Blythswood square; Astonishing Glasgow Ep.41

[@Scampbell-smith]

My favourite Architecture Rennie Mackintosh 😊

[@nathanaelmini2595]

The Blythswood square is my favourite Scottish square.

[@glasgowgallus247]

Yeah, traditionally, when you thought of 'Blyzey...', you thought of the 'ladies of negotiable affection...'.. 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@chalkiememe4183]

Your first sentence had me laughing. Used to walk up that way when we were teenagers from Anderson bus station to Sauchiehall street. I no longer live in Scotland but Glasgow remains my home town in my heart and soul.

[@Scampbell-smith]

Hello I'm the same ,don't live in Glasgow or Scotland anymore ,I was brought up in Scotland for many years ,moved to Glasgow at 16 then in a flat and brilliant times dancing or clubbing as it's called now but loved being in Glasgow .I heard the same about blythswood square but hey ho know the story now good to know 😊

[@mayhannah2906]

Thanks

[@susantaylor2915]

Loved this......

[@COYBIG1967]

Ladies of the night 🤣🤣

[@thomsonkerr5928]

Absolutely riveting stuff love glasgows history, well presented mate

[@ianferguson3543]

I have been in the automobile club decades ago. The gents was the most amazing old fashioned toilet. Fabulous fittings. Must use the super thanks soon.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

If I ever get in I will investigate the facilities. Might look a bit weird if I start taking pictures and video in there but I will have a look if I get a chance.

[@robertbell2524]

Thanks for bringing my attention to the William Harley plaque, & the black doorway, which I have never noticed before. Very interesting video.

[@bigped845]

Thanks for making these videos really enjoy your content stay safe

[@johannebaker9730]

The druggists was in Helensburgh and they first met in Rhu. The debate whether she was innocent or not still goes on online today. I was privileged enough to live in the converted stables of the Smiths Family home in Rhu for some years. There is still a lane at the back called Lovers Lane. As she died aged 81 it’s be quite something for someone to write the next episode of her story of her life in America. That unique result of ‘not proven’ still makes one wonder. Thank you so much for such interesting videos.

[@1gerard47]

A story of the musicians union in Berkeley Street would be interesting.

[@dk6816]

How wonderful, thank you for your time and effort in doing what you do it is much appreciated

[@kevindurcan7072]

Wow amazing history all packed into one tiny square, my bank has been there for years and apart from Dodgy hill starts and prowling meter maids it’s fascinating how much you don’t know love this show ❤️

[@graememort8572]

Your knowledge of old Glasgow is amazing. It gave me chills seeing where Madeleine lived and then showing the sketch straight afterwards with her passing out hot chocolate to Pierre. I've only seen two episodes of Astonishing Glasgow up till now but am hooked. Im also whatsapping your link to the rest of my family. Keep up the good work.

[@gerrymclaughlan3929]

Faaantastic !

[@jimmythejock4376]

Thanks for the video. Fascinating story about the square.

[@carolcrombie6727]

I worked in a solicitors office at Lion Chambers in the late 80s and had to hand deliver many letters to different locations, one of which was in Blythswood Square. I dreaded these deliveries as I was always followed and propositioned even though I was armed with letters or packages.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Lucky you, I waited for hours and not a single person propositioned me........ :-D

[@johannebaker9730]

@@AstonishingGlasgow 😂

[@COYBIG1967]

@@AstonishingGlasgow🤣🤣🤣 brilliant

[@fabianmckenna8197]

​@@AstonishingGlasgow Yeah........ Did the words "On yer bike" have anything to do with it.😁 Worked in the Ambassador restaurant on Blythswood Square in the 70's and were forever propositioned by them, young, old and very old. Often wondered how some of them managed up the hill!

[@Saint_Dan132]

oh i have been looing forward to this one . great video

[@joetanjm]

Very interesting video.

[@Scampbell-smith]

Wow never knew that thank you 😊

[@greenockscatman]

Mad how I used to walk there all the time and had no clue about any of this.

[@iancampbell9408]

Thanks for that buddy I enjoyed that 👏

[@nivlocas1635]

Thanks and keep doing what you do. Love this channel ❤️

[@dawid12ll]

another amazing video, all the best mate

[@auldfouter8661]

The West of Scotland Agricultural College was based in Blythswood Square from 1900 to 1974. The Auchincruive Estate near Ayr was gifted to the college in 1927 by the Hannah family , to be used as a teaching and demonstration farm, with a Poultry School and a Dairy School. The campus at Auchincruive was greatly extended in the early 1970s with labs and a lecture theatre allowing teaching in Blythswood square to be discontinued. I started the first year of my HND Agri course in October 1974 and that was the first year to be wholly based at Auchincruive instead of partly in Glasgow city.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Great information, thanks for sharing.

[@Dreaming5]

Can’t believe you have the automobile club sign, that’s awesome! The new book on Blythswood is great, if you haven’t already read it. There’s copies in the libraries. Thanks for keeping me company as I do some Saturday morning chores, your videos are brilliant!

[@neilslorance6786]

excellent choice of calendar!

[@johnbrown3951]

Another interesting film on the City. I took my son to one of the Clydebank starts of the Rally and wonder if it will return to the City. I didn't realise the connection to the RSAC or that was in Blytheswood Square. Every day is a school day.

[@ruthmclennan1914]

Thoroughly enjoyable video. Thanks.

[@PaganAbroad]

Awesome keep them coming dude 👍

[@coasterchad3450]

Loved that intro

[@rswan1967]

Loved the Blythswood Square episode. Fascinating! Thanks, Richard & Lindsay.

