Scotland or Bust!: Our Neighborhood -- Dowanhill Architecture

Today, my new friend Barbara and I toured the part of the West End called Dowanhill which is where our flat is located. I met Barbara when my dad and I did a walking tour of the West End two weeks ago, and she and I decided we would do more walks but without our guide (since we knew we could do just as well on our own). So, armed with another trusty West End Heritage Trail map, we ventured forth on one of the most beautiful days Glasgow has offered up so far. Meandering through the area bordered by Great Western Road, Byres Road, and Hyndland Road, we enjoyed the sunshine, warmth, chat, and oh yeah, the architecture.

Across the street from our flat is Kelvinside Church modeled after Sainte-Chappelle in Paris. It was built on the site of Horselethill farm and is noted for it triple spires, soaring Gothic style and stained glass.

Beyond the church is Grosvenor Crescent, which is a charming semi-circle terrace with beautiful windows and dormers.

Despite the urban closeness of the terraces, tenements, and villas (all types of buildings found in this neighborhood), green spaces still exist -- residents-only parks which require a key to enter and private sports clubs.

Willowbank Bowling Club from King's Gate

King's Gate is two pairs of double villas overlooking the bowling club. Barbara and I enacted Heard Law and went down the driveway to snoop at the flats, trying to figure out if and how the villas had been subdivided.

On to Dowanhill Church -- Normandy Gothic in style with a tapering spire, now a pub, restaurant and theatre, Cottiers (here)

An unusual stained glass window consisting of eight panels depicting the four winds and the four seasons at 117 Dowanhill Street highlights the variety of architectural details found in this neighborhood.

Ironwork based on a design by "Greek" Thomson found on Dundonald Road

Different style stained glass doorway at 19 Rosslyn Terrace

Another great door, this one at 1 Princes Terrace

Dowanhill still has some villas (basically a mansion) remaining as homes, but others have been transformed into commercial or civic space, many into doctors' practices.