Tollcross, Glasgow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tollcross
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_(cropped).jpg) Aerial view of Tollcross from the north-east (2012) |
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 Tollcross
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| OS grid reference | NS641633 |
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| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLASGOW |
| Postcode district | G32 |
| Dialling code | 0141 |
| Police | Strathclyde |
| Fire | Strathclyde |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Tollcross (Scottish Gaelic: Toll na Croise) is a lively area in Glasgow, Scotland. It's located north of the River Clyde. A big, popular park opened here in 1897. This park is famous for its international rose trials, where new types of roses are tested. Tollcross became part of Glasgow city in 1912. It's about a mile east of Parkhead and near Braidfauld and Shettleston.
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Discovering Tollcross's Past
Tollcross was once a busy place for jobs, especially during the time of big factories. The large Fullarton steel works gave many people work. Today, houses stand where the steel works used to be. The McVitie's biscuit factory was also a major employer. It had been making biscuits in the area since the 1920s. Sadly, it closed its doors in 2022.
Old Names and Boundaries
Some parts of Tollcross were once called Egypt. You can still see this name on some old maps. People believe the name came from a farm in the area. A former soldier who had been in Egypt ran this farm. The Gordon family owned the farm in the 1920s. Later, it was sold to the Hamilton family.
The Lilybank housing estate is very close to Tollcross. Many people living there feel they are part of Tollcross. For a long time, Lilybank was officially in a different area called Braidfauld. This changed in 2007 when the local areas were reorganized. Now, Maukinfauld Road is the boundary. Land to the west is in the Calton ward. Land to the east, including most of Tollcross, is in the Shettleston ward.
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Famous People and Schools
The poet William Miller is buried in Tollcross. He is famous for writing the well-known children's poem "Wee Willie Winkie".
In 2011, two local schools, St. Aidan's and St. Joan of Arc, joined together. The students voted to name their new school Cardinal Winning. This name honors Thomas Winning, who was a respected Archbishop of Glasgow. The new school opened on June 21, 2011. It is located on Fullarton Avenue.
Just south of the school is Fullarton Park. This park is home to the local football team, Vale of Clyde. Next to the park is the Tollcross Bowling Club. There is also a modern shopping area nearby on London Road.
Tollcross Park and Winter Gardens
Tollcross Park is a large green space covering about 37 hectares. It sits between Shettleston and Tollcross. The park opened in 1897. The city of Glasgow bought the land from the Dunlop family to create this park.
In 2008, Tollcross Park was voted the best park in Scotland! It has many cool features. There's a children's farm near the old lodge building. The park also has a beautiful rose garden. This garden was created in 1986. It holds yearly trials to test new types of roses. You can also find playing fields and a special "secret garden" area.
Tollcross House
Tollcross House was built in 1848 for James Dunlop. He was one of the owners of the Clyde Iron Works. The house replaced an older building that belonged to the Corbet family. In 1897, the house became a Children's Museum. Later, it was changed into flats in 1989. In 2003, it became homes for elderly people.
The Winter Gardens
The beautiful glasshouses, known as the Tollcross conservatories, were first built in 1870. They were originally in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire. A man named Baillie A.G. MacDonald gave them to Glasgow in 1898. They were carefully taken apart and rebuilt in Tollcross Park.
The Tollcross cast-iron Victorian conservatory is a special building. It's shaped like a Latin cross and has two round ends. A dome sits on top. Its fancy cast-iron supports are a unique design. This building is called the 'Winter Gardens'.
Unfortunately, the conservatory was damaged by storms in 2010 and 2011. It has been closed since then. The Winter Gardens are now on a list of buildings at risk in Scotland.
The Winter Gardens had a big renovation between 1998 and 2000. It cost £1.9 million! After being closed for 14 years, the Winter Gardens reopened in November 2000. A new tent-like area was added for a cafe and toilets.
Tollcross International Swimming Centre
In 1997, the East End Leisure Centre opened in Tollcross Park. It has a huge Olympic-sized swimming pool. The City of Glasgow Swim Team uses this pool for training. The center was later renamed the Tollcross International Swimming Centre. It was updated to be the swimming venue for the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow.
Notable People
- Jack House (1906-1991) was a journalist and author.
- Tom Leslie (1884–1961) was a footballer.
