The old meat market; Astonishing Glasgow. Ep20

For this episode of Astonishing Glasgow I jump on my bike for the East end to explore the remains and some of the history of Glasgow's old meat market and abattoir.
This is me at episode 20 of my Astonishing Glasgow series so thank you to all those who have watched, liked, shared and subscribed up to now and I look forward to hearing from new subscribers and commenters.
If you want to get in touch, leave a comment here or get in touch via my Facebook and Instagram pages here;
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Thanks again for watching and see you next time in Astonishing Glasgow;
Dave.
#AstonishingGlasgow #Theoldmeatmarket #Eastend #glasgowhistory #Grahamsquare #Dukestreet #Glasgowmeatmarket #Glasgowabattoir #Gallowgate #Battleofgeorgesquare #fortyhourstrike #blackfriday

[@johnharrison8857]

Fascinating memories of the old cattle market….I lived in Bathgate Street from the 1940-60’s and attended Thomson Street Primary School which adjoined Reidvale Street and is now a lovely housing development….from time to time in the 1950’s there would be great excitement for us kids when sheep and cattle escaped from the train at Bellgrove Street Station as they sensed they were going to the slaughter house in the Meat Market….we used to have free access to the market and were allowed to play among the animal pens which were always full….later, as outlined in the episode it became a motorcar auction for many years and provided young and old with great entertainment well into the 70’s and possibly 80’s….Lulu, the Glasgow singing sensation lived in Garfield Street nearby and her father Eddie Lawrie was a “killer” in the Meat Market for many years in the 50’s and 60’s…..

[@ClaimOfRightMuso]

Ah. I too went to Thomson St Primary, having been raised in the Gallowgate in the 1960s. When we were old enough we 'dogged' school and also had a wander round the Meat Market. I've often mentioned to friends that the complete lack of Health & Safety in those days meant we were indeed able just to saunter round the market, observing everything from chock-full cattle pens to bull's eyes lying around to cattle slaughter. It wasn't as shocking as it sounds, it was just the events of our neighbourhood; sheep were initially stunned with electric current before having throat cut, where cattle were shot in the temple whereby they'd collapse in a heap. I still enjoy black pudding to this day but I honestly don't know why. The later Car Market was the first car auction I'd attended as a teenager. We never bought a car but we really enjoyed opening the doors of the cars and sitting inside; instant smell of worn, leather upholstery - unforgettable! I'm 66 now, and wondering if I can gain access to the remaining cattle sheds, just for a last wander round before they do something heinous with them, like turn them into yuppie art rooms or fancy, tit-bit restaurants. Incidentally, nice to see the old Duke Street Hospital building still standing. I had my arm mended there after fracturing it while larking-about in Thomson St school playground. My granda' accompanied me when I went back some weeks later to have the stookie removed; he related a joke that went right over my head at the time but has stayed with me: Patient: "Doctor, can I swim now that my stookie's been removed?" Doctor: "Yes, of courser you can!" Patient: "That's funny - I couldnae swim before!".. (groan...) Cracking video!

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Great memories and thank you for sharing. If you really want a wander around the old sheds, the site is fenced off but when I was there it was easily possible to access the sheds through breaks in the fence on Melbourne street. I dont advise it for obvious (and legal) reasons but it is possible.

[@ClaimOfRightMuso]

@@AstonishingGlasgow Good man! I'm in Paisley now but still go to my dentist in Duke St (shout out to Whitehill Dental Care!) and I'll take a peek there next time.👍

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I take back what I typed in that last comment. I cycled past the meat market today (June 1st 2023) and work has progressed rapidly on the new housing being built around the site. The land is now an active site and no longer accessible, sorry. I missed my chance as well.

[@ClaimOfRightMuso]

@@AstonishingGlasgow Okay, thanks for the heads-up, man. Maybe not such a great idea - I got escorted off the Inchgreen dock premises, by the polis, at Port Glasgow a few years ago and they probably ken me now (It's a fair-cop, Guv).. Had to laugh that day, the security guy (that I, frankly, walked past on way in) shook my hand apologetically on the way out as I was being led by the polis; "Sorry, mate, I saw you on camera and had to make the call".. Anyway, the polis let me go with a warning, Must say, I was on a high as I drove home..

