West End Women’s Heritage Walk

By Laura H | Published 12th June, 2013

This pioneering women’s heritage walk that took place on Sunday the 2nd of July 2013, revealed a hidden history of the West End of Glasgow: pipe-smoking forewomen, revolting schoolmistresses, and the unique car made by and for women. A unique and inspiring insight into the hitherto unsung women who made the West End.

 

Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery: The museum houses works by the Glasgow Girls, women working in art and design between 1880 and 1920
Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery: The museum houses works by the Glasgow Girls, women working in art and design between 1880 and 1920

 

Maggie’s Glasgow Gatehouse: Maggie Keswick Jencks was the co-founder, alongside Charles Jencks, of Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centres. Maggie was a writer, a landscape designer, a painter and a mother of two.

 

Anderson College: The Anderson was initially founded to rival Glasgow University with the aims of making education more accessible. In the first 3 years of the college almost half of the 1000 students were women.
Anderson College: The Anderson was initially founded to rival Glasgow University with the aims of making education more accessible. In the first 3 years of the college almost half of the 1000 students were women.

 

Church Street Primary School: This red sandstone building is one of the many monuments to education in the West End. It opened in 1903.
Church Street Primary School: This red sandstone building is one of the many monuments to education in the West End. It opened in 1903.

 

University Avenue: In 2000 the Student's Representative Council Women's Group were up early to change the names on university buildings to honour past women graduates. A number of buildings were renamed, including the concrete monolith Boyd Orr building, which recognised the astute politician Mary Hamilton
University Avenue: In 2000 the Student’s Representative Council Women’s Group were up early to change the names on university buildings to honour past women graduates. A number of buildings were renamed, including the concrete monolith Boyd Orr building, which recognised the astute politician Mary Hamilton

 

Gilded Gates in University Avenue: There is only one female commemorated here.
Gilded Gates in University Avenue: There is only one female commemorated here.

 

WIthout the phenomenal efforts of Jessie Campbell, Janet Galloway and Isabella Elder (the woman on the gate), educational opportunities for women in Glasgow in the late 19th and early 20th century would have been radically different.
Without the phenomenal efforts of Jessie Campbell, Janet Galloway and Isabella Elder (the woman on the gate), educational opportunities for women in Glasgow in the late 19th and early 20th century would have been radically different.

 

Round Reading Room: It is accross from the University main building. Interestingly, parts of it were still gender segregated until the 1950s.
Round Reading Room: It is accross from the University main building. Interestingly, parts of it were still gender segregated until the 1950s.

 

The Suffrage Oak. It was planted in 1918 to celebrate women's first opportunity to vote in a general election. There is an unassuming brass plaque behind the oak.
The Suffrage Oak. It was planted in 1918 to celebrate women’s first opportunity to vote in a general election. There is an unassuming brass plaque behind the oak.

One reply on “West End Women’s Heritage Walk”

Lovely record of a wonderful walk. Thanks for the blog. The tour guides will be thrilled. And evidence that the sun was shining too – amazing!

Adele x

Comments are closed.