Past Glasgow

A rainy day in Glasgow, 18th November 1963, at the now sadly much changed corner of Gordon and Union Streets. The previous day, a one-way system covering four-and-a-half miles of streets, including Sauchiehall St, Bath St, Renfield St and Hope St had been introduced. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow

"Not long enough", one man said. "You only get about 10 seconds to cross - and if you’re at the back of a crowd the signals have changed before you can get across. Ill-mannered motorists make it difficult enough for us to cross the roads without us now having to run for our lives into the bargain."

A rainy day in Glasgow, 18th November 1963, at the now sadly much changed corner of Gordon and Union Streets. The previous day, a one-way system covering four-and-a-half miles of streets, including Sauchiehall St, Bath St, Renfield St and Hope St had been introduced. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow

Many areas of Glasgow are under water following the excessive rain brought by Storm Boelo. But for many southsiders, flooding is nothing new. The White Cart used to routinely burst its banks, inundating surrounding streets with water. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow

An appropriate quote given the weather: "All greatness stands firm in the storm" - Ian Hamilton Finlay's public art from 1990 on a disused railway pier in the Clyde. #Glasgow

With the clocks going back last night, it always makes me think about my favourite Glasgow timepieces. There are plenty to choose from, but few as nostalgic as this: the Pollok Centre's circus-themed automaton clock. #Glasgow #pollok

It was designed by Charles Anderson and Peter Haward of Haward Horological, and it entertained countless children, this one included, from the centre's opening in 1979 until its closure in 2007.

Tradeston Grain Mills, at 6-10 Commerce Street, looking across the King George V Bridge to the city in 1967. These mills were founded in about 1846 by William Muir. In 1872 they were badly damaged by a dust explosion, which wrecked several adjacent buildings. 📷 John Hume #Glasgow #1960s

The mills were replaced in 1873-4. The main mill range is the six-storeyed block, with a former church and halls complex on the left. By 1967 the mills had long been used as a cold store, owned by the Clyde Cold Storage Co Ltd.

This week's Friday pub is the Queen's Park Cafe on Victoria Rd. There's been a pub on this site since 1870. It was run by John A McArthur until the mid-1870s, and his wife Margaret took control of the business after his death until 1885. It was then sold to Alexander Sutherland #Glasgow #FridayPub

The pub was situated in an exclusive part of the south side and was targeted by the temperance movement leading to the threat of closure. Mr Sutherland, like many other city publicans, added the word Cafe to the name of the pub, indicating a more respectable establishment.

A fascinating elevated shot of the city looking west in the 1980s. If you're having trouble getting your bearings, the street running left to right is Buchanan St, and the corner building centre right is at the corner of Bath St with the George Hotel to the right. 📷 Cranhill Arts Project #Glasgow

On this day in 1971, on a typical rainy October afternoon with shoppers wandering the length of the shopping parade at Clarkston Toll, a blast killed 22 people and injured 100 more in Scotland's worst peace-time explosion. 📷 Newsquest

A spark at the north end of the shops caused the gas to ignite. What caused the spark remains unknown. A Fatal Accident Inquiry was convened just 4 months after the disaster while some of the victims were still recovering in hospital.

On this day in 1971, on a typical rainy October afternoon with shoppers wandering the length of the shopping parade at Clarkston Toll, a blast killed 22 people and injured 100 more in Scotland's worst peace-time explosion. 📷 Newsquest

23-year-old salesman Thomas Henderson had been parking his car on the rooftop car park when the blast happened. The ground fell from under him and his car slid into a void of twisted metal and concrete. Out of the murk he stumbled, in shock but alive. Others weren't so lucky.

On this day in 1971, on a typical rainy October afternoon with shoppers wandering the length of the shopping parade at Clarkston Toll, a blast killed 22 people and injured 100 more in Scotland's worst peace-time explosion. 📷 Newsquest

Among the victims were elderly shoppers, young mums, shop assistants, and Scotland's reigning badminton champion Maureen Hume who had just stepped off the 180 bus which took the full force of the blast. For days before, locals had complained about a strong smell of gas.

On this day in 1971, on a typical rainy October afternoon with shoppers wandering the length of the shopping parade at Clarkston Toll, a blast killed 22 people and injured 100 more in Scotland's worst peace-time explosion. 📷 Newsquest

Shops at 837-855 Cumbernauld Rd, photographed in 1930. Among the retailers are William Tennant, grocer, and the Buttercup Dairy Co. It was founded in 1904 and had around 250 branches by the 1920s, almost entirely staffed by women to reduce costs. 📷 Glasgow City Archives

On this day in 1962, Glasgow almost put a premature end to the reign of King Olav V of Norway. He'd arrived in Edinburgh a couple of days before, to be warmly greeted by the Queen. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow #otd

After receiving the freedom of the city, he visited Glasgow, where one of his engagements was the Gorbals-Hutchesontown redevelopment project, where a sizeable piece of a tenement at the corner of Waddell Street and Rutherglen Road was brought down.

Looking north across the rooftops from the newly built Fleming House on Renfrew St in 1964 towards the Pinkston Power Station cooling tower. There's so little left from this Cowcaddens scene that you might need help getting your bearings. 📷 Newsquest #Glasgow #1960s

Time seems to be running out for this long-abandoned gem. J A Campbell's category A listed Glasgow-style office block of 1901 for Robert Buchanan & Co, Carting Contractors at 71-75 Robertson St. #Glasgow