55-473: Bearsden ( / ˌ b ɛər z ˈ d ɛ n / ) is a town in East Dunbartonshire , Scotland , on the northwestern fringe of Greater Glasgow , approximately six miles (ten kilometres) from the city centre . The Roman Antonine Wall runs through the town, and the remains of a military bath house can be seen near the town centre. The current settlement began in the 17th century as
110-558: A single transferable vote system. Ward 2 – Bearsden North For representatives, see Results from 5 May 2022 election for Bearsden North Bearsden North is part of the Clydebank and Milngavie constituency in the Scottish Parliament . The MSP is Marie McNair (SNP); elected on 5 May 2021. Ward 3 – Bearsden South For representatives, see Results from 5 May 2022 election for Bearsden South Bearsden South
165-604: A club house, it also currently undergoing further renovation. It provides a wide range of activities from skiing cross-country on one of their trips to tubing on the freestyle slope. Bearsden have a competitive chess club, with one team from the club winning the Glasgow Division 1 League outright in 2010. There are two Scout Groups in Bearsden. The 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group, was formed in January 1908 and
220-506: A conservation area near Westerton station. Near this is the site of the former Canniesburn Hospital , which has many Art Deco buildings and where pioneering plastic surgery was performed, notably on the Boy David who was featured on many television programmes and was adopted by one of the doctors there. The hospital site has now been developed into flats, but much of the character has been retained and copied. A further station in Bearsden
275-410: A dozen cottages of idyllic rural beauty, isolated from the noise and dirt of Glasgow. The account also includes one of the earliest references to "Bear's Den", and although the location is not clear, a traditional belief is recorded that it was a Roman burial site. The New Kirk settlement grew from the middle of the nineteenth century when Glaswegian businessmen built houses at a commutable distance from
330-561: A giant metal nappy pin at the centre of the gardens, created by sculptor George Wyllie . In 2023, the University of Strathclyde reached an agreement with Glasgow City Council to take full possession of the Rottenrow along with neighbouring North Portland Street and Richmond Street. The land, which carried a nominal value of £50,000 was transferred to the university at no cost. The three streets will be pedestrianised, to allow for
385-413: A national boundary and population review prior to the 2017 Scottish local elections led to the number of East Dunbartonshire wards being reduced to seven and the number of councillors being reduced to 22. These current wards are: (2020) Largest settlements by population: 28,470 23,680 21,870 12,840 8,090 4,260 3,910 2,320 1,340 There are 8 secondary schools and 33 primary schools in
440-513: A nine-hole course, with seven alternative greens, thus enabling a full round to be played. Its layout has not changed significantly from its foundation in 1891. Douglas Park Golf Club, Hillfoot, has a full course and can trace its history back to 1897, although the current layout dates from 1972. Windyhill Golf Club (founded 1908), West of Baljaffray, has an 18-hole course laid out by James Braid , who subsequently modified Glasgow Golf Club's Killermont course 16 years later. The course has views of
495-707: A pedestrian footpath around the Architecture Building and Wolfson Centre . The western section then continues as Rottenrow from North Portland Street to Montrose Street, following the original alignment where it terminates on Montrose Street. 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
550-488: A small hamlet called New Kirk (or perhaps Chapelton) close to New Kilpatrick Parish Church, which was first built in 1649. Close landmarks included Canniesburn Toll, and a water mill at Garscube. The present-day church was built in 1807. The size and style of the community prior to urbanisation is recorded in Rambles Round Glasgow , first published in 1854. The author describes a route from Maryhill, crossing
605-425: A small number of placing requests from other areas. An eighth primary school, St Nicolas’, feeds three Catholic secondary schools outside Bearsden. The High School of Glasgow has a primary school section in the town – this is the result of a merger between the school and the former Drewsteignton Home School, founded in 1922. Bearsden is primarily a middle-class commuter suburb . The majority of its housing stock
