Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society

22/06/2026

The People of New Lanark – Sophie Hunter
Date: Monday 22nd June 2026 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Venue: Zoom Presentation
Explore 240 years of history through the fascinating lives of the people who called New Lanark home. From familiar figures like David Dale and Robert Owen to the lesser-known paupers, doctors, soldiers and Millworkers, our People of New Lanark talk showcases fascinating stories and original research from our archive.

Sophie Hunter is the Learning and Engagement Officer at New Lanark World Heritage Site. She is passionate about bringing history to life and loves to share stories that connect people with the past in meaningful and engaging ways. Sophie designs and delivers creative learning experiences that inspire curiosity, deepen understanding, and celebrates the rich heritage of New Lanark.

19/06/2026

19/06/2026

Planning consent has now been granted for the demolition of the Hillhead Baptist Church (Category B Listed) in Cresswell Street, off Byres Road. Opened in 1883 to serve Glasgow's growing population of Baptists, by 1891 the church had a congregation of over 500 regular members, many of whom were local merchants and academics. The church continued to flourish through the twentieth century but by the early 2000s, structural concerns led the congregation to vacate the premises and the roof was removed in 2021. Plans were drawn up to demolish the main building but to erect flats behind its facade This was abandoned and consent has now been granted for complete demolition. This link shows the building which is to replace it.
https://hillhead-cresswell.scot/

Image: Paul Burns

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11/06/2026

A Good News story at last! The glasshouse of Springburn Winter Gardens (built 1900) was once the largest of its kind in Scotland. But for the last 40 year this spectacular example of Victorian architecture and engineering has fallen into a sad state of disrepair. Scheduled in 1985 for demolition, it was saved at the last minute by Category A listing, and over the years various options for the building's future have been considered. Now a £1.13m grant has been made available, to stabilise the structure and slowly bring the building back into use, while further funding is sought for future restoration works.

Image: Ashleigh Blair

gwsfhs – where yesteryear comes round again

Visit us at www.gwsfhs.org.uk

06/06/2026

In the wild landscape of Glen Coe towers a range of mountains known as the Three Sisters. In one of these, Aonach Dubh ('Black Ridge'), can be seen a narrow opening known as Ossian's Cave. There legend has it that Ossian, son of the Irish warrior Fionn Mac Cumhaill was born to Fionn's lover, Sadbh. Ossian puportedly wrote a cycle of epic poems which were collected, translated from the Gaelic and published by Scottish poet James Macpherson as “The Works of Ossian” (1765). The poems were enthusiastically received in Britain and across Europe, although scepticism about Macpherson's claims started almost as soon as they were published and has continued ever since. Probably, Macpherson composed most of the poems himself, based on the Gaelic tales with which he was familiar – they earned him a burial place in Westminster Abbey.

Image: Paul Burns

gwsfhs – where yesteryear comes round again

Visit us at www.gwsfhs.org.uk.

05/06/2026

Glasgow Necropolis Monumental Inscriptions, Volume 6 – Compartments Kappa and Lambda
£4.00

Discover your Glasgow ancestors with this essential resource for Scottish genealogy and family history research. Compiled by the Glasgow & West of Scotland Family History Society, this searchable PDF records monumental inscriptions from the Glasgow Necropolis — Compartments Kappa and Lambda — with detailed surname indexes and historic maps. Based on transcriptions of over 440 gravestones, it preserves names and epitaphs that might otherwise be lost to time.. Perfect for anyone tracing family roots in Glasgow or West of Scotland, this digital edition brings local history and genealogy together in one invaluable volume.

Volume 6 84 pages, ISBN: 978-1-915941-34-3

30/05/2026

Hair receivers or catchers were a feature of the Victorian dressing table. Typically small pots made of ceramic or crystal with a hole in the lid, they were used to collect loose hair from combs and brushes. This was stuffed into sheer hairnets to create 'ratts' – small pillows over which women would dress their hair to increase its volume and which would naturally match the wearer's hair colour and texture.. This example was picked up at a local antique fair.

Image: Diana Burns

gwsfhs – where yesteryear comes round again

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19/05/2026

George Square lies in the very centre of Glasgow. Once a boggy morass used as a place to slaughter horses, the site wss bought by Glasgow Corporation in 1772, named after George III and, following nearly a decade of drainage and construction work, was transformed into a residential square with private gardens.

In January 2025, work started on a refurbishment programme, including the removal for restoration of the famous statues which commemorate the city's history. Today I had a sneak peek over the hoardings from four storeys up and can confirm that some of the statues' plinths are in place. I look forward to the unveiling of the square in 2027.

Image: Paul Burns

gwsfhs – where yesteryear comes round again.

Visit us at www.gwsfhs.org.uk