Bearsden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bearsden
The coat of arms of Bearsden Burgh, 1959–75.
Bearsden
Population	28,470 (2020)
OS grid reference	NS542720
Lieutenancy area	Dunbartonshire
Country	Scotland
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	GLASGOW
Postcode district	G61
Dialling code	0141
Ambulance	Scottish
EU Parliament	Scotland
UK Parliament	Mid Dunbartonshire
Scottish Parliament	Strathkelvin and Bearsden Clydebank and Milngavie
List of places UK Scotland 55°55′10″N 4°20′01″W / 55.9195°N 4.3337°W / 55.9195; -4.3337

Bearsden is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It's located on the edge of Greater Glasgow, about 6 miles (10 km) from the city centre.

The ancient Roman Antonine Wall runs right through Bearsden. You can even see the remains of a Roman bath house near the town centre today! Bearsden started as a small village in the 1600s. When a railway line to Glasgow was built in 1863, it grew into a wealthy suburb of the city. By 2020, about 28,470 people lived there.

A Look Back: Bearsden's History

Roman Times in Bearsden

Forts and Fortlets along the Antonine Wall.

Stone foundation of the Antonine Wall in New Kilpatrick Cemetery.

The first known settlement in Bearsden was a Roman fort built around 142-144 AD. This was during the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius. The Romans built a large wall, called the Antonine Wall, across Scotland. They also built a road, the Military Way, next to it. The fort in Bearsden was important because it was where the Military Way crossed another road leading to Loch Lomond.

After only 20 years, around 164 AD, the Romans left this area and moved back to Hadrian's Wall further south. Not much of the fort remains today. However, a Roman bath-house was found nearby in 1973 when builders were digging for new houses. These well-preserved remains are now just 150 meters from the town centre. You can also see parts of the Antonine Wall's stone base in the New Kilpatrick Cemetery.

Early Bearsden: Before the Big Growth

Before 1649, Bearsden was part of a larger area called Kilpatrick. The eastern part became known as New Kilpatrick. Modern Bearsden began as a small farming village called New Kirk (or Chapelton). It was near the New Kilpatrick Parish Church, which was first built in 1649.

An old book from 1854 described the area. It said the New Kirk village had about a dozen pretty cottages. It was a peaceful, rural place, far from the busy city of Glasgow. This book also had one of the first mentions of "Bear's Den." People used to believe it was a Roman burial site.

Bearsden Grows: The Modern Era

Bearsden really started to grow in the mid-1800s. Businessmen from Glasgow built homes here because it was easy to travel to the city. In 1863, the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway opened. The station near New Kirk was named Bearsden, and soon the whole community took that name. The railway brought a lot of new building, especially large Victorian houses.

A school for girls, the Glasgow Reformatory for Girls, moved to Bearsden in the late 1860s. It helped girls who had faced difficulties. They learned skills like laundry and gardening. The school closed in the 1970s, and a shopping centre was built there.

Former Schaw Convalescent Home, Bearsden, built 1895.

Other important buildings were also built. Buchanan Retreat, built in 1890, later became council offices and is now a hotel. The Schaw Home (pictured) was built in 1895 to help people recovering from illness. It has since been turned into apartments.

In 1906, many buildings were added around Bearsden Cross. Westerton Garden suburb, built around 1913, is now a special conservation area. Bearsden continued to expand throughout the 20th century, with many new houses and estates.

In 1958, Bearsden officially became a Burgh (a type of town). Since 1996, it has been the largest of the five main towns in East Dunbartonshire Council.

Where Did the Name "Bearsden" Come From?

Bearsden was first known as Kirktoun(e) or New/Easter Kilpatrick village. The current name, Bearsden, came from the railway station built in 1863. The station was named after a house nearby.

The exact meaning of "Bearsden" is still a bit of a mystery! Here are some ideas:

• It might have been a nickname for an area called Manse Burn.
• It could relate to barley (called "bear" in old English) that grew in a valley ("dene").
• Some think it comes from a Gaelic phrase meaning "entrenchments of the fort."
• The most popular story is that a local lord's sons kept a pet bear in a den there. But there's no real proof for this!

As one historian said, it's best to admit that the name's origin is simply unknown.

Bearsden's Coat of Arms

Bearsden received its own coat of arms in 1959. These symbols are now part of the arms for East Dunbartonshire Council. Here's what they mean:

• The crown shows it's a town in Scotland.
• The gold background and black stripe come from the arms of important local families, like the Campbells and Colquhouns. They represent the land where Bearsden was built.
• The rose comes from the Lennox family, representing Dunbartonshire.
• The lower part of the shield shows a bear looking into a den. This is a clever way to show the town's name!
• The motto, "Bear the Gree," is an old Scots phrase. It means 'to hold or win first place.'

Learning in Bearsden: Schools and Education

Bearsden has two main secondary schools: Bearsden Academy and Boclair Academy. Both schools are known for their strong academic results. Seven primary schools in Bearsden feed into these secondary schools. There is also St Nicolas' Primary School, which sends students to Catholic secondary schools outside Bearsden. The High School of Glasgow also has a primary school section in Bearsden.

Who Lives in Bearsden: Population Facts

The expansion of Bearsden over time, shown on maps from 1832.

Bearsden is mostly a middle-class commuter town. This means many people who live here travel to work in other cities. Most of the houses are detached (not joined to other houses).

In 2001, Bearsden had 27,967 people living in 10,417 homes. This was a small increase from 1991. About 73% of working residents travel to work by car. Bearsden is known for having some of the most expensive houses in western Scotland. In 2005, its postcode (G61) was ranked as one of the richest in the UK.