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#1732776392582660-571: Is a summary of maps of the area since 1832. These demonstrate the growth of the town to its current extent from a large number of disconnected dwellings to a large settlement spreading from the New Kirk area. The relative size of houses (and corresponding affluence of households) tends to increase with age, but this is not a strict rule. Bearsden forms two East Dunbartonshire Council wards (there are eight in total), called Bearsden North and Bearsden South. Each Ward has three councillors elected through
715-426: Is at Hillfoot. Bearsden continued to expand in the twentieth century as residents built large independently designed villas, estates of bungalows , and other types of houses. Few sites are now left unoccupied. In 1958, Bearsden became a Burgh. Then, in 1975, it became part of Bearsden & Milngavie District Council. Since 1996, it has been the largest of the five major towns of East Dunbartonshire Council. Bearsden
770-798: Is both declining and ageing. In a 2007 Reader's Digest poll, East Dunbartonshire was voted the best place in Britain to raise a family. The area has generally performed well in the Halifax Quality of Life survey; in 2010 it was ranked third in Scotland, and it was the only Scottish area in the British Top 20 in 2008. A Legatum Prosperity Index published by the Legatum Institute in October 2016 showed East Dunbartonshire as
825-414: Is detached. According to the 2001 census of Scotland, the area comprises 10,417 households, with a total population of 27,967. This is an increase of 0.6% (or 161 people) since 1991, when the population stood at 27,806 (there are an average of 2.64 people per household). Of these, 8,306 are over 55 years old, 17,700 are in social class ABC1 , and 6,052 are in social class C2DE. A similar population figure
880-457: Is one of eight streets which formed the medieval burgh of Glasgow. It was recorded as le Ratonraw de Glasgw in 1283. The name was once 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. The original alignment of Rottenrow stretched from High Street at its east to John Street in
935-578: Is one of the largest Groups in the UK with four Beaver Colonies , four Cub Packs , three Scout Troops and an Explorer Unit , as well as providing a meeting place for Scout Network . There is a published history of the group. The group is known for its many international camps, including a biennial visit to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre since 1949 and currently has over 600 members. The 183rd Glasgow Scout Group,
990-674: Is part of the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency in the Scottish Parliament. The MSP is Rona Mackay (SNP); elected May 2016. Both constituencies form part of the West of Scotland regional list in the Scottish Parliament. The town is also part of the East Dunbartonshire constituency in the UK Parliament at Westminster. The current MP is Amy Callaghan (SNP) who defeated incumbent Jo Swinson (Liberal Democrats) at
1045-610: The Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004 . Election results since 1995 have been as follows: Since 2007, the council (as with all others in Scotland) has been elected using multi-member wards , each returning three councillors using a single transferable vote system of proportional representation . Initially this retained the number of councillors at 24 following on from the same number of single-member wards in previous elections, divided equally across eight wards. However,
1100-611: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 . The Bearsden and Milngavie district had been created covering Milngavie , Bearsden and adjoining areas from Dunbartonshire . The Strathkelvin district had been created covering Kirkintilloch and adjoining areas from Dunbartonshire, Bishopbriggs and adjoining areas from Lanarkshire , and the parishes of Baldernock and Campsie from Stirlingshire . East Dunbartonshire council area has low levels of deprivation, with relatively low unemployment and low levels of crime. The population
1155-563: The River Clyde , Campsie Fells and Kilpatrick Hills . Highland Games for Bearsden and Milngavie are held annually at the West of Scotland Rugby Ground. Bearsden Ski Club was formed circa 1964 by a small band of enthusiasts. The club has a membership of about 1200 skiers, boarders and social members. The club facilities include the Main alpine slope, two nursery slopes, a freestyle slope and
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#17327763925821210-507: The historic counties of Dunbartonshire , Lanarkshire , and Stirlingshire . The council area was formed in 1996, as a result of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 , from the former Bearsden and Milngavie districts and most of the former Strathkelvin district , which had been part of the Strathclyde region. East Dunbartonshire was created in 1996 under the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 , which abolished
