A postcard showing Alexandra Park c 1908. This view looks north-west towards the Burnbank Bleach Works whose chimneys can be seen in the background. Near the main entrance (not shown here) is the cast iron MacFarlane Fountain made at the Saracen Foundry for the 1901 International Exhibition in Kelvingrove Park.
The park was laid out by the City Improvement Trust 1866-1870 on 30 acres of land on Wester Kennyhill and an army of unemployed labourers was engaged to landscape the site. Alexander Dennistoun added an extra 5 acres of land to provide a main entrance from Alexandra Parade.
High levels of atmospheric pollution from local factories and workshops made it difficult to grow anything but the hardiest of plants and trees in the park. It is said that even the wire fences had to be replaced more frequently than in any other park in the city due to corrosion.
Reference: Mitchell Library, GC Postcards
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Libraries Information and Learning
Keywords:
Alexandra Park, atmospheric pollution, bleachworks, boating ponds, Burnbank Bleach Works, chimneys, City Improvement Trust, fountains, Glasgow Corporation, industry, International Exhibition, 1901, labourers, MacFarlane Fountain, parks, postcards, Saracen Foundry, sculptures, unemployed, unemployment
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