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Elder Park, Govan facts for kids

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Elder Park
The lake in Elder Park (geograph 3574332).jpg
Type Public park
Location Glasgow, Scotland
Area 37 acres (15 ha)
Created 1885; 140 years ago (1885)
Operated by Glasgow City Council
Status Open all year
Public transit access Govan subway station

Elder Park is a fun public park in Govan, a part of Glasgow, Scotland. It's located not far from the River Clyde. The park is a great place to visit.

Inside Elder Park, you can find the Elder Park Library [de]. There's also a boating pond for water activities. You can see the original Fairfield farmhouse and part of the old Linthouse Mansion.

Statue of Isabella Elder, Elder Park, Govan, Glasgow
A statue of Isabella Elder in Elder Park.

Discovering Elder Park's History

How Elder Park Began

Elder Park was given to the people of Govan in 1885. A kind woman named Isabella Elder donated it. She wanted to remember her husband, John Elder. He was a very important shipbuilder.

The park was built on what used to be Fairfield farm. You can still see the old farmhouse today. John Elder's family company, the Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, was right across the road. Their old buildings are now the Fairfield Heritage Centre. Isabella Elder wanted the park to be a place for "healthful recreation by music and amusement." This means a place for healthy fun, with music and entertainment.

Park Gates Get a Makeover

The beautiful sandstone gates at the park's entrance were fixed up in 2021. A small celebration happened in February 2022 when the work was finished.

Buildings to See in Elder Park

Elder Park Library

The Elder Park Library [de] is at one end of the park. It opened in September 1903. Isabella Elder also gave this library to the people of Glasgow.

A famous architect named John James Burnett designed it. The library is a very important historic building. It is a Category A listed building.

Linthouse Mansion Portico

The Linthouse Mansion was built a long time ago, in 1791. Today, only a small part of the house remains. This part is called the portico.

Statues and Important Memorials

John Elder statue, Elder park
A statue of John Elder.

You can find two statues in Elder Park. One statue honors Isabella Elder. It was made by Sir J. E. Boehm in 1906. The other statue is for her husband, John Elder. It was made by Archibald Shannan in 1888. Both statues are important historic artworks.

There are also two special memorials in the park. These memorials remember sad events. They honor local shipyard workers who lost their lives. One memorial is for the SS Daphne disaster in 1883. The other is for the HMS K13 submarine disaster in 1917.

See Also

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