1265-511: The regions and districts which had been created in 1975, replacing them with unitary council areas . East Dunbartonshire covered the area of the abolished Bearsden and Milngavie and Strathkelvin districts (except the Chryston and Auchinloch area from the latter, which went to North Lanarkshire ). Both former districts had been in the Strathclyde region. Both of East Dunbartonshire's predecessor districts had been created in 1975 under
1320-458: The 2019 general election. Bearsden can be accessed by rail from Bearsden , Westerton or Hillfoot stations. It can also be accessed by road, of which the main routes are: Neighbourhoods in Bearsden, like those in many other towns, do not have clear boundaries; where places like Kessington were once a few houses together surrounded by agricultural land, they now merge with other (once distinct) areas, like Killermont. In general terms, however,
1375-673: The Antonine Wall's stone base can be seen in the New Kilpatrick Cemetery on Boclair Road. Prior to 1649, the area formed part of a larger parish called Kilpatrick. One part was called West, or Old Kilpatrick , and covered Dumbarton and areas of west Dunbartonshire, such as Clydebank. The remaining part was named East or New Kilpatrick , covering a much greater area than Bearsden, from the River Clyde at Whiteinch and Yoker to Duntocher , Strathblane and Baldernock . Modern Bearsden began in an agricultural area as
1430-635: The BB Company can trace its history back to before that date. The 3rd Bearsden Company of the Boys' Brigade is attached to the Killermont Parish Church. East Dunbartonshire East Dunbartonshire ( Scots : Aest Dunbartanshire ; Scottish Gaelic : Siorrachd Dhùn Bhreatann an Ear , pronounced [ˈʃirˠəxk ɣum ˈpɾʲɛht̪ən̪ˠ əɲ ˈɛɾ] ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland . It borders Glasgow City Council Area to
1485-688: The Guide Hut in Pendicle Road. The local units are members of the Girlguiding Dunbartonshire. Bearsden has three Boys' Brigade Companies. The 1st Bearsden Company of the Boys' Brigade, Founded in 1898. The company has three sections – Anchor Boys, Junior Section and Company Section . The 2nd Bearsden Company of the Boys' Brigade, attached to the Westerton Parish Church which was established in 1957, but
1540-471: The River Kelvin at Garscube Mill to Canniesburn. At that point, the route takes the road to Drymen, rather than the alternative to Milngavie. Of particular note are the woods and gardens surrounding the fine houses of Killermont and Garscube, which are contrasted with a small shop at Canniesburn with apparently nothing left for sale. The kirk-toun (modern Bearsden Cross) is described as consisting of about
1595-657: The Romans built a stone and turf fortification, called the Antonine Wall , between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth . They also built the Military Way, a road that ran parallel, to the south of the wall. The fort was positioned at the intersection of the Military Way, and the north–south road between Glasgow and Loch Lomond . A video reconstruction of the site has been produced. In 164 AD, after only 20 years,
1650-427: The Romans withdrew to Hadrian's Wall . Little of the fort remains today. However, close to the fort was a Roman bath-house , built in approximately 142–143 AD. The bath-house's remains were discovered by builders digging foundations for a housing development in 1973. The site was donated to the government, and today the remains lie, well-preserved, 150 metres (160 yd) from the town centre. Two further stretches of
1705-497: The Royal College were constructed over this portion in the early 1960s. The western continuation of Rottenrow - a footpath known as Love Loan which ran behind St Paul's Church parallel to Martha Street - also disappeared around this period. Today, the Rottenrow itself is now divided into two sections. The eastern part which starts at High Street is designated Rottenrow East , and terminates at Taylor Street where it becomes
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1760-571: The area. The secondary schools are: Rottenrow 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 . The street runs along the summit of a drumlin known historically as Balmanno Brae, although this name has long fallen from use. The Rottenrow
1815-489: The arms of subsequent local administrative bodies ( Bearsden and Milngavie , then East Dunbartonshire). The arms feature the following details: There are two secondary schools in the town, Bearsden Academy and Boclair Academy which both have academic performance "well above average". These are fed by seven primary schools within the town (Boclair Academy's fourth feeder primary is located outside Bearsden in Torrance ) and
