Fernhill, South Lanarkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fernhill |
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.jpg) Castlefern Road, Fernhill (2015) |
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 Fernhill
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| Population | 2,200 (2018) |
| OS grid reference | NS61815941 |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G73 4 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Fernhill is a friendly neighbourhood in the Scottish town of Rutherglen. It is located in South Lanarkshire, just south of the River Clyde. Fernhill is known for its amazing views over Greater Glasgow. This is because it is built on a steep hill, which is part of the Cathkin Braes.
Fernhill borders other areas like High Burnside and Cathkin. To the west, it touches the Glasgow district of Castlemilk. To the south, you'll find the open green spaces of Fernbrae Meadows. This area used to be a golf club.
Local decisions for Fernhill are made by the South Lanarkshire Council. The area is part of the Rutherglen South ward.
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History of Fernhill
Before the 1950s, Fernhill was mostly open fields. There was a large house called Fernhill House built around 1870. This house overlooked the countryside.
Building New Homes
To help with crowded homes in central Rutherglen, the town council decided to build new houses here. Construction started in the late 1950s and continued into the 1960s. They built different types of homes. These included terraced houses, semi-detached houses, and apartments.
Later, a new main road was built through Rutherglen. This made it easier to get to Fernhill. The new road was meant to connect to a bigger road towards East Kilbride. However, it was not fully finished for a while.
Fernhill and Castlemilk
Fernhill is next to the large Castlemilk housing area in Glasgow. Both areas were built around the same time. They were created for similar reasons, to provide more homes.
In the past, there were some challenges with youth groups in the area. However, these issues have been worked on. The situation has been getting much better in recent years.
The 'Hole in the Wall' Statue
The border between Fernhill and Castlemilk is called the 'Hole in the wall'. This name comes from an old opening between fields. Today, you can find a special statue here. It is a white statue of a boy with binoculars and a cape. He is looking downhill towards Glasgow. The statue was made by Kenny Hunter. Below it, a message reads: "Somewhere in the distance... Is My Future."
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Making Improvements
Like many city areas, Fernhill faced some tough times over the years. There were not enough jobs, and some buildings needed fixing. But in the 21st century, many improvements have been made.
- A new Community and Sports Centre opened in 2011.
- Older apartment blocks were updated to save energy.
- Murals were painted to make public areas brighter.
- New local shops were built on the main road in 2014.
- Some old buildings were taken down and replaced with modern houses.
In 2017, plans were made to turn the old Blairbeth Golf Club into a park. After asking local people, it was named Fernbrae Meadows. This new park officially opened in June 2019.
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Cathkin Relief Road Project
In 2014, the local council planned to finish the Rutherglen bypass road. This road would run along the north side of Fernhill. It was meant to connect Glasgow to East Kilbride better. It would also help with traffic on other roads, like Fernhill Road.
However, some local people were against the 'Cathkin Relief Road' project. The land for the road had been used as an informal park for many years. People also worried the new road might separate Fernhill from nearby communities. Despite these concerns, the project was approved in 2015. Work started in 2016 and finished in 2017.
The new section of the bypass was named Willow Boulevard. It became part of the A730 road.
Facilities in Fernhill
Fernhill has two main places of worship.
- St. Marks RC Church is on the west side of the main road.
- Fernhill & Cathkin Church (of Scotland) is on the east side.
There is a regular public bus service along Fernhill Road. This bus connects the community to Rutherglen, central Glasgow, and East Kilbride. The closest train station is Burnside. It is about one mile away, but it is a steep walk uphill.
Schools in the Area
Fernhill itself does not have any local authority schools. The closest primary schools are in Cathkin (Cathkin Primary) and Blairbeth (St. Marks RC Primary). These schools are linked to Cathkin High School and Trinity High School.
However, Fernhill is home to a well-known fee-paying school. This is Fernhill School. Its buildings are at the highest point on the southern edge of the area. The main building is the historic Fernhill House. It is the oldest building still standing in Fernhill.