The map on the right shows how Bearsden has grown since 1832. It started as a few separate homes and has expanded into the large town it is today.

How Bearsden is Governed

Boclair House, formerly Buchanan Retreat, Bearsden, built 1890. It is now a hotel.

Bearsden is divided into two areas for local government: Bearsden North and Bearsden South. Each area elects three councillors to the East Dunbartonshire Council.

Bearsden North is part of the Clydebank and Milngavie area for the Scottish Parliament. Bearsden South is part of the Strathkelvin and Bearsden area for the Scottish Parliament.

For the UK Parliament in Westminster, Bearsden is part of the East Dunbartonshire area.

Getting Around: Transport Links

Map of Bearsden in 1923.

You can reach Bearsden by train using the Bearsden, Westerton, or Hillfoot stations.

Major roads also connect Bearsden to other places:

Exploring Bearsden: Neighbourhoods

Bearsden has several neighbourhoods, though their exact borders can be a bit blurry. Here are some of them:

• Bearsden Cross (the town centre) is where the A809 and A808 roads meet. It used to be called New Kirk. You'll find many shops, a small supermarket, churches, a primary school, and the public library here. The Roman bath-house and Bearsden Ski Club are also nearby.
• Old Bearsden is in the central and western parts of town. It has some of the most sought-after homes, with large sandstone villas.
• Westerton is in the southwest. It has a special conservation area with buildings from the 1920s. It has its own train station and primary school.
• Castlehill/Courthill and Baljaffray are in the northwest. These areas were mostly built after 1970. Castlehill gets its name from a Roman fort that used to be there. Baljaffray has a primary school and its logo shows a mine wheel, remembering the area's coal-mining past.
• Mosshead is in the north, bordering Milngavie.
• Hillfoot is east of the town centre.
• Kessington and Killermont cover the eastern part of Bearsden.
• Chapelton is an older area south of Bearsden Cross.
• Canniesburn is to the south and west of Chapelton. It used to be a tollhouse and smithy, and is now a large roundabout.

Famous Faces from Bearsden

Academics and Artists

Gruffalo Sculpture, Kilmardinny Loch, Bearsden.

• Julia Donaldson, the author of The Gruffalo and other popular children's books, used to live in Bearsden. You can even find Gruffalo sculptures around Kilmardinny Loch!
• Jessie M. King, a Scottish painter, was born in Bearsden.
• Edwin Morgan, a famous Scottish poet, lived in Bearsden for many years.
• David J. Thouless, who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2016.

Sports Stars

• Alex McLeish, a well-known football player and manager for teams like Aberdeen and Rangers, and the Scotland national team.
• Alan McManus, a professional snooker player.
• Mark Macqueen, a world champion in powerlifting.
• David Moyes, a football manager for clubs like West Ham United and Manchester United.
• Katherine Grainger, an Olympic Gold Medalist and Britain's most successful female rower, was a student at Bearsden Academy.

Entertainment and Journalism

• Edwyn Collins, musician and former member of the band Orange Juice.
• Darius Danesh, a pop singer.
• Mark Knopfler, the lead singer and co-founder of Dire Straits, went to Bearsden Primary School for two years.
• Alex Kapranos, the lead singer of the band Franz Ferdinand.
• Moira Shearer, a famous dancer and actress (known for The Red Shoes), was educated at Bearsden Academy.

Fun Things to Do: Leisure Activities

Football

Bearsden has a long history with football! The Bearsden Amateur Football Club started in 1890. They even won the Scottish Amateur Cup in 1962! Today, they play in the Caledonian Amateur Football League.

Other local football teams include Baljaffray FC (established 1996) and Westerton United (1997). These clubs help young players develop their skills.

Golf

Georgian neoclassical style club house of Glasgow Golf Club, built 1805.

Bearsden is home to several golf clubs:

• The Glasgow Golf Club is one of the oldest in the world, founded in 1787. Its main course is at Killermont House.
• Bearsden Golf Club has a nine-hole course and has been around since 1891.
• Douglas Park Golf Club has a full course and dates back to 1897.
• Windyhill Golf Club (founded 1908) has an 18-hole course designed by famous golfer James Braid. It offers great views of the River Clyde and nearby hills.

Highland Games

Each year, Bearsden and Milngavie host their own Highland Games at the West of Scotland Rugby Ground.

Skiing

Bearsden Ski Club started around 1964. It has about 1200 members who enjoy skiing and snowboarding. The club has a main slope, two smaller slopes for beginners, and a freestyle slope. They offer many activities, from trips to ski cross-country to tubing on the slopes.

Chess

Bearsden has a strong chess club. One of its teams won the Glasgow Division 1 League in 2010!

Scouting and Girlguiding

Bearsden has two active Scout Groups:

• The 24th Glasgow (Bearsden) Scout Group was formed in 1908. It's one of the largest in the UK, with many sections for different age groups. They are known for their international camps, including regular visits to the Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland since 1949.
• The 183rd Glasgow Scout Group started in 1947. It also has various sections and goes on many international camps to places like Germany and Canada.

Girlguiding is also very active in Bearsden, with units meeting at Killermont Parish Church and the Guide Hut.

Boys' Brigade

Bearsden is home to three Boys' Brigade Companies:

• The 1st Bearsden Company of the Boys' Brigade was founded in 1898.
• The 2nd Bearsden Company is linked to Westerton Parish Church.
• The 3rd Bearsden Company is linked to Killermont Parish Church.

All companies have sections for different age groups, from Anchor Boys to Company Section.

See also

In Spanish: Bearsden para niños