The Gorbals, Glasgow (a place)

[ele]

Can someone shed some light on what or where The Gorbals, not sure if i'm spelling correct.., is, was, what?!

My Granddad referred to hanging around or at The Gorbals in Glasgow... he was born 1912, so 1924-35...

Thank you Ele...

[moiramount]

i think it was a housing estate in glasgow, but a scots person would tell you better.

                       moira

[Iria]

Hi Ele

try this website

http://www.condorrat.freeserve.co.uk/gorbals_story.htm


Jim Kerr of 80's Group Simple Minds Was Born there Before he moved to Toryglen


Regards

Iria

[acorngen]

The Gorbals are about 5 minutes walk from Glasgow city center and situated on the opposite side of the Clyde.  The area is mainly high rise flats and very rough neighbourhoods.  It makes Brixton in London look tame.  Jimmy Boyle the notorious early 60's gangster was born and raised there.

The shops in the Gorbals have metal bars all around the shop assitant because of the robberies being rife.  All that said I used to visit an ex girlfriends family friend there and never had too much trouble but I would sooner live rough than in the Gorbals.

Rob

[Iria]

Hi Rob

I think its fasinating to here about The Gorbals.. I come from Toxteth in Liverpool and i could always Imagine the to parts of the city Being the same.. By the way are you a Hoops or a Gers

regards

iria

[ele]

Thank you all...

I think my sweet Granddad may have associated with some rough characters!! We are related to Boyles, but not Jimmy... Well not that I know of, not sure if I would like to know! Granddad's Gran was a Boyle, haven't really gone that way in my search..

I will have a look at the site recommened later..

Thanks.. Ele

[acorngen]

Hi Rob

I think its fasinating to here about The Gorbals.. I come from Toxteth in Liverpool and i could always Imagine the to parts of the city Being the same.. By the way are you a Hoops or a Gers

regards

iria

Ira,

I am neither and I am not scottish either.  I just lived at kilmarnock for a few months.  I used to follow Killie whilst I was up there and still have one eye on their progress.  After spending one afternoon in the barras which is  a massive market and which is situated in the heart of the hoops fan base and seeing what was occurring I think Id rather stay neutral

Rob

[RJ_Paton]

The gorbals was originally amongst the first extension of the City of Glasgow to the south of the river in the 18th Century.

Initially settled by various gentry who built a series of larger houses it slowly over the years went downhill and the area became a byword for slum housing and overcrowding.

Many so called housing initiatives saw the heart ripped out of the area and high rise flats built (not overly well) .

The area was also the setting of the film and book "No Mean City" ..... and it is upon these now ancient pieces of fiction that the area's "tough" reputation is still spread.

see http://www.glasgowguide.co.uk/images_gorbals.html for some modern images
or http://www.theglasgowstory.co.uk/ for more of the city

[acorngen]

Lets not forget to that history it is also the birth place of the Ned the forerunner of todays chav.  The difference is Chav's dont wear shell suits lol


Rob