1870-551: The city. In 1863, the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway opened, with a station near New Kirk called Bearsden. This was soon adopted as the name of the community. The opening of the railway led to considerable development of Bearsden, with many large Victorian houses built in what is now known as Old Bearsden Conservation Area. The Glasgow Reformatory for Girls at East Chapelton (also known as East Chapelton Home and Hillfoot Residential School) moved from Rottenrow to Bearsden in
1925-571: The club disbanded on the outbreak of war in 1914. In 1919 the club reformed and played for the first time on their present ground at Thorn Park. The club won the Scottish Amateur Cup in 1961–62 , beating Pencaitland 1–0 at Hampden Park . Presently they participate in the Caledonian Amateur Football League and other cup competitions. Westerton United (1997) and Baljaffray FC, established 2002, are
1980-712: The council was: The next election is due in 2027. Since 2012 the council has been based at 12 Strathkelvin Place in Kirkintilloch , which forms part of the Southbank Marina development adjoining the Forth and Clyde Canal . Prior to 2012 the council was based at Tom Johnston House at the junction of Lenzie Road and Civic Way in Kirkintilloch. Tom Johnston House had been built in 1985 as the headquarters for
2035-426: The kirkton of the parish of New Kilpatrick , and when a railway connection to Glasgow was constructed in 1863, it developed into an affluent suburb of the city. By 2020, it had an estimated population of 28,470. The first known settlement on the site of present-day Bearsden was a 2 + 1 ⁄ 2 -acre (1-hectare) Roman fort in the second century AD . Between 142 and 144 AD, under Emperor Antoninus Pius ,
2090-593: The late 1860s. Managed by Glasgow Corporation , the countryside location moved the girls away from any malign influences to be found in the city and allowed the institution to be self-supporting with livestock and a vegetable garden. The girls washed their own clothes and those of local residents in the Reformatory's large laundry. In addition to girls who had fallen foul of the courts, others with problems such as malnourishment and learning difficulties were also housed at Chapelton. In 1949, around 360 girls passed through
2145-479: The most prosperous council area in Scotland and the ninth most prosperous in the United Kingdom. The area is divided into thirteen community council areas , twelve of which have community councils as at 2023 (being those with asterisks in the list below): The first election to East Dunbartonshire Council was held in 1995, initially operating as a shadow authority alongside the outgoing authorities until
2200-530: The most recent new football clubs in Bearsden. The Glasgow Golf Club is one of the world's oldest, founded in 1787. In 1904 the club moved premises to Killermont House and its surrounding estate, built in 1805 for the Campbell-Colquhoun family. The club is unusual in having a links course (at Gailes, near Irvine ) in addition to its home course. Bearsden Golf Club, to the East of Bearsden Cross, has
2255-477: The neighbourhoods of Bearsden can be described as follows: The Bearsden Amateur Football Club was constituted in 1890 and its founders were drawn mainly from the employees of the staging post , originally situated at Bearsden Cross. Their first ground was in Drymen road, now the site of the public hall and All Saints church and when the ground was re-developed the club moved on to Station Road where they played until
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2310-504: The new University of Strathclyde, formed in 1964 from the Royal College of Science and Technology , and their inhabitants were moved into high rises . Much of the surrounding street grid was either lost completely or realigned between the new campus buildings. The western section between Montrose and John Streets disappeared after the demolition of John Street Ironworks in the 1950s, the new Engineering Block and Chemistry Block of
2365-472: The new system came into force on 1 April 1996. Political control of the council since 1996 has been as follows: The first leader of the council , Charles Kennedy, had been the last leader of the old Strathkelvin District Council. The leaders of East Dunbartonshire Council since 1996 have been: Following the 2022 election and subsequent changes of allegiance up to July 2024, the composition of
2420-502: The old Strathkelvin District Council and was named after Tom Johnston (1881–1965), who was born in Kirkintilloch and had served as Secretary of State for Scotland during the Second World War . Tom Johnston House was demolished in 2015. The new council chamber at Strathkelvin Place is called Tom Johnston Chamber. Since 2007 elections have been held every five years under the single transferable vote system, introduced by