[@williamyoung7204]

Have you ever done anything on lambhill,check it out,it's really interesting,there's statues of the Henderson beithersin the town,lambhill was here before Glasgow,they say the wool from lambhill was used in the clothes of st mungo,hope you do something on this,there is videos but I think you'd do a great video on the subject✌️😎✌️

[@StruanRobertson29]

Just recently started viewing your channel. Very entertaining and interesting...wee gap in the market you have identified. Congrats to you and delighted to subscribe.

[@shug831]

Great video, thanks.

[@BillyBobDingo1971]

Nice one dude.

[@hettyscetty9785]

I actually love this channel, the start gives me old school video tape vibes for some reason and despite the video being two weeks old has a hint of nostalgia to it. The hotel is gorgeous inside, I used to study tourism and long story short my class was split into groups to do tours and my group tried to get an appointment and they weren't too good at getting back to us so we went in on the day to try our luck and got to see the inside and it was fancy.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I'm really glad you are enjoying my wee videos. Probably has an old school vibe because I am an old school kinda guy 😅

[@John-DC60]

Brilliant video

[@colinblack7049]

Excellent Dave, as usual a very informative video. I don't know if it's hearsay, but I always associated Blythswood square with ladies of the night.

[@fabianmckenna8197]

It's not heresay......., Worked in the Ambassador restaurant, diagonally across Blythswood Square from Madeline Smith's home in the 70's and we were regularly accosted by young and old ladies of the night. Their range stretched from Blythswood Square, down Blythswood Street and Douglas Street onto Holm Street and the Anderston bus station.

[@davidhainey5685]

Keep up the good work, everydays a school day. Did I hear you are a postman?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

You heard correctly. I planned to do it for 6 months after college and now been there 28 years!

[@robhotson4839]

I was really hoping to learn more about number 2 and 4 Blythswood Square, now the Head Office of Chivas Brothers.

[@janetmackinnon3411]

We had our wedding lunch in the RSAC, oh, a long time ago!

[@heresjohnny2969]

Hi could you do one on Ruchill I have never been able to find anything other than the hospital would like to know like the one you did on Maryhill

[@Kal-Elvin]

Informative and well put together video. We would go up there as weans to …well you prob know why 😊

[@munnjean]

There certainly were some very fine " working ladies " in the Blythswood Square area in the early '70s.

[@PaganAbroad]

Thanks!

[@warchristukhc]

Hi, loving the channel. Was wondering, could you do something on the old Parliamentary Road, I've tried to trace any remains but I'm unsure.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks and Im really glad you are enjoying my videos. Not much trace of Parliamentary road these days as its almost all under the Buchanan galleries now but I will put it on the list.

[@Kal-ir9ze]

ECTO 1 👏👏👏

[@euanspeirs9345]

I remember visiting the square about 1940 to see a Junkers 88 Dive Bomber which had been brought down only lightly damaged and put on display inside the garden area. We were allowed to go inside, which was a great thrill for a young boy. It may have been brought down on the river Forth raid but my memory is too vague to confirm this. Perhaps you may be able to find more details. Some info can be found on Google. Enjoy your Glasgow ramblings.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Just looked it up and sure enough there is a Glasgow Herald article about it with a small picture. Thanks for the tip.

[@crazeeejoe]

cheers bud.

[@PaulEcosse]

Excellent stuff. Have you seen the old black n white movie 'Madeleine' (1950)? Which is about Smith and L'Angelier. It shows it age, but it's a a bit of fun if you are interested in the case, and the court scenes give a good idea of what it would have been like in the High Court at that time. Jenny at Random Scottish History did a very in-depth investigation in to that and the other murders at that time, recently. Edit: I really should watch the whole video before commenting 😂

[@channel9r]

It's now in Newton Mearns, but in the 1970s Italy had a consulate in Blythswood Square. Even then, it was a dodgy district full of prostitutes and the consulate reflected this. Some students had removed the brass plaque from the front door and the interior reeked of wine and parties. Squaters lived on the second floor and the place did little to promote the good name of Italy.

[@Delboy219]

Think I saw you in the wild today bro. Gower Street near Munch?

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Unless you saw me driving it probably wasn't me. I'm at a first aid course today in Springburn.

[@Delboy219]

Bloody doppelgänger confusing me. Glad i didn't say anything to the bloke.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Probably the most offensive thing you could have done is tell somebody they look like me. Poor guy.

[@Delboy219]

😂😂😂

[@ayeright]

Aye

[@lisalaine4478]

In the post war era, Blythswood Square also became notorious as a place where prostitution could be found. This was well known in Glasgow, so I'm not sure if this is common knowledge today, since you didn't mention it, or perhaps considered it indelicate, but it certainly added to the more salacious aspects of this area and its reputation at that time.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

As I said, if you know Glasgow you know what the square is known for 😉 I just chose to talk about its less well known stories.

[@fabianmckenna8197]

Lived in West Campbell Street in the 60's as kids where we used to hang around watching the male and female prostitutes play their trade from Blythswood Square all the way down to Argyle Street. Extra work areas were created with the arrival of the Anderston bus station and just to make it interesting, we also had six pubs on our block as well as lodging houses in Holm Street.

[@DarrenRFC]

Mad how you could go to a drugist and casually buy arsenic😂

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Part of Madeleine's defence in court was that the arsenic was for her own use as a make up ingredient. Sounds like a deadly way to look good and maybe kissing a girl on the wrong bit of her face would see you in an early grave.

[@dk6816]

I tried to leave a wee gift don't like going through the Google thing, it may help to have a PayPal link

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you very much for trying. Im not massively keen on the super thanks myself as google take a good cut out of it. I have plans for the future so I hope you will subscribe and hang around for more details. There are also updates over on the facebook and instagram pages when I have time to share them and thank you for watching and getting in touch.