Scotland

Taking a vacation in Scotland is becoming extremely popular and, when you consider the many things this country has to offer the tourist, you too may consider visiting Scotland some time soon. As well as folk visiting to trace their family roots, people wishing to visit castle, those who just want to experience the countryside, those who wish to indulge in sport or sports competitions and those who go to one of the many festivals held in Edinburgh, many folk choose to visit Glasgow. Known for many things, such as the lively night scene, a much quieter place of interest to visit is the Glasgow Necropolis.

Glasgow Necropolis is a wonderful Victorian cemetery found east of Glasgow’s St. Mungo’s Cathedral. It is estimated that there are around 50,000 buried in the cemetery and the first person was buried in 1832.  As it is built on one of the few hills in Glasgow that is solid rock the graves had to be blasted out of the rockface. Today the Necropolis is considered one of the most significant cemeteries in Europe and is very popular with tourists.

Merchants’ House bought the land in 1650 and developed it with masses of Scots Fir and it subsequently became known as Fir Park. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, when the fir trees began to die off, it was decided that it would be suitable for development into a graveyard similar to Pere la Chaise in Paris. Following a competition, in 1831, the submission of 16 plans and an exhibition of them, two brothers won 1st and 2nd prize, David Bryce (1st) and John Bryce (2nd) and the work was carried out by George Mylne who became the first Superintendent and head gardener.

Glasgow is not really an ancient city, until the industrial revolution it was little more than a small village. However, in only a very short period, it grew to become huge as people moved from the countryside in search of employment. Following the act of Union, in 1707, Glasgow was able to take advantage of the new markets of the British Empire which until then they had been unable to. So canny was the Glasgow business man that they quickly dominated the trade in tobacco and they quickly became known as the “Tobacco Lords” due to their incredible wealth. In typical Victorian style they invested in grand municipal buildings and, when it came to their grave monuments, little expense was spared and many of the finest are found in the Glasgow Necropolis.

The Glasgow Necropolis is well known for it’s many Victorian monuments of excellent design and workmanship. Interestingly they often depict something relating to the person buried, such as their trade or business.

Many employed the services of well known or fashionable architects and sculptors such as Charles Rennie Macintosh (the Alexander McCall Memorial), Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson (The Alexander Ogilvie Beattie Monument), James Thomas Rochead (Dunn of Duntocher Monument), James Brown (Buchanan of Downhill Monument and Robert Stewart Monument) and others including John Bryce who designed the Entrance Facade.

Of course there are a great many famous Glaswegians buried in the cemetery and there are many mausoleums worth visiting but something you are unlikely to miss is the Monument to John Knox. Built in 1825, the Monument to John Knox is found at the very summit of the hill and features an 18m (58ft) Doric column (by Thomas Hamilton) topped by a statue of Knox, wearing a Geneva gown and clasping a bible, designed by William Warren (and carved by Robert Forrest). It is from here that you will get some of the finest views of Glasgow.

Other famous and important people buried at the Glasgow Necropolis include Charles Tennant who was a famous Scottish chemist and industrialist. Tennant, together with Charles MacIntosh, discovered and produced ‘chloride of lime’ (a dry bleaching agent) in the St Rollox Chemical Works in Springburn, Glasgow, which, during the 1830’s, was the largest chemical works in the world. The poet William Miller is also buried in the cemetery. Miller may not be a name on the tip of everyone’s tongue but he was the guy who wrote the children’s nursery rhyme ‘Wee Willie Winkie’.

Visiting the Glasgow Necropolis is rather easy as the entrance is just behind the St Mungo Museum of Religous Life and Art at 2 Castle Street (where you will find restaurant and toilet facilities). Owned, since 1966, by the city council (http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/) it is open from seven in the morning until dusk and there are historical tours lead by Rangers (who also patrol regularly). To book a tour telephone 0141 287 5064.

If you are thinking of visiting the Scottish city of Glasgow you may wish to investigate Glasgow Hotel Accommodation online.