2475-597: The school annually and were taken to New Kilpatrick Parish church on Sundays. The school closed in the early 1970s and after a brief period as a hall of residence for the Nautical College , the building was demolished to make way for a shopping centre with a Fine Fare supermarket (later replaced by Asda). Buchanan Retreat was built in 1890 by the Buchanan sisters of Bellfield, near Kilmarnock , in Ayrshire . It
2530-427: The south, North Lanarkshire to the east, Stirling to the north, and West Dunbartonshire to the west. East Dunbartonshire contains many of the suburbs in the north of Greater Glasgow , including Bearsden , Milngavie , Bishopbriggs , Kirkintilloch , Lenzie , Twechar , Milton of Campsie , Balmore , and Torrance , as well as some other of Glasgow's commuter towns and villages. The council area covers parts of
2585-580: The town's official Gaelic name is Cille Phàdraig Ùr . The Scots language records of the Parliament of Scotland prior to the Acts of Union 1707 use the names Easter Kirkpatrick and Eister Kilpatrick for the parish. The current name Bearsden originated from the railway station built in 1863, but the origin of the name itself is unresolved. The station was named after a house near the station site (to avoid confusion with Old Kilpatrick station), but it
2640-476: The west. The original premises of the University of Glasgow were situated in the Rottenrow, in a building known as the "Auld Pedagogy". 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 and other buildings surrounding the Rottenrow were swept away to make room for
2695-401: Was built in 1895 by Miss Marjory Shanks Schaw in memory of her brother and gifted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The building has now been split into private residential apartments. In 1906, many buildings were built at Bearsden Cross by Mathew Henderson (he also tried, unsuccessfully, to develop another commuter suburb at Drumchapel ). Westerton Garden suburb was built around 1913 and is also now
2750-633: Was estimated in 2010 for the two council wards (27,551). 73% of working residents surveyed travel to work by car, 16% by train or bus, 5% by other methods, and 6% work mainly at home. Many of the west of Scotland's most expensive houses are in the Old Bearsden Outstanding Conservation Area – Bearsden's postcode (G61) was ranked 7th richest in the UK by a 2005 survey, with an estimated 176 millionaires living there. By comparison, just 235 people were estimated to be receiving Jobseeker's Allowance in 2011. The graphic
2805-426: Was first known as Kirktoun(e) or New/Easter Kilpatrick village, all of which relate to the parish church situated in the centre of the town. There is no evidence that the village itself (rather than the parish ) was ever called "New Kilpatrick" by locals (by the mid 19th century the houses near to the church had come to be called New Kirk). Nevertheless, the name appears over the village on old maps (see image below) and
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#17327763925822860-638: Was formed in 1947 by the Home Guard and has two Beaver Colonies, two Cub Packs, one Scout Troop and an Explorer Unit. It currently has over 130 members. Like the 24th, it goes on many international camps during the summer holidays to Germany, Canada, Belgium, and more recently, Croatia. Both Groups are part of the Clyde Region of the Scout Association . Girlguiding is also active in Bearsden, with units based at Killermont Parish Church and at
2915-453: Was recorded as a name for the immediate area before that time. The meaning behind the name "Bearsden" may be one of the following: To quote James McCardel, the wisest course is frankly to admit that the derivation [of the name of Bearsden] is unknown . The Lord Lyon King of Arms granted a coat of arms to the Burgh of Bearsden on 29 June 1959. Since 1975, details have been incorporated into
2970-551: Was replaced by the Princess Royal Building at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary . The University of Strathclyde subsequently purchased and demolished the hospital, turning it into a park, Rottenrow Gardens. A few parts of the building, including the main entrance portico, the arch on North Portland Street, and sections of basement wall were spared destruction. The area's heritage is commemorated by
3025-436: Was taken over by Bearsden Burgh in 1962 and, known as Boclair House, used as council offices (pictured below under Administration) . Latterly used by East Dunbartonshire council, it was placed on the market in 2012 following council cost-cutting measures and staff redistribution. In 2016 the building opened as Boclair House Hotel, a hotel, wedding venue, and restaurant, which has since won several awards. The Schaw Home (pictured)
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