George Square facts for kids

George Square with the Scott monument in the centre, Glasgow City Chambers to the left and the former General Post Office to the right.

Panorama postcard from the south-west corner showing the square in 1905

George Square (Scottish Gaelic: Ceàrnag Sheòrais) is the main public square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of six squares in the city centre. The others are Cathedral Square, St Andrew's Square, St Enoch Square, Royal Exchange Square, and Blythswood Square.

The square is named after King George III. It was first planned in 1781, but it took about 20 years to develop. George Square is surrounded by important buildings. These include the grand City Chambers on the east side, built in 1883. On the west side is the Merchants' House [de]. The City Chambers are still the main offices for Glasgow City Council.

George Square has many famous statues and monuments. These include statues of Robert Burns, James Watt, Sir Robert Peel, and Sir Walter Scott.

How George Square Grew Over Time

In medieval Glasgow, there was a large area of shared land for animals to graze. This land was west and north of the city. Cows were taken along a path called Cow Lone to reach these pastures.

Over time, Glasgow grew richer from trade in tobacco, sugar, and cotton. This led to the city expanding westwards. In 1766, Cow Lone was paved and renamed Queen Street after Queen Charlotte. In 1772, another path, Back Cow Lone, was straightened and became Ingram Street.

In 1781, a plan for a large square was created. Glasgow's council adopted this plan in 1782. This new square was named George's Square, after King George III. New streets nearby were also named after royalty. Around 1790, this area became known as Glasgow's New Town.

The Scott monument from 1837. To the right, the three-storey townhouses from 1807–1818 became the North British Hotel. An extra storey was added in 1905.

Entrance to Queen Street Station, and the North British Hotel, now called the Millennium Hotel.

Between 1787 and the 1820s, beautiful Georgian buildings were built around the square. The west side had three-storey buildings. The east side had two-storey houses. On the south and north sides, large townhouses were built. A historian in 1804 said the buildings on the north side were "very elegant."

The centre of George Square was first used as a dumping ground. It was later fenced off and used for grazing sheep. In 1819, the first statue was put up. It honored Sir John Moore.

In 1825, the square was improved with winding paths, trees, and shrubs. It was fenced with iron railings. Flower shows were even held there. The centre of the square became home to the first monument dedicated to Sir Walter Scott. This tall column was finished by 1837.

The Bank of Scotland building from 1867–1870 on the corner of St Vincent Place, with the Queen Street station roof from 1880.

The Bank of Scotland building continued with an extension from 1874–1876, and the Merchants' House [de] from 1874–1880.

Two storeys were added to the Merchants' House from 1907–1909, making the building less symmetrical.

In 1838, Glasgow House, a large mansion, was sold. It was demolished to build a railway station. This station opened in 1842 and is now known as Queen Street Station. Its main entrance is a direct continuation of Queen Street. Many nearby houses became hotels for travelers.

In 1862, Glasgow Corporation took over managing George Square. The square's iron railings were removed in 1878. New paths and flower beds were added. The grand Glasgow City Chambers were built on the east side of the square. Their foundation stone was laid in 1883, and they were finished in 1889.

Layout of George Square, Glasgow around 1900.

The buildings on the north side of the square became the Queen's Hotel. In 1905, it became the North British Station Hotel. An extra floor was added. Today, this hotel is called the Millennium Hotel. It is the only original building left around George Square.

Recently, Queen Street Station has been rebuilt. New buildings have replaced old ones along George Square.

Important Buildings Around the Square

Sir Walter Scott statue erected 1837, long before construction of the City Chambers which were completed in 1889.

On the east side of the square, you'll see the impressive Glasgow City Chambers. This beautiful building was designed by William Young and finished in 1889.

On the south side, there's the old General Post Office building from 1878. It was turned into offices in 2007. There's also a modern office building from 1924. The city's main Tourist Information Centre used to be here but has since moved.

The north side of George Square viewed from Queen Street in 2019, during the railway station's remodelling, with the prominent Met Tower (1964) overlooking the square and George House (1980) to its right

On the north side, you'll find the entrance to Queen Street Station. Next to it is the Millennium Hotel, which was once a terrace of townhouses. To the east, George House was built in 1979-80 for Glasgow City Council offices. The tall Met Tower (Glasgow College of Building and Printing) also stands nearby.

On the west side of the square is the Merchants' House building. This building is home to the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1783. It was designed by John Burnet and opened in 1874. Later, two more storeys were added. The building has a dome with a ship on a globe, showing how important sea trade was to Glasgow. The former Bank of Scotland building is also on this side.

Statues and Monuments

Statue of Robert Burns, George Square, Glasgow

The eastern side of the square has two lawns. It's also where the Glasgow Cenotaph stands. This monument was built to remember Glaswegians who died in the First World War. It was unveiled in 1924.

In the centre of the square is a tall column honoring author Sir Walter Scott. It was put up in 1837. There are eleven other public statues around the square. These include:

• Queen Victoria (1866) and her husband Prince Albert (1865).
• Poets Robert Burns (1877) and Thomas Campbell (1877).
• Inventor James Watt (1832).
• Chemist Thomas Graham (1872).
• Generals Sir John Moore (1819) and Lord Clyde (1868).
• Politicians William Ewart Gladstone (1902), Robert Peel (1859), and James Oswald (1856).

George Square's Role in History

George Square is a busy place for many events. It hosts music shows, light displays, and ceremonies. It's also a place for sporting celebrations and political gatherings. Annual Remembrance Day parades are held here too.

The square has often been the site of protests. One famous event was the Battle of George Square in 1919. Skilled engineers were campaigning for a shorter working week. A large crowd gathered, and there was fighting between protesters and the police. Some people worried about a revolution. Ten thousand troops were sent to Glasgow, but they arrived after the fighting ended. Six tanks arrived later but stayed in their depot. This means George Square was the last place in Britain to have the army sent in to control a protest.

In 2005, the square was closed for two months for repairs. The red paths were replaced, and the statues were cleaned.

In August 2011, parts of the zombie movie World War Z were filmed in the square. The buildings looked like Philadelphia's financial district.

There have been plans to change the square, including removing green spaces. This has caused some debate. In 2012, a campaign started to keep the square as it was.

Plans for Change

In 2012, Glasgow City Council decided to spend £15 million to update the square. This was to get it ready for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. The plans included removing all the statues for cleaning. The council said the statues might not return to the square. Only the Cenotaph was sure to stay.

In January 2013, six new designs for the square were shown to the public. Most designs included at least half of the statues returning. The council leader, Gordon Matheson, then cancelled the redevelopment plan. This happened on the same day the winning design was announced.

See also

In Spanish: George Square para niños