Pollokshaws

The earliest known date for a building in Pollokshaws is 1623, which was found on a lintel on a building near the Town House during the demolition of Pollokshaws. The name Pollokshaws possibly comes from Gaelic Pol meaning Pool and Shaws means woodland.

 

There are two theories to the origins of Pollokshaws. The first can be traced back to the 16^th Century when a mill was built on the banks of the River Cart at Shawbridge. The second being that the town grew from the cross of the Glasgow to Kilmarnock road and the Govan to Cathcart road.

 

The town grew and was granted a Burgh of Barony in 1813 with a population of around 3000 inhabitants. Further growth resulted from the arrival of the Glasgow, Barrhead and Neilston Railway in 1849, the tram system in the 1880’s and then the arrival of the Cathcart Circle in 1862. Pollokshaws was annexed to Glasgow City in 1912.

 

A survey report was commissioned and issued in 1957outlining the current status of the Burgh. This report can be found in the Mitchell Library. This report led to a written statement also issued in 1957 enabling Pollokshaws to be the second Comprehensive Development Area (CDA) – the first being Hutchesontown, Gorbals.

 

The Corporation of the City of Glasgow gave the following reasons as to their wish to redevelop the area

 

”A large proportion of the buildings are old and in poor condition from a structural aspect, and most of the housing accommodation is of a low category from the point of view of sanitary conditions”

 

“The Land Use Survey Map shows a haphazard intermixture of residential, industrial and commercial uses in the area, a lack of adequate school sites, and a high proportion of under-developed and unused land. The unsatisfactory road layout, which is basically a village street pattern yet attracts through traffic, is also apparent.”

 

The redevelopment was estimated to cost £7,392,000.

 

The housing stock of Glasgow City Council was transferred to GHA on 7^th March 2003. The local housing organisation for Pollokshaws is called New Shaws Housing Organisation. This organisation is currently in discussion to redevelop the area once again. Initially by the demolition of four multi-storey blocks.