Barrowfield

History

Being an area of working class housing enclosed by main roads and railway lines, Barrowfield consequently developed a distinctive character. The original 1930s council housing scheme flats (built to accommodate those cleared from Glasgow's 19th century slums in nearby areas such as Camlachie) became increasingly hard to let and were demolished in the 2000s to make way for more appealing houses. A small section of the original tenements remain around the junction of Law Street and Overtown Street, though extensively refurbished.

In the 1950s, the area changed from a working-class neighbourhood like most other areas of the city to being a place renowned for its gangs, namely "The Torch" and "The Spur" whose territory was respectively located at the north and south ends of the main thoroughfare; Each terrorised the other's patch, and the area was so violent that the fighting diminished in the 1980s only because the gang leaders realised that dealing in drugs was more profitable. Unfortunately for the community, this meant the scheme had hundreds of drug abusers from all over Glasgow coming to the area to buy their "gear". Barrowfield therefore has a high mortality rate amongst the youth, largely due to drug abuse and suicide. In the early 21st century the area underwent a massive revamp, In 2009, the data zone covering the neighbourhood was classed as the most deprived in Scotland.

Footballer James McArthur and actor Paul Brannigan{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/the-angels-share-star-paul-brannigan-1128858

Sport

A historic football stadium called Barrowfield Park was the home ground of Clyde between 1877 and 1898 prior to their move to Shawfield Stadium, and also hosted matches for Eastern and Albatross. However, the ground was actually in the city's Dalmarnock neighbourhood, taking its name from the historic Barrowfield rural estate which once occupied much of the wider area.

For many years, Celtic conducted most of their training at a facility to the east of Celtic Park known as Barrowfield, which remained owned and used by the club after moving their main base of operations to Lennoxtown in 2007, and was later redeveloped for use by the women's team and youth academy in the 2020s. This facility is also not within the existing Barrowfield residential area which lies to the west of the stadium. The source of the double naming stems from defunct junior club Bridgeton Waverley who played at a ground named Barrowfield (located approximately at Mountainblue Street today and also named after the historic estate), until the 1930s when that land – along with the Nelson Recreation Ground a few blocks away – was bought over for construction of the new housing scheme of the same name. Waverley relocated to a new site about 3/4 mi east, adjacent to Belvidere Hospital and part of Westthorn Park, and named it 'New Barrowfield'. Celtic later took control of it as their training ground in the early 1960s.

Following the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, international-class sporting facilities can be found within walking distance of Barrowfield: the Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome are in nearby Dalmarnock. The Crownpoint Sports Complex, a modern outdoor athletics track, is also nearby adjacent to St Mungo's Academy.

References

References

1. link. (9 August 2022 , [[Mitchell Library). Virtual Mitchell]]
2. "Barrowfield Housing".
3. [https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/news/glasgow-news/barrowfield-police-incident-man-rushed-17344711 Barrowfield police incident: man rushed to hospital after serious assault], Glasgow Live, 1 December 2019 [image in report depicts refurbished tenements]
4. (20 October 2009). "'I don't see how this area can be the most deprived in Scotland'". SenScot.
5. (18 January 2011). "On a razor's edge: Neds portrays 70s Glasgow in one light, but what was it really like?". The Scotsman.
6. [https://flashbak.com/watch-the-blight-a-wonderful-documentary-on-glasgows-barrowfield-gang-lands-in-1982-3339/ Watch The Blight: A Wonderful Documentary On Glasgow’s Barrowfield Gang Lands In 1982], Flashbak, 30 March 2014
7. (6 January 2008). "Janey Godley: Petrol bomb pensioner shows old gang hatreds die hard". The Scotsman.
8. (28 February 2016). "Two in hospital after shocked Glasgow residents watched men attack each other with knives and a hammer". Daily Record.
9. [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8331748.stm 'Most deprived' areas identified], BBC News, 29 October 2009
10. (26 February 2009). "Family feeling is the secret of success so far for Hamilton". The Herald.
11. [https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2019/september/james-mcarthur-on-life-in-barrowfield-glasgow/ Programme exclusive: McArthur on gritty Glasgow upbringing], [[Crystal Palace FC]] match programme, 1 September 2019
12. [https://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/news/17339859.amp/ Kevin Brannigan: East End drag artist on his battle to make his mark], Evening Times, 7 January 2019
13. "Bridgeton and Dalmarnock Historical Background".
14. "John Orr of Barrowfield". [[University of Glasgow]].
15. "Barrowfield House".
16. [https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12486259.celtic-agree-land-purchase-to-build-new-training-academy/ Celtic agree land purchase to build new training academy], ''The Herald'', 5 July 2005
17. Pattullo, Alan. (19 November 2011). "Training moved to Barrowfield as Lennoxtown suspected of playing a part in rising injury toll". Johnston Publishing.
18. [https://www.urbanrealm.com/news/8108/Celtic_pitch_plans_for_Barrowfield_training_ground_expansion.html Celtic pitch plans for Barrowfield training ground expansion], Urban Realm, 6 June 2019
19. [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48528985 Celtic to redevelop Barrowfield training ground], BBC Sport, 5 June 2019
20. [https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/sport/24135990.celtic-revealed-huge-update-new-training-centre/ Celtic has revealed huge update on new training centre], Ben Waddell, ''Glasgow Times'', 22 February 2024
21. "General view of Bridgeton, Glasgow, facing south-west, 1937 (ground is in bottom centre)". [[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.
22. "General view of Bridgeton, Glasgow, facing north-east, 1933 (ground is in upper right)". RCAHMS - Britain from Above.
23. "View around Belvidere Hospital, Glasgow, facing south-east, 1952 (showing three grounds: Parkhead left centre, Waverley mid centre, Strathclyde bottom centre)". RCAHMS - Britain from Above.
24. "View around Belvidere Hospital, Glasgow, facing east, 1952 (showing three grounds: Parkhead upper centre, Waverley mid right, Strathclyde bottom left)". RCAHMS - Britain from Above.
25. "Junior Football".
26. "Glasgow Club Crownpoint Sports Complex". Glasgow Life.