[@cyclesgoff9768]

I remember in the early 60s pre the M8 sitting in the back of the family car making our way back to Lanarkshire after shopping trips. Looking into the market was grimly fascinating. The porters with blood stained white coats and hand barras overloaded with pig carcasses. I’m surprised Morrissey isn’t campaigning for a shrine to be built on the site😱.

[@420somewhereG]

Loved going to the car market in the 90's way my auld dad whos now 80 good times👍🏼

[@Dreaming5]

I’ve never noticed the Abbatoir sign, and I didn’t know about the station specifically for the market!

[@williamyoung7204]

Brilliant channel mate,I know a fair bit aboot glesga but your fillin in a lot that I didney know✌️😎✌️

[@araikid]

At the start of the vid, the bit of railway you can see, they used to unload cattle, pigs, sheep & Tanks here in 1919, there's a ramp on the left side of the that takes you up to Bellgrove street.

[@robertgreig7761]

great video ``worked in the market when i was 16 ``tongs ya bass

[@ClaimOfRightMuso]

Powery ya Spur! 😅

[@colinblack7049]

Brown's had an offal shop on the Gallagate selling the less salubrious parts of the animals, things like tripe and oxtail.

[@walter77ify]

Thanks, very well done and interesting.

[@wboyle9721]

There was a car auction on this site in the 1970s this site has reat potential for the future if used properly for locals

[@GrahamDallas]

All your episodes are really interesting but this one was fascinating. I'm sure others may do but I always pause the video and follow around on Google maps.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks Graham. Im glad you have found a way to follow on Google maps. I would like a way to show the maps better but it tends to really slow down the pace of the video so I try to give an overall view of the area then use street names to make the places easy to find.

[@tesla.coil66]

Enjoyed this as I walked past there yesterday and had no idea of the history. Thanks.

[@neonskyline1]

My Dad was conceived about that time in 1919, they lived on church street Partick, for some strange reason he was born in Edinburgh, wonder what my Grandfather was doing when that stike was on, interesting channel, we might be popping up for the RUSHfest and Sparks in may

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks for letting me know you are coming to Glasgow. This town ain't big enough for the both of us.😄

[@neonskyline1]

@@AstonishingGlasgow haha

[@suzannebrown8087]

My father in law was a killer in the meat market my hubby Alan would would work with his dad urging the school holidays he had great memories of it

[@wojciechturek1601]

Awesome I’ve heard about cars in this place but totally didn’t realise about animal market

[@miaharkness2765]

I'veheard talk of making the sheds into some kind of community spaces Cafe, childcare, doggy daycare. That kind of thing.

[@stevenmcfarlane8831]

Pretty new subscriber. Have you done a video of the actual Tron in the tron gate ? Traders would bring their goods to be weighed at the tron. Also the people that were publicly hanged near by. Statues are interesting also.

[@taxidude]

In my day Graham Square was the motor market. Alex Beith Car Auctions.

[@glasgowdmon]

Enjoyed the video. Hopefully they preserve what is left of the entrances for the new housing development. As for the roofed market area, it would be great if it were used as some out door food/drink location with some heaters. Been to a few of these across Europe and they're always busy, so Glasgow really should be playing catch up.

[@66dunoon69]

Ihad always heard that Marie Lawrie (Lulu) dad worked at the meat market after moving to Dennistour from Lennoxton.

[@tok1964]

I went to school in Thomson street primary and a few times a year you would get some livestock running along the street, making a break for freedom, much to our amusement

[@ailishbethd4033]

Once again, good work👍👍

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks Ailish.

[@colinblack7049]

I've just stumbled on your videos, great content. When I left school back in 1965 my first job was with John Brown (Meat market Ltd) They had a garage in Sydney street. But I worked in fielden street.

[@hettyscetty9785]

Someone needs to make a plaque or something for that bull, or at the very least for the heritage of that site.

