Cranhill (Glasgow)

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Cranhill is a housing estate in the east end of Glasgow. Like many similar publicly-funded 'schemes', it was built in the early 1950s on the outskirts of the city to alleviate the post-war housing shortage. However, unlike the 'big four' schemes, Easterhouse, Drumchapel, Castlemilk and Pollok, Cranhill was relatively compact

The housing stock consisted mostly of four-storey tenement blocks divided into common 'closes', each with eight flats with the end close in each street called a "T" close with 4 flats. Other types included three tower blocks, locally known as 'the multis', a number of terraced maisonettes and a variety of pseudo sandstone (concrete blocks) four-in-a-block cottage flats.

Most of the flats were typical family accommodation of the time, containing a kitchen, bathroom/toilet, two or three bedrooms and a living room. Many of them had balconies or verandas overlooking the street and all were a vast improvement on living conditions in the old Glasgow slum tenements. For many of the families who moved in, this was their first access to green fields and nearby farms, and the playing areas were paradise compared to the rat-infested back-courts which the children had formerly suffered. Nevertheless, a favourite play area was the 'Sugarolly Mountains', substantial hills made from chemical tailings dumped by the side of the canal on the site now occupied by the high flats (and featured in the lyrics of Jim Diamond). No-one knew what they were made of, but the rainwater puddles were green! Even the canal itself was an attraction, given that the next-nearest 'recreational' water was either at Alexandra Park or Hogganfield Loch

Most of the original housing stock has been demolished to make way for 'back-and-front-door' houses and a private housing scheme and supermarket now occupy the site of the former Cranhill Secondary School. However, the original flats are retained in some of the streets around the Park, as are the shops at Lamlash Cres. A new school is currently under construction on the old St Gregory's RC Secondary site. The Community Centre has been replaced by a children's centre called 'The Beacon'.

Possibly the most famous former residents are Angus Young and brother Malcolm who found stardom after they moved to Australia and formed AC/DC.George Young, the older brother of Angus and Malcolm, first found fame with the 60s group, Easybeats.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cranhill
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   55°51'55"N   4°9'58"W

