The Finnieston Crane, or Stobcross Crane in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, is a massive cantilever crane that is no longer used. However, it remains a significant symbol of the city’s engineering history. This crane was mainly used to load cargo, such as steam locomotives, onto ships for global export. Four of five cranes originally situated on the River Clyde remain today, with the fifth being demolished in 2007. Only eleven giant cantilever cranes like this one still exist worldwide.
George Square in Glasgow is an iconic central city square. It has been the backdrop of many historical moments, including a 1940s film set. Today, George Square is known as the principal civic square in Glasgow, named after King George III. It was laid out in 1781 and is home to Glasgow City Council’s headquarters. The square is home to several statues and monuments, including likenesses of famous Scots such as Robert Burns, James Watt, Sir Robert Peel and Sir Walter Scott.
Glasgow Cathedral, known as Cathair-eaglais Ghlaschu in Scottish Gaelic, is a historic parish church in Glasgow, Scotland, that belongs to the Church of Scotland. It is considered the oldest cathedral in mainland Scotland and the oldest building in Glasgow. The cathedral was once the seat of the Archbishop of Glasgow and, until the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, it served as the mother church of the Archdiocese of Glasgow and the Province of Glasgow. The Bishop’s Castle, built in medieval times, once stood west of the cathedral until the 18th century. Saint Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, is honored at the cathedral, and his tomb lies in the Lower Church at the center of the building. The first stone cathedral was dedicated to Saint Mungo in 1136 in the presence of David I, and fragments of this structure have been found beneath the current cathedral, which was dedicated in 1197. The cathedral underwent significant rebuilding in the 13th century, and the University of Glasgow held its first classes in the cathedral’s chapter house after it was founded in 1451. Following the Reformation, the cathedral was partitioned to accommodate three separate congregations. However, in the early 19th century, there was a growing appreciation for the cathedral’s medieval architecture. Glasgow Cathedral has been Crown property since 1587 and under the state’s care since 1857. Today, it is the responsibility of Historic Environment Scotland, and the congregation is part of the Church of Scotland’s Presbytery of Glasgow.
The Glasgow Necropolis is a fascinating Victorian cemetery on a prominent hill east of Glasgow Cathedral. More than 50,000 people have been buried here, although only a few monuments have names, and not every grave has a stone. Roughly 3,500 monuments exist here, making it a truly unique destination for anyone interested in history or architecture. The creation of Père Lachaise Cemetery in Paris sparked a wave of pressure for cemeteries in Britain, requiring a change in the law to allow burial for profit. Glasgow was among the first to join this campaign, and the cemetery planning was started in 1831 by the Merchants’ House of Glasgow in anticipation of a change in the law. Glasgow Necropolis officially opened in April 1833, a year after the Cemeteries Act passed. It’s fascinating to see how this cemetery played a role in the changing social and legal landscape of the time.
Riverside Museum in Glasgow, Scotland, showcases Glasgow’s rich transportation and technology collections. This museum boasts a collection of more than 3,000 objects highlighting the city’s contributions to heavy industries like shipbuilding, train manufacturing, and engineering. Architect Dame Zaha Hadid designed the museum, located where the Rivers Kelvin and Clyde meet and was designed by the talented a. After a four-year build, the museum opened its doors in 2011 and has since been a popular destination for locals and tourists alike.
The Clydeside Distillery is the city of Glasgow’s first dedicated single malt whisky distillery in more than a century. It opened in 2017 in the Pumphouse building, which originally controlled entry into Glasgow’s Queen’s Dock. The Clydeside Distillery released its inaugural Single Malt Whisky on October 15, 2021.