The fascinating history of Glasgow's Bellahouston Park

The Glasgow Corporation purchased some land south of the city centre to be used as a park for £50,000, and Bellahouston Park opened to the public in 1896, the same year the city’s Subway began operating.

Over the next few years, more features and extensions were introduced to the area to transform it into the 180-acre space Glaswegians recognise today.

A municipal golf course was established in 1899 after the success of the city’s first course at Alexandra Park, and it was extended again two years later with part of the Dumbreck Lands.

These were bought from Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, a landowner and politician who was also instrumental in the construction of Maxwell Park. He had a Wetherspoon’s pub on Kilmarnock Road, which closed earlier this year, named after him.

Another £40,000 investment was made to expand Bellahouston at the turn of the century which included Ibroxhill, where visitors can take in some incredible long-ranging views of the city.

A historic moment for Bellahouston Park came in 1938 when the Empire Exhibition, a celebration of the British Empire, was held there. Over 200 palaces and pavilions were built over fourteen months in preparation for the event, which around 12.5 million people visited.

Today, the only remaining building is the Palace of Art, which is now used as a sports centre. Overlooking the sports centre is a monument stone commemorating the event.

One of the park’s most loved features is the House for an Art Lover, based around Bella hill. It was designed by legendary architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and opened in 1996 after being completed with reference to his original drawings.

The house featured in the BBC adaptation of the much-loved novel Mayflies, which starred Martin Compston and Tony Curran.

Martin Compston and Tony Curran filming Mayflies in Bellahouston Park. Photo by Gordon Terris (Image: Newsquest)

One of the largest gatherings in Glasgow’s history took place in Bellahouston Park in June 1982, when Pope John Paul II visited the city.

The visit brought both excitement and controversy to the city, as the Catholic Church had ordered the removal of six trees in the park to improve the view of a hill where the Pope would celebrate Mass.

People chained themselves to trees in protest, but the situation was resolved when they were assured that more trees would be planted after the visit – and they were, three years later.

While Bellahouston Park is making the headlines in recent days for its run of huge gigs, from Arctic Monkeys to Guns n Roses, it has been a choice location for concerts for years.

The Summer Sessions concert, which began in 2013, is typically held during the last weekend of August and previous acts have included David Guetta, Eminem, Paolo Nutini, Calvin Harris, and Kendrick Lamar.

Despite the typical Scottish weather, the park is a popular outdoor venue, but the rain caused the cancellation of a Green Day concert in July 2017. The American rockers were told of the decision just 40 minutes before gates opened, as promoters were concerned about the safety of the stage.