GLASGOW’s famous Gorbals cemetery, the Southern Necropolis, is well known as the final resting place of some famous names.
Sir Thomas Lipton, grocer and entrepreneur and architect Alexander ‘Greek’ Thomson are among those buried there.
Now, a new heritage trail aims to tell the lesser-known, but equally fascinating stories, which lie within the graveyard’s walls.
Volunteer group Friends of the Southern Necropolis have published A Window on Time, a new booklet which also reveals the origins of the Caledonia Road cemetery.
FoSN founder Colin Mackie explains: “This is a project we have wanted to do for some time, in response to the continuing interest in not only those buried within the cemetery, but also the origins and early days of its existence within the Gorbals.
“The additional characters we have included, like Christina Baylis, Hugh Macdonald and John Kelso Hunter, have been known to us for while of course, but we haven't really highlighted them as much as we would have liked.”
He adds: “The new trail will give us a chance to share their stories, and raise the profile of the cemetery.
“With our recent Community Green Flag and It’s Your Neighbourhood awards, we want to keep the positive momentum going for all aspects of the Southern Necropolis and our group.
“The trail is the ideal vehicle to get the word out and raise some much needed funds for our voluntary work.”
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The Southern Necropolis was established in 1840 on land purchased from local merchant and Baillie William Gilmour, who lived at Oatlands House.
Among those buried within the Gorbals’ City of the Dead, are Hugh Macdonald (author of Rambles Around Glasgow), Wilhelmina Woyka (Temperance reformer), Christina Baylis (who took over the running of famous Glasgow theatre The Metropole after her husband’s death), and artist John Kelso Hunter.
The title of the booklet comes from a quote by the late Charlotte Hutt, a teacher who was the driving force behind the very first Southern Necropolis research project in 1988.
“Charlotte was a teacher at Adelphi Secondary school and always had a passion and a pride for the Gorbals area,” explains Colin.
“She knew then the historical and educational value that the Southern Necropolis held for the local community and beyond.”
The booklet, which was designed by Anthony O’Doibhailin, is dedicated to Charlotte’s memory, adds Colin.
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“We are all very proud of the new booklet, it’s been a labour of love and the end product is a dead interesting (pardon the pun) read,” he says, smiling.
Among those who came along to a recent launch night generously hosted by The Jenny Burn in Oatlands, were representatives from collaborative organisations including FLOW Yoga, Hampden Football Square Mile and The Gorbals Ideas Fund who provided the finance for the publication.
The booklet is on sale, priced £5, by emailing orders@southernnecropolis.com or contacting Friends of Southern Necropolis on Facebook.
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