Kelvinbridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kelvinbridge
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 The Great Western Road bridge over the River Kelvin on a sunny day. (19 April 2007) |
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 Kelvinbridge
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| OS grid reference | NS574669 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G4 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament |
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Kelvinbridge is a popular area in the West End of Glasgow, Scotland. It is named after the Great Western Bridge, a large bridge that crosses the River Kelvin. This important bridge carries the Great Western Road (A82) high above the river.
The bridge was finished in 1891 by a company called Bell & Miller. It is made of cast iron. Before this bridge, an older stone bridge stood in its place, built in 1840. The Great Western Bridge looks similar to the Partick Bridge, which also crosses the River Kelvin not far away. Since 1986, the bridge has been a Category A listed structure, meaning it is a very important historical building.
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History of the Great Western Bridge
The first Great Western Bridge was built in 1825. It helped people cross the city's edge into a nearby area called Hillhead. Hillhead later became part of Glasgow. This first bridge was quite low. The second, larger bridge, built in 1891, was much higher.
Why So Many Kelvin Bridges?
The River Kelvin flows through many parts of Glasgow. Because of this, several places along the river are named after it. You might hear of Kelvindale, Kelvingrove Park, Kelvinhaugh, and Kelvinside. This also means there are a few "Kelvin Bridges." One example is several miles away in Torrance.
What's Around Kelvinbridge?
Right next to the bridge is the Kelvinbridge subway station. It is part of the Glasgow Subway system. This station is one of the deepest on the subway line because it is so close to the river. There was also once a Kelvinbridge railway station nearby.
Because of these transport links, the name Kelvinbridge is also used for the homes and shops around the bridge. This area includes parts of Woodside, Woodlands, Kelvinside, and Hillhead.
Nearby Landmarks
- Glasgow Academy: A private school called Glasgow Academy is located close by on the Hillhead side of the valley.
- Lansdowne Church: On the other side of the river, you can see Lansdowne Church. It was built in 1863. Its tall spire is about 66 metres (217 ft) high, making it one of the tallest structures in Glasgow.
- University of Glasgow: Many students live in the Kelvinbridge area because it is very close to the University of Glasgow.
- "Coolest Neighbourhood": In 2019, Time Out magazine even named Kelvinbridge as one of the 50 "coolest neighbourhoods in the world"!
