Rottenrow
None
The Rottenrow is a street in the Townhead district of Glasgow , Scotland. One of the oldest streets in the city, it underwent heavy redevelopment in the 20th century and now forms part of the University of Strathclyde 's John Anderson Campus .
History
The Rottenrow is one of eight streets which formed the medieval burgh of Glasgow. [1] It was recorded as le Ratonraw de Glasgw in 1283. [2] The name is a common one in British towns and cities and literally means "rat row" (from Middle English ratton raw ), suggesting a tumbledown row of houses infested with rats. [3]
The original premises of the University of Glasgow were situated in the Rottenrow, in a building known as the "Auld Pedagogy". [4]
Townhead was once a densely populated residential area, but in 1962 the Glasgow Corporation earmarked it for redevelopment as part of its policy of slum clearance . The tenements surrounding the Rottenrow were swept away to make room for the new University of Strathclyde, formed in 1964 from the Royal College of Science and Technology , and their inhabitants were moved into high rises . [5]
The Rottenrow is perhaps best known as the site of the Royal Maternity Hospital , the birthplace of generations of Glaswegians. Opened in 1860 to replace an older maternity hospital in St Andrew's Square , it continued to function until 2001, when it was superseded by the Princess Royal Building at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary . [6] The University of Strathclyde subsequently purchased and demolished the hospital, turning it into a park, Rottenrow Gardens. [7] A few parts of the building, including the main entrance and an arch on North Portland Street, were spared destruction. [8] The area's heritage is commemorated by a giant metal nappy pin at the centre of the gardens, created by sculptor George Wyllie . [9]
References
- ↑ Foreman, Carol (2007). Glasgow Street Names . Edinburgh: Birlinn Ltd. p. 202. ISBN 9781788852708 .
- ↑ "Rat(t)o(u)n raw" . Dictionaries of the Scots Language . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ Duncan, Archie (1993). "Rottenrow" . The Herald . Glasgow . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ "Auld Pedagogy" . TheGlasgowStory . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ Byrne, Liam; Crawford, Shelley; Cui, Lishan; McCallion, Kieran; Walker, Jordan (2018). History and Stories: High Street, Glasgow . Strathclyde University. p. 43.
- ↑ "Records of Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland" . Jisc . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ "Townhead Demolition" . TheGlasgowStory . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ "Rottenrow Gardens" . Archiweb . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
- ↑ "Monument to Maternity" . Art UK . Retrieved 25 September 2022 .
55°51′44″N 4°14′38″W / 55.86232°N 4.24397°W / 55.86232; -4.24397