Elder Park is a public park in the Govan area of Glasgow, Scotland, located a short distance south of the River Clyde, to the east of the Linthouse neighbourhood. It contains Elder Park Library, a boating pond, the original Fairfield farmhouse, and Linthouse Mansion portico.
| Elder Park | |
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| Type | Public park |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°51′45.45″N 4°19′30.61″W / 55.8626250°N 4.3251694°W |
| Area | 37 acres (15 ha) |
| Created | 1885 |
| Operated by | Glasgow City Council |
| Status | Open all year |
| Public transit access | Govan subway station |
History
editThe park was given to the people of Govan in 1885 by Isabella Elder, in memory of her husband, the shipbuilding magnate John Elder.[1][2] It was created on the site of Fairfield farm, the farmhouse of which still stands. The headquarters of the family's Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company were directly opposite the park to the north on Govan Road – the buildings still exist as the Fairfield Heritage Centre. Elder gifted the park for "healthful recreation by music and amusement".[3]
The park's sandstone entrance gates were refurbished during 2021, with a small ceremony taking place at the conclusion of the project in February 2022.[4][5]
Buildings
editElder Park Library lies at the south-eastern end of the park, on Langlands Road. It was opened in September 1903 by Andrew Carnegie, gifted to the people of Glasgow by Isabella Elder, and designed by John James Burnett.[6] It is a Category A listed building.[7]
The Linthouse Mansion was built in 1791, however the only remaining part of the house now is the portico.[8]
Statues and memorials
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There are two statues within the park, one to Isabella Elder (Sir J. E. Boehm, 1906, Category A listed),[9] and one to her husband John Elder (Archibald Shannan, 1888, Category B listed).[1][10][11] There are also two memorials, commemorating the SS Daphne disaster in 1883[12][13] and the HMS K13 submarine disaster in 1917,[14][15][5] both of which involved the death of local shipyard workers (from Stephens and Fairfields respectively).
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Digital, Innovation. "History of Elder Park in Govan, Glasgow: Monument to shipbuilder John Elder of Fairfield Shipyard - Clyde Waterfront Heritage". www.clydewaterfront.com. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ Lasting legacy of Govan's first 'lady' Isabella Elder, Nerys Tunnicliffe, Glasgow Times, 13 December 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022
- ^ O'Neill, Cordelia (5 February 2014). "Glasgow City Council park proposal music ban hits wrong note with Govan's Elder Park group". dailyrecord. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ Elder Park Gates Ribbon Cutting, Get Into Govan, 4 February 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2022
- ^ a b Govan K13 memorial safeguarded for future, Glasgow Times, 15 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022
- ^ "Elder Park Library | Art UK". artuk.org. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ Glasgow Life's plan to revamp Elder Park library revealed[permanent dead link], Glasgow Times, 23 June 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022
- ^ "architectureglasgow.co.uk". www.derelictglasgow.co.uk. Retrieved 4 July 2020.
- ^ "Lady Elder" | Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Postcards Collection, The Glasgow Story
- ^ Statue Of John Elder, Elder Park, Glasgow, British Listed Buildings
- ^ Elder Statue, Elder Park | Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Postcards Collection, The Glasgow Story
- ^ The Daphne Disaster Archived 13 February 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Lost Glasgow, 3 July 2020
- ^ SS 'Daphne' Memorial, Art UK
- ^ K13 Memorial | Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, Bulletin Photographs, The Glasgow Story
- ^ Tragic tale behind K13 submarine memorial in Glasgow's Elder Park, Ann Fotheringhay, Glasgow Times, 11 September 2021
External links
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Media related to Elder Park, Govan at Wikimedia Commons