Comments

  • Lived at 4 Newhaven Road.........if you lived there from 1960 onward, I would like to hear from you.
  • lived at 34 skerryvore road with my wee bro kevin. hung around wi jeff mcdonald and willie podmore. get in touch if you knew me.
  • I LIVED IN BELLROCK STREET WITH MY WEE SISTER LEE AND MY TWO BROTHERS WILLIAM AND ANDREW I WENT TOO CRANHILL SECONDARY SCHOOL I WOULD LOVE TOO HEAR FROM ANYONE WHO LIVED THERE ALSO
  • I was born in the living room at 89 Longstone Rd in 1957. We,(my mother Cathrine, father John, and sisters Helen, Kathleen, Susan,and Rosemary),lived there until the summer of 1966 when my family immegrated to America. I would love to hear from anyone who lived in Cranlhill around that time period or after.
  • I was born and bread in No 2 skerryvore pl 1963 it was a great place to live and grow up,there was nothing wrong with cranhill it only started having problems when glasgow district council started letting problem tennents live there and that is when the decent people started leaving now look what they are left with RIP CRANHILL.
  • Moved into Longstone Road in Feb 1972....38 years on and am still stuck here...
  • I lived no 2 Skerryvore Road,from 1952 facing the water tank for 21 years, played at football and games with the boys and girls from the 3 closes facing the water tank. The Youngs, Brooks, Malroys and my name is Davie Melrose, I lived there with my 3 Brothers and Sister, I went th St Modens and the Greg. As for the Sugies! the amount of dooins I got for playn on them, I lost count ha ha. Has anyone ever questioned what the Sugar mountains where. As the birds never landed on them and nothing ever grew on it. There was a lime green pond at the bottom nxt to the school and the church which looked very alien. But it must have been safe as the council of the time built 3 schools a church and a community centre next to it!!! Any other comments as its a mystery where they dissapeared to after they built the flats on the site.
  • lived at 71 longstone road 1958 to 1960 with my aunt and uncle kitty and jimmy who ran the ice cream vans
  • my mother was the first tennent in Startpoint Street,(Elizabeth McCarter)i was born in No 85`and had a lot of happy memories growing up there, sometimes a tough environment, periodic problems with the gang culture (cody)(bunch of young idiots who were full of unjustified bravado. The pitch and putt course was a fantastic venue for young kids of my generation, and i lost myself in there for hours. As a young lad i , with some mates used to suppliment my pocket money rising at 6am and delivering milk with `Scottish Farmers`, Gemmels the rivals paid more but i did not find a way to get on that run, i also delivered sunday newspapers, and in the summer months, we used to go with guy who worked for the post office in what seemed a huge truck, and help with his deliveries all over the city and probably beyond, delivered back to where we picked him up, and considerably richer for our days labours(this would never happen to-day of course)I also remember scrambles from the various weddings at both churches. Cranhill school used to close in the summer and they used to have foreign exchange students from France/ Germany and Italy all very exotic to our ears and great fun to be with.The school also threw open the swimming pool during the summer months which saved us going to shettleston I also remember playing football in cranhill park , and on a couple of occasions played with Joe and Jimmy Smith and Kenny Aird,Joe was a year younger than me at the time and was a million times more talented, a skill i recognised straight away the first time i played with him, always 3 yards in front and dazzling dribling skills just like his elder brother Jimmy. I had two girlfriends that i still remember to this day, Liz Beacom, and Margaret Robinson but we went our inevitable seperate ways, it`s a shame that the Cranhill that i knew no longer exists, it was a great place to be raised
  • Hi there... Cranhill's 9th most famous resident here... Was born and raised there and left when I was a young man of 19. Special mention to the Cranny's Art Department: Mr. Crawford, Mr. Scouller, Mrs Naismith and Miss Hodge. What a great place to be taught art and design. I have played in a band for a number of years and I am now a freelance Graphic Designer. Cranhill-made and intensely proud of it. Longstone Place was my place. Mandy Moonhausen (AKA Gary Beattie). Bless ye all, mah Cranny Family! x
  • wow - just came across this while reading the news! living in England now, I often read all about the Cranhill I loved and still miss. My parents still live there, being born and bred in Strone Road before moving to Crowlin Cres when I was a teenager. Cranhill Secondary was THE place. The school had more ups than downs. I still think Mr Ingram was the hottest thing on the planet. And Miss Meikle still scares me lmao. Last time I went up to see my parents I was amazed at the differences in the area. Many happy memories from Cranhill......I am proud to be from there.
  • hi i was born & brought up in cranhill, stayed at 32 strone road, then 3 monach rd, then moved out ma pareints to 138 fastnet st, then 48 lamlash crecent, i went to the gregg schoolam proud to be born n bred in cranhill x
