Bellahouston Park

Bellahouston Park is a public park on the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland, between the areas of Craigton, Dumbreck, Ibrox and Mosspark covering an area of 71 hectares (180 acres). The main part of Bellahouston Park was acquired by Glasgow Corporation in 1895 for the sum of £50,000, and opened to the public in 1896. Three years later, the city's second municipal golf course was established at Bellahouston, following the success of the course at Alexandra Park. The park was extended in 1901 by the addition of a part of Dumbreck Lands purchased for the sum of £2,824 from Sir John Stirling-Maxwell. A further addition was made in 1903, at a cost of £40,222, by including the lands of Ibroxhill, from which commanding views of the city are available.

In 1938 the Empire exhibition was held at the park. The site took only fourteen months to build. The price of admission was one shilling, and a mammoth attendance of 12.5 million was recorded. The exhibition nevertheless made a loss of £130,000. Today, of the 200 palaces and pavilions that were built for the exhibition, only the Palace of Art remains. It now serves as a Sports Excellence Centre. A stone Peace Cairn built for the exhibition is still visible from the rock garden.

Bellahouston

Coordinates: 55°50′51″N 4°18′17″W / 55.847584°N 4.304767°W / 55.847584; -4.304767

Bellahouston (Gaelic: Baile Ùistein) is a district in the southwest of the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is bordered by Dumbreck, Ibrox, Pollokshields, Craigton and Mosspark.

History

Bellahouston Estate in the parish of Govan was purchased in 1726 by James Rowan of Marylands and his family resided there until 1824. Upon the death of Thomas Rowan in that year, the estate passed to a relative by marriage, one Moses Steven of Polmadie. During his lifetime he increased the size of the estate, buying land at Weariston and a house and land at Dumbreck. The whole became known as Bellahouston. Upon the death of Moses in 1871, the Estate passed to his sisters who, according to his wishes, established a trust which would dedicate the estate for 'charitable, religious and educational purposes' within greater Glasgow. The trust became operative when Elizabeth Steven died in 1892.

The Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was held in Bellahouston Park and attracted over 13 million people.