Sighthill, Glasgow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sighthill
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 Sighthill
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| OS grid reference | NS601665 |
| Council area | |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G21 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
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| Scottish Parliament | |
Sighthill is a neighbourhood in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde and is part of the wider Springburn district in the north of the city. It is bordered to the north by Cowlairs, to the east by the Springburn Bypass road and the Royston neighbourhood, to the west by the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line (running into Queen Street Station) and to the south by the Townhead interchange of the M8 Motorway.
The district is primarily residential and from the mid-1960s consisted of a housing estate split into two sub-areas – Pinkston to the south and Fountainwell to the north – each with five 20-storey 'slab' tower blocks, plus seven 5-storey maisonette blocks and five rows of tenements in between. Most of these buildings were demolished in stages during the early 21st century.
History
Designed by Crudens Ltd, the scheme was built by Glasgow Corporation Housing Department between 1964 and 1969 on the 'Soda Waste' at Pinkston and Fountainwell Farm, near the cemetery. The former was derelict ground on which the United Alkali Company's St.Rollox Chemical Works, founded by Charles Tennant and at one time the largest chemical manufacturer in the world, used to dump waste chemicals (particularly Hydrogen sulfide, a byproduct of the Leblanc process) until its closure in 1964. The Chemical Works was located on the north bank of the Monkland Canal, immediately east of Port Dundas, where the current Pinkston area of Sighthill is now located.
The neighbourhood (scheme) later suffered from stigma, as high rise living went out of fashion. It has suffered from low demand since the mid-1970s, despite its proximity to the city centre. Because of its low occupancy rate, Sighthill was selected in the late 1990s, along with nearby Red Road, as a temporary housing location for refugees and asylum seekers. As a result, Sighthill has one of the most diverse ethnic makeups in Scotland.
In 2005, letting was suspended in the Fountainwell side of Sighthill as new landlords, Glasgow Housing Association considered the estate's future. The decision was eventually made that Fountainwell should be demolished. The first two blocks were demolished in July 2008 with the three remaining Fountainwell blocks following in November 2009.
The fate of the five remaining Pinkston blocks has now been decided. After a campaign by local residents, at least two of the Pinkston blocks were to be retained and refurbished by Glasgow Housing Association, with three being demolished or sold to private developers.
This however will not be happening. After agreeing to retain the two blocks (Pinkston & Hartfield Heights), GCC then bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics. They were successful in that they are now on the short list for the games. However, to qualify you must first have an Athletes Village prepared. Hence the total demolition of Sighthill and the 20 year advancement of its planned redevelopment.
Sighthill cemetery is located to the North of the estate and originally opened in 1840. Within it stands the memorial to John Baird and Andrew Hardie, the leaders of the 1820 Radical War otherwise known as the 1820 Insurrection. William Mossman and his sculptor sons are buried here.
There is also an active Community Council consisting of several committed residents who aim to deal with issues affecting the Sighthill neighbourhood, and it holds regular monthly meetings open to all interested residents with these normally taking place the last Tuesday of the month in the Tesco St.Rollox Community Room. Details of agendas, events etc can be found on their public Facebook group.
Sighthill stone circle
The Sighthill Park hosts the first astronomically aligned stone circle built in Great Britain for 3,000 years, and is currently maintained by the Glasgow Parks Department Astronomy Project guided by Duncan Lunan. This project is prominent on the highest point of the hill included in the park itself; it is yet to be completed, but a campaign to obtain its completion is underway. Built at the highest point of Sighthill Park, the stone circle has a vantage point over the surrounding tower blocks of the north-east Glasgow estate. There are 17 stones in the circle – with 16 forming a circle 30 feet across, and the largest four tonne stone in the centre. The Sighthill megalith was intended as a tribute to both the ancient megalith builders and the scientists who discovered their significance.
Fountainwell
In order of Demolition
- Eagle Heights (2-4 Fountainwell Place) Cruden 1 (Demolished: 13 July 2008)
- Barony Heights (16-18 Fountainwell Place) Cruden 2 (Demolished: 13 July 2008)
- Tennant Heights (37-49 Fountainwell Avenue) Cruden 3 (Demolished: 29 November 2009)
- Phoenix Heights (6-8 Fountainwell Square) Cruden 5 (Demolished: 29 November 2009)
- St. Rollox Heights (2-4 Fountainwell Terrace) Cruden 4 (Demolished: 29 November 2009)
It should be noted that the recently closed Sighthill Primary School was also demolished after the tower blocks due to an arson attack.
Pinkston
- Parson Heights (16-18 Pinkston Drive) (Demolished June 2013)
- Huntingdon Heights (17-19 Pinkston Drive) (Demolished September/October 2013)
- Crawfurd Heights (31-35 Pinkston Drive) (Demolished March-June 2016)
- Hartfield Heights (32-34 Pinkston Drive) (Demolished July-October 2016)
- Pinkston Heights (3-5 Pinkston Drive) (Demolished April 2014)
Sighthill was earmarked for the building of The Athletes Village of The 2018 Youth Olympics. The bid was lost, but regeneration will go on anyway.
All demolition works in Pinkston will be carried out by Technical Demolition Services.
