Charing Cross, Glasgow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charing Cross |
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| Location | |
| Glasgow, Scotland | |
| Coordinates: | 55°52′01″N 4°16′16″W / 55.86685°N 4.27113°W |
| Roads at junction: |
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| Construction | |
| Maintained by: | Glasgow City Council |
| Map | |
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Charing Cross is a very important road crossing in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is located just north of the River Clyde. Here, several busy streets meet, like Sauchiehall Street and Woodlands Road. It is also a major connection point for the M8 motorway, which is a big highway.
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The Story Behind the Name
Charing Cross got its name from some large apartment buildings called Charing Cross Place. These were built in the 1850s. The area became known as Charing Cross because it linked the city centre to the new West End of Glasgow. It was a key spot connecting different parts of the growing city.
Motorway Changes and Historic Buildings
In the late 1960s, a lot of the old buildings at Charing Cross were taken down. This happened when the M8 motorway was built right through the area. A famous building called the Grand Hotel was lost during this time.
Even with these changes, Charing Cross still marks the border between Glasgow's City Centre and its West End. You can still see beautiful old red sandstone apartment blocks here. These were built in the late Victorian period. Two famous ones are St George's Mansions and Charing Cross Mansions. A well-known building nearby is the Mitchell Library, which is a very large public library.
In 2019, the Glasgow City Council suggested a new idea. They want to build a park over parts of the motorway. This would help connect the areas on both sides of the road.
A Famous Historical Mystery
Charing Cross was also part of an area known for a famous historical mystery during the Victorian era. This event caused a lot of talk and interest in society at the time.
Nearby Transport Links
If you want to travel by train, Charing Cross railway station is a short walk away. For the Glasgow Subway, the closest station is St George's Cross. This station is a bit further north from Charing Cross.
Images for kids
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Charing Cross around the turn of the 19th century, with the Grand Hotel on the left
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The Mitchell Library in North Street, c. 1912
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The Cameron Memorial Fountain besides the Grand Hotel, 1966
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Charing Cross Mansions, one of the city's oldest and grandest red sandstone tenements, built in 1891
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St George's Mansions, built in 1901
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The "bridge to nowhere", a raised podium over the M8 that was developed into an office building in the 1990s
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