100 years of history from Glasgow's Calton in 10 amazing pictures

Pottery-making was a sizable industry within the area (Tureen Street, for example, was named after several potteries which produced terrines or tureens), but it was weaving for which the area was most famous.

Within Glasgow City Archives there is a minute book dating from 1725 from the Incorporation of Weavers of Calton and Blackfauld, as well as records from the Second Society of Journeymen Weavers of Calton by Glasgow, and of Calton Burial Ground at Abercromby Street.

Calton weavers (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

This was set up by weavers in 1787 after strikes and riots over pay resulted in the deaths of six men, shot dead by troops.

It has been argued that the dispute set a precedent for workers campaigning for their rights, which continued throughout Glasgow’s history.

Calton Burial Ground (Image: Newsquest)

One of the East End’s landmark churches, Calton Parkhead has an interesting history, not least of all because of its connection to a prominent suffragette.

In 1898, when the church was on Tobago Street in the Calton,  the minister was the Reverend William Chalmers Smith.  His wife, Dr Dorothea Chalmers Smith (1872-1944), was one of Scotland’s first female medical graduates. 

Calton Parkhead Parish Church (Image: Newsquest)

In 1912, she joined the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), a militant suffragette group. In July 1913, she was arrested for trying to burn down an empty property in the West End.

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Campaigners threw apples at the judge during her trial as Dorothea and fellow suffragette Ethel Moorhead were sent to prison. 

Calton Athletic in 1988 (Image: Newsquest)

In the mid-80s, the Calton Athletic football team (pictured here in 1988) was set up to help recovering addicts from the East End, as part of a wider support project.

It inspired the TV drama Alive and Kicking, involving Robbie Coltrane and Lenny Henry. (Robbie is pictured here with Charlie Nicholas, Tommy Burns and David Bryce at the opening of the project’s first dedicated premises in 1992).

Nightmare Alley (Image: Newsquest)

Calton photographer James Clarke captured many photos of daily life in his community in the 50s, 60s and 70s.

To mark an exhibition of his work at the People’s Palace, curated by his niece Patricia, the Glasgow Times ran a feature on his work.

It included this atmospheric shot entitled Glasgow Gangs: Nightmare Alley, Calton, taken on August 26, 1976 in what was once a notorious part of the area, rife with gang violence.

One of Calton’s favourite sons was Tommy Burns, Celtic footballer and manager, who sadly died in 2008.

In an interview with our sports editor Matthew Lindsay, he revealed where it all began.

“I enjoyed the best possible introduction to football with St Mary's Boys' Guild under a man called John Rice,” said Tommy.

Tribute to Tommy Burns (Image: Newsquest)

“He was an incredible character, the Godfather of Calton, where I lived back then.

“It was a tough place to grow up, but he managed to set me in the right direction and I was forever grateful to him for that.”

Kayos Theatre Co (Image: Newsquest)

From the Calton to Catalonia was a play, written for Glasgow’s year as European City of Culture, all about the Glasgow men who fought in the Spanish Civil War.

Penned by Professor Willy Maley and his brother John, whose father was among those fighting against Franco and fascism, the original low-budget production featured Outlander and Billy Elliot star Gary Lewis and River City actress Libby McArthur before they were famous.

This picture, by Darren Moore, captures the cast from Kayos Theatre company, a talented youth theatre group, when they staged a much-praised revival of the play at the Tramway.

Taking Back the Empties (Image: Malcolm Hill)

This is bound to strike a chord with Times Past readers of a certain vintage. As part of Partick Camera Club’s Calton Survey in the 1970s, Malcolm Hill’s picture Taking back the Empties featured in our newspaper.

Matt McGinn (Image: Newsquest)

Socialist, songwriter, communist, atheist and activist Matt McGinn, who died tragically early at the age of 48 in 1977, was one of Scotland’s greatest folk singers and considered by many the ‘voice of Glasgow’.

His best known songs ranged from children’s ditties to hard-hitting explorations of the plight of the working classes, and included The Red YoYo, Skinny Malinky Longlegs, The Ballad of the Q4 and The Ibrox Disaster.

Billy Connolly once supported him, and Bob Dylan was a fan.

Send us your Calton photos and memories - email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk or write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG.