasgow's major attractions. Affectionately termed the "Clockwork Orange", the metro follows a circle route, and is, of course, bright orange. A day ticket is recommended, as it costs about the same as a return ticket and is good for both short jaunts and long journeys. For trips throughout the rest of the United Kingdom, Glasgow's Central and Queen Street Stations receive inter-city trains.

Buchanan Bus Station manages both inter and intra-city routes. Scotland has recently invested in developing several "bus corridors", where specified lanes are restricted to the use of buses, high occupancy vehicles, emergency vehicles and taxis, so bus travel should be quicker and easier than ever.

CLIMATE
A bit of rain is almost a guarantee in Glasgow, but a slight drizzle and a touch of fog is so quintessentially Scottish that it would almost be a shame to not experience the city from underneath an umbrella at least once. From September through to January the months are decidedly wet, with September and October bringing the most moisture. Snow is uncommon, as the temperature rarely dips below zero, even in what could be termed the coldest months, and the city's green spaces remain their remarkable emerald colour year-round.

Summertime is much drier, and brings with it several days of sunshine and temperatures warm enough for shorts and sandals. It is not often too warm that it becomes uncomfortable, however, and evenings are cool and breezy. Air-conditioning is certainly more of a luxury than a necessity. As an escape from the sun, the many Glasgow pubs offer a relaxed respite, and are reputed to offer refreshing beverages of several varieties.