[@kimblythe3441]

Love the video, do you have any pictures of the old market when it first opened or the original gate crest? I am using them for a project thanks

[@KellyFrusm]

Congratulations for EP20 ! It'd be fun to have Ep22 on 2/2/2022 :D (but surely a little too close !)

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Might be a bit close for that. Im sure I could make 2 more in that time if it was summer but its not so much fun to go for a cycle in the snow.

[@birdy-numnum6321]

Good on ye mucker! 👏

[@georgedouglaswater8772]

My first job was the meat Market where I met my ex wife in 1978 I was a porter the bandsawer she was office worker. 😁

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I kind of thought we were getting the start of a joke there. "We had to sack the porter for sticking his willy in the bacon slicer" "What did you do with the bacon slicer" "We sacked her too". 😁

[@clonie9963]

I lived opposite the 70s abattoir I could see the cattle going up the ramp and smell the blood some times. I love black pudding 😁

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Oooh, now your talking. Roll and sausage, black pudding and potato scone would go down nicely right now.

[@AD270479]

I had to make sure I was breathing through my mouth & not my nose walking past that place. Even then you could get a whiff of it still. And tbh, I don't think that was just the smell of blood, I think that was the smell of death. Remember the trucks going up the ramp too, couldn't help feel guilty seeing all they wee faces peeking out through the little gap.

[@Delboy219]

I worked in the meat market for a week back in the 90s. Awful job. I was only a wee boy and there was another kid there my age who felt threatened because i started work there. He was cutting too fast and took off a piece of his finger that fell into the box of fresh meat he was working on. Boy left for hospital and i took the box over to the gaffer and told him a bit of the lads finger is in there. Gaffer just laughed and sealed the box and stuck it on a pallet for delivery. I was disgusted. One of the worst jobs ever.

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thanks for getting in touch, that sounds grim. Even from the outside the abattoir looked like a horrible place so inside must have been awful.

[@stephenlemon8270]

Excellent video

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

Thank you Stephen, hopefully more to follow when the weather improves.

[@stevenmcfarlane8831]

Do you know who the paint manufacturer was ? I am a painter and decorator curious to who it was. The manufacturers I knew of in Glasgow were Mathews MacLay and Manson , down in lance field quay. Alexander Ferguson’s in maryhill

[@AstonishingGlasgow]

I dont know any of the business names. I was working from an old map that marked each of the premises with the business type that operated within but none of the company names were listed.

[@albacan]

Glasgow is a city in Scotland, unlike any other.

[@davywatt9367]

Was car auctions for years

[@someoneelse.2252]

The buildings look like a prison.

[@tablettwentytwo1750]

Them coppers look not to be messed with in the Glasgow strike photos. Unlike today's lot, with side sheds and tattoos.....

[@williamblackwell2978]

I’ve enjoyed your posts so far but with this one I see shallow research. A striking example of misrepresentation, the photo of the tank is widely purported to be a tank and troops in the midst of the George Square strikers. In reality it’s from a year earlier, when the “Julian” tank 113 was part of a Glasgow war bond and war savings certificate drive which raised £14 million for the war effort. The photo was debunked by Russell Leadbetter in The Herald (Glasgow) on 18 January 2018.

[@williamblackwell2978]

Don’t want to be negative, as I said I really enjoy your videos, just pointing out a frequently posted fallacy

[@ClaimOfRightMuso]

Yours is also the research I've seen, William, however 'shallow research' is a wee bit harsh, friend. Keep well, both of you.

[@millerctongs]

Early 2000s we would use it as a place to booze and stay away from the coppers, it was always good to roam about old buildings not so many left nowadays. Calton had many of these but the council left them to Rot, like the washy on Stevenson Street or the old school in Mill road street

[@glakiteejit1718]

Corrupt Glasgow council have destroyed all our beautiful historical buildings .. shameful

[@mjm290853]

A contextual sensitive interpretation quote, a very oft used quote by the so called elite, I remember the demolished gorbals and those ludicrous monstrosities high rise buildings, ugly then ugly during their lifetime, and almost certainly never lived in by any of the authors of that quote, garbage replaced with garbage

[@andrewmacaulay9272]

AND NOW ???? WTF ???