Glasgow EuroWalk

The Glasgow Necropolis is a fascinating location and there is a huge amount of historical information that has been gathered and can be found on this website:   https://www.glasgownecropolis.org/ The parkland used for the cemetery was believed by John Strang, Chamberlain at the Merchants’ House, to be "admirably adapted" to create Glasgow's own version of the famous Paris Pere Lachaise cemetery. It is a multi faith burial ground, designed for Glasgow's higher classes at the time. The first person to be buried here was Joseph Levi, who was actually Jewish, and was buried in 1832. Among the particular people we have highlighted for our Eurowalk are the German Henry Dübs , the F renchman  Pierre  Jacques Papillon  and Professor Coats, who did some training in Wurzburg. All highlight the importance of European links in Glasgow's heritage. _____________________ Henry Dübs  At the Necropolis you can find a Memorial to Henry Dübs (1816 – 24 April 1876), ...

Chopin played a concert in 1848 in the Merchants' Hall - which at that time was situated in the building later known as the Sheriff Court on the corner of Hutcheson and Ingram streets.  The date was September 27, and anyone who was anybody was there. The cream of west of Scotland society and the aristocracy turned out for the occasion, including the Duchess of Argyll, countless countesses, lords, ladies, and baronesses. The occasion was extremely well-documented. Diarists, commentators, and all the papers were there. The Herald recorded the nineteenth-century equivalent of a city-centre traffic jam as the ''large concourse of carriages began to draw up in Hutcheson Street and the streets adjoining''  The matinée musicale given by Chopin on the 27th of September 1848 in the Merchants? Hall, Glasgow, attracted many a music-lover. The organizer of the concert - John Muir Wood - was told that "so many private carriages had never been seen at any concert in the town...

This centre, which is situated at Garnethill synagogue, has archives of the history of the Jewish people who have arrived in Scotland, most arriving over the last couple of centuries.  The first record of Jews in Scotland dates back to the late 1600s. The Jews who came to Scotland in the late 1600s and early 1700s came in small numbers and tended to be academics, who were attracted by the fact that in the Scottish Universities they were not required to swear a Christian oath, unlike those in England and the continent. These early arrivals were then followed by businessmen and merchants of Dutch and German descent. And more recent history has included the arrival of refugees, in particular during the years of WW1 and WW2. This interesting document ( https://www.scojec.org/resources/files/jewish_experience.pdf ) produced by the archive centre has a few of the stories of people who have been very much involved in Scottish history and communities, including: Benno Schotz (see the ...

The Roman Catholic Parish Church of St Simon which is linked with St Peters in Partick and host Polish Masses. (similarly with St Anne's in Dennistoun). In front of church there is a Memorial Stone in Polish which translates: During the second World War Polish soldiers on leave from the battlefields came to this church to attend Mass together to hear the word of God in their native tongue, to sing their Polish hymns, and to thank Our Lady, Queen of Poland, for this touch of home the Polish community of Glasgow has. Through the years they felt deeply grateful to Father Patrick Tierney for the privilege he has accorded them of celebrating the Polish Mass in this Church and for the many kindnesses received from him and the parishioners. and in English: “I was a stranger and you took me in” Matthew 25:35 Two stained glass windows feature: GOOD CONQUERS EVIL Fr Jerzy Popieluszko died a martyr's death at the hands of people who has created a political system based on hatred and l...

The Sikorski Polish Club at 5 Parkgrove Terrace was established by Polish soldiers in the late 1940’s as a home from home because they could not return to their beloved Poland. Polish culture, traditions and heritage are celebrated.  Image Attrib: J. Wilson The club is named in honour of General Władysław Sikorski, Prime Minister of the Polish Government in Exile and Commander-in-Chief of the Polish Forces during much of the Second World War. Established in 1954, and the prime focus of the Polish community in Glasgow ever since, it offers a restaurant, lounge bar, discussion groups, language classes etc.   Other Polish links with Scotland include: Bonnie Prince Charlie, who was half Polish, being the son of James Edward Stewart and Clementina Sobieska, granddaughter of Jan Sobieski King of Poland. Chopin, who played in Glasgow, and was one of Poland's greatest composers. We also feature the place he played on our Eurowalk 1 in the town centre.  If you would like to...

Glasgow has a thriving musical and artistic scene. In fact, the European Commission commented in 2019: "As the UK’s top cultural and creative city, Glasgow is home to world-class museums, galleries, family-friendly attractions and an edgy contemporary art scene that shows the city at its energetic finest." Photos : J. Wilson "Glasgow crowned UK’s top cultural and creative city", Sunday Post, 2019:  https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/396198/ The concert hall was built when Glasgow was designated as European Capital of Culture for 1990. Designed by Sir Leslie Martin, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall was officially opened on 5 October 1990 by Princess Anne. Photo: J. Wilson It was also the venue for a famous speech by Gordon Brown about the benefits of being in the EU: https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/uk-politics/188045/eu-offers-safety-net-tory-devastation-claims-gordon-brown-glasgow-rally/amp/ Being European Capital of Culture really gave the Glasgow arts scene...