Jean Girdwood from the Women Make History group writes about developing the women’s history walking tour of Garnethill for the ‘Paths for All’ event on Thursday, 17th September.
The Library asked me if I would like to be one of the tour guides for a lunchtime walk for some of the Paths to Health people who were holding a conference in Glasgow. I had one research afternoon in the library with Adele and Christine when we gathered info about the area from different sources. Discovering Garnethill was so interesting we did learn a lot that afternoon and what a historical area it is to Glasgow.
Route Testing
A couple of weeks later Christine and I walked around the route so that we could report back to Adele re what we might include for the walk. We started from the Chinese Garden just off Hill Street. Then we advanced up Hill Street stopping at the corner on Dalhousie Street which was the site of the first Women’s Library [a really historical place!]. We moved onto the Tenement House and then the first Jewish Synagogue in Glasgow and across the road to the first Beatson Hospital. From there we went onto the Glasgow School of Art. There was lots of discussion between Christine and myself as to what should be talked about on the walk and also bearing in mind that the walkers only had 45 mins as they had to get back to the Conference. On the day before the event Christine and I had a rehearsal walk with the completed script and we timed it as we went along reading out the facts at each stop. We started from the Concert Hall and took the group back “home” to the concert hall when the walk was completed 45 mins, we were pleased we met our target time.
The Big Day
I went along to the Concert Hall at 11.45 and met with Adele. We split the walkers into two groups me taking the first group of 15 people and Adele following 15 mins later with her group. They were all very keen to find out more about Glasgow. From the Concert Hall I led them up to the Chinese Garden where Christine was waiting and we introduced the walk. Next stop was the corner of Hill Street and Dalhousie Street the site of the first Women’s Library then we passed Glasgow High School for Girls. Further along Hill Street to the building with Chinese signage around the door where we spoke about the large Chinese community in Garnethill and its history and some of the positive things they had brought to the city. Then we stopped at the first synagogue in Glasgow which was built in 1881 and we mentioned some of the formidable and fascinating women connected to its history and of course what the Jewish community had done for the growing city of Glasgow. We then went along to Glasgow School of Art and told of some of the wonderful ladies who attended the school in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s especially the Glasgow Girls who were all very successful and have left some of the loveliest pieces of art which can still be enjoyed today.
Conclusion
I particularly noticed that the group commented frequently about the architecture in the Garnethill area as we were going from one stop to another and how diverse it was. We were able to tell them a little about it but I shall seek out more information regarding the architects including Greek Thomson. We received very positive feedback from the Paths to Health groups about how much they had enjoyed the walk and how much more they had learned about Glasgow and also many of them said they would like to bring their partners or friends and do the walk again. Another great success for Glasgow Women’s Library.
Jean Girdwood
