Westmuir Street was the main thoroughfare in the old Parkhead village, which had around 500 inhabitants who made their living from weaving and coal mining.
It was laid out on the ancient lands of Shettleston, which was made up of three distinct parts: Eastmuir, Middle Quarter, and Westmuir. In 1831, the villagers formed the Parkhead and Westmuir Economical Society, an early forerunner of the co-operative movement, using their collective funds to buy food for their members. A plaque commemorating the society can be seen on the tenement at number 64.
In 1869, Parkhead Barony Sessional School was opened, and following the 1872 Education Act, it was extended in 1879 to become Parkhead Primary School, with fourteen new classrooms added. One of the early headmasters of the school
was nicknamed ‘Corky’ by pupils on account of his cork artificial leg. There were two churches on Westmuir Street; the now-gone Parkhead East Church at Sorby Street was built in 1878 and has been replaced by a housing development. Still open is Parkhead
Congregational Church, which was founded in 1863 in the weavers’ Beaming Room at Shinty Ha’ on Tollcross Road with three teachers and twenty scholars.
The present church dates from 1879, with halls added in 1911; it still plays an important part within the Parkhead community. One of the most distinctive buildings is the Watson Tenement at numbers 1 to 15, built in 1905, which includes busts of family members at first-floor level. Next door at number 17 stands the premises of grocers WH Wylie with Wylie Hall above, which was used as a venue for weddings, socials, and Irish dancing. There were numerous pubs along its length, but one perhaps deserves special mention: the Neuk, known locally as the ‘Daft Shop’. It had peever beds painted on the floor, and one of the locals reputedly would bring his horse in for a pint of beer.
Westmuir Street is possibly best remembered for the wide range of shops around Parkhead Cross of every kind, with many nationwide high street names with a presence such as gents’ outfitters John Temple, Claude Alexander, City Cash Tailors, Boots the Chemist, and Woolworths. Other familiar names include SCWS, Terley’s, Galbraiths, Hosiery Manufacturers, Curley’s, Alex Munro butchers, Gall & Co, Templetons, as well as
numerous Independent shops including newsagents, hardware stores, wallpaper stores, opticians, fruit shops and butchers.
Many will remember going to Green’s bakers for hot rolls or popping into the Coffee Cup for some refreshment. At the eastern end of Westmuir Street is Beardmore Park, laid out in 2006 on a 2.3-acre site with amenities for children. A steam hammer from Parkhead Forge serves as a reminder of the industrial history of the district.
Thanks to Peter Mortimer for the article and Duncan McCallum for the photographs.
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