Tiny village evolved to become Glasgow's 'coolest' area

Surrounded by Govanhill to the east and Pollokshields to the west, the area of Strathbungo has made the headlines this week and its name catapulted into global stardom as the 22nd ‘coolest' neighbourhood in the entire world.

The leafy Southside suburb has beaten the likes of Union Square in Boston and San Rafael in Mexico on Time Out’s definitive list.

(Image: Colin Mearns)

READ MORE: Glasgow area named on Time Out's 'coolest neighbourhoods'

With its eclectic mix of food and drink spots against a backdrop of Victorian architecture, Strathbungo has established itself as a place to be in Glasgow.

Did you know it began life as a tiny miner’s village with around 35 families living in it?

Centuries ago, the area was known as Marchtown, a name given by the Maxwell family of Pollok, but the origin of the name Strathbungo is quite hazy.

(Image: Colin Mearns) Historians believe it is supposed to mean the ‘valley of St Mungo’, the patron saint of Glasgow.

In the 18th century Strathbungo was a little village consisting of miners, crofters and weavers. It wasn’t until the 1860s that the Maxwell family granted the development of the stunning Victorian tenements that still command its architecture today.

By the 1890s, most of the villager buildings were gone to make way for these iconic red and blond sandstone structures, and this ‘village’ officially became part of Glasgow.

(Image: Colin Mearns) The first block of homes to be built was 1 to 10 Moray Place and was designed by legendary architect Alexander ‘The Greek’ Thomson, who was renowned for his classical influences and drawing upon ancient Greek, Egyptian and Roman structures as inspiration for his own designs.

Thomson lived at number 1, and it is believed he died there according to his death notice published in our sister paper the Glasgow Herald in March 1875.

Other notable residents include fellow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, who resided at 27 Regent Park Square.

The square along with Queen Square and Princes Square, which later became Marywood Square, were all built to form this ‘ideal’ image of a suburb.

(Image: Colin Mearns) This image has transpired for well over 100 years, as has Strathbungo’s reputation for its brilliant pub and restaurant scene.

READ MORE: Residents of Glasgow area on 'coolest neighbourhoods' list speak out

Back in the day, you had the Cross Keys Tavern, Hunters Inn and Granny McDougall’s Inn.

Today the community is home to city institutions such as the Allison Arms, The Bungo, and MJ Heraghty’s, which happens to be Paolo Nutini’s favourite spot in the city for a good Guinness.

READ MORE: 'Homely' new gastro pub in Glasgow is like a 'second living room'

READ MORE: When Paolo Nutini revealed his favourite Glasgow pub for a Guinness

Meanwhile, up-and-coming spots like the recently opened Torrisdale Tavern promise to emulate a ‘second living room’ for punters.

Torrisdale Tavern pub in Strathbungo (Image: Torrisdale Tavern) Coming together for a bite to eat and something to drink is second nature in a place like Strathbungo which prides itself on being a proper community within a community.

In recent years, it has hosted its own Window Wanderland, a sweet tradition where residents place decorations in their windows, creating stunning silhouettes for all to see.

It came to the Southside in 2020 as a way to help people who were feeling isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic feel uplifted by the positive images and messages of hope and community spirit.

Window Wanderland (Image: Newsquest) With defining Victorian architecture that has prevailed through the eras, a brimming hospitality scene and a strong sense of community spirit, Strathbungo certainly ticks the boxes of a ‘cool’ neighbourhood.