East End Streets: Names with a Past

Have you ever wondered why or how streets are given certain names? They can be derived from many sources, including land ownership, military battles, civic figures, watercourses, companies, and more. Here are some examples:

Marne Street, Dennistoun:

Named after the Battle of the Marne during the First World War. It was originally known as Kaizer Street, which was thought to be unpatriotic at the time. (German biscuits were renamed Empire biscuits for the same reason).

Dale Street, Calton:

Named after David Dale, who lived here. He was a weaver, merchant, and social reformer, and he founded New Lanark Mill.

Barrack Street, Calton:

Named after the military barracks built in 1795 to house 1,000 soldiers. The site is now occupied by Morrisons supermarket.

Templeton Street, Calton:

Originally known as William Street, it was renamed after local carpet manufacturers James Templeton & Son. Other streets similarly named include Tullis Street and Arrol Place.

Molendinar Street, Calton:

Named after the Molendinar Burn, which flows out of Hogganfield Loch. Camburn Street in Carntyne takes its name from the Camlachie Burn.

Tennyson Drive, Tollcross:

Named after Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate from 1850.

Mountainblue Street, Barrowfield:

Named after the Blue Mountains of Jamaica by William Lyons, owner of the Barrowfield Potteries, who also owned sugar plantations in Jamaica.

Franklin Street, Bridgeton:

Named after Benjamin Franklin, statesman, scientist, and philosopher.

Muslin Street, Bridgeton: A reference to the weaving trade, which thrived in the east end. Other weaving-related names include Pirn Street.

French Street, Bridgeton: Previously known as Papillon Street, named after Pierre Jacques Papillon, a French artisan who came to Bridgeton to teach local weavers the Turkey Red dyeing process.

Tullis Street, Bridgeton:

Originally known as John Street, but later renamed after the local firm John Tullis & Son.

Society Street, Gallowgate:

Named after the Camlachie Old Friendly Society, established in 1772.

Olympia Street, Bridgeton:

Originally Charles Street, it was renamed after the adjacent Olympia Theatre, which opened in 1910 and later became a cinema.

Dalmarnock Road, Dalmarnock: D

erived from Gaelic, meaning “meadow or plain abounding in bent and iris.”

Soho Street, Mile End:

Named after the London district of the same name. In the 19th century it became fashionable to replicate names from the capital. Other Glasgow examples include Cheapside Street and Charing Cross.

Spoutmouth, Calton:

Named after four springs that were directed into one spot, providing a well for locals.

Queen Mary Street, Bridgeton:

Laid out on the site of Barrowfield House, where Mary, Queen of Scots, is said to have once spent a night.

Melbourne Street, Gallowgate:

Named to honour William Lamb, Viscount Melbourne, who was Prime Minister from 1835 to 1841. Nearby Sydney Street was named after Thomas Townshend,

1st Viscount Sydney.

Parsonage Square, Calton:

Named in recognition of Ben Parsonage of the Glasgow Humane Society, based at Glasgow Green. He rescued drowning persons from the River Clyde and other watercourses around the city.

Whitby Street, Parkhead:

Originally known as Sir James Thompson Drive, it was renamed Winston Street to honour Winston Churchill, whose wife Clementine Hozier was the daughter of the local landowner. It later became Whitby Street, in tribute to the Yorkshire town that was shelled by the German Navy during the First World War.