  • hi was brought up on Longstone road, left the country in 1966. Went to St Gregory's and hung about with Frances Mcdermott of lamlash cres. Ann Andrews from bellrock st. Jackie Mcevoy from longstone road, Maggie McConnel (Orr)who lived at the bottom end of Longstone Road. Give a yell anyone who grew up on longstone road around the 1960's.
  • Lived at 124 Bellrock street cranhill, went to cranhill sec from around 1964-1969? loved that school. Many good teachers Mr. McLellan (Bryce) geography teacher. Remember Ms Uni (english) she used to call us a bunch of animals as she taought in Africa then came to cranhill............. Now I live in San Diego California for the past almost 40 years, been home to visit glasgow many times cant beat the people and the sense of humor. My sister Jeanette reid went to cranhill 2 years before me and she knew tommy Mackie I used to know Douggie Lees from crowlin crescent above the shops. Jeanette also lives in san diego thank-goodness. Remember some teachers Mr Bryce McLellan, Miss Uni, ms Leicht, Ms Shaw anyone recall me or my sister? We both became teachers also
  • Lived at 10 Strone Road until 1972 when parents relocated to Gantock Crescent. Went to both Milncroft and Cranhill, great days and a fab place to grow up. Teachers Miss Cooper (Drama), Miss Uni (she used to tell us her savages in Africa were better behaved than us as she had been a missionary there). Friday nights at the youth club and Saturday mornings at Rollerina in Dennistoun. Have lived in Jersey CI for 31 years and go back annually with my wee girl but sadly both mum and dad have passed away, still rellies in Garrowhill/Easterhouse though so keen my daughter keeps roots in Glasgow. Wonderful memories of growing up in Cranhill with some great mates.
  • I lived in Bellrock St then moved to 74 Longstone Road early 1960's we lived opposite Kitty and Jimmy the Ice Cream van people. Their son Gerry walked me and my brother Iain to St.Modans primary school. My Mum used to clean for Kitty. We spent many happy times at the canal playing or at the garages or in the street. Happy days
  • Lived at 67 Longstone Road early 1960's just a couple of doors up from Kitty and Jimmy, was a great time by the canal and up at the garages playing football.
  • My aunt and uncle lived on Sumburgh Street.. We used to walk up Starpoint St to Our of Lady of Cabrini church .. Im going back to the 70's
  • My name is john steele the reids I knew were jeanette, marlene reid, jeanette reid, they also had brothers , I knew you all because at that time you used to attend the mormon church in springboig,email address maryhilltravolta@gmail, com
  • Lived at 275 Bellrock street. Left 1962 for Australia. Tina Sankovic(née Currie).
  • Marlene, john steele here, do you remember me? I knew jeanette also your sister elaine and alsomet hour brothers it would be nice to get intouch, my address 108 larch dr east kilbride g75 9hg,
  • We all went to a church in springboig, then your family or some of you moved to riverside st flats pollskshiels i think.hope you willread this and my other comment which has my address, it would also be nice to contact eklaine again, her friend was kathy harkin, who stayed in knights wood,
  • Hi marlene , i knew you your sister jeanette, and also the younger sister elaine, who i had aacrush for, new your brothers john, gary, raymond cant re cant remember the fourth, pleas get in touch it would be great to discuss and have a laugh over old times again, phone numbers can be exchanged,
  • John steele here marilyn, i knew you all jeanette, yourself and elaine, you also had brothrers, would love to get in touch 108 larch drive east kilbride
  • Hi John Steele, off course I remember you "Steelie" I also remember you worked for that engineering company in Clairmont Terrace where my first job was after I left school as an audio typist, then worked at Gresham Hotel as receptionist. Anyway Jeanette & I live in sunny California, Elaine lives in London. Remember Alan Walker? He lived in Utah he past away a few years ago so sad, are you still active in Church? I am I have 2 sons a 35 yr old & a 33 yr old not married this generation! Jeanette has a son & daughter 39 & 30 Elaine has 2 daughters 27 & 25 Boys all still back in Scotland my e-mail address is marlene619@netzero.net keep in touch & Merry Christmas
  • I've lived there in d 80's nice people nice place
  • I will be visiting and would love to take a photo in front of Angus Young's boyhood home. There used to be a photo of it on the internet, but I can't find it anywhere. Can a local point me to the right address?
  • Jeaete, write to this address or apply to email johnsteele 108 larch drive east kilbride g759hg scotland my e mail maryhilltravolta@g mail.com
  • Please get intouch, and we can all communicate
  • Write to my address john steele 108 larch drive east kilbride g759hg scotland or maryhilltravolta@gmail.com it would be nice for us allto communicate
  • Pretty sure Drake Moonhausen is now the most famous ex-resident of Cranhill.
  • Would enjoy hearing from anyone who remembers me Arriaan Lackie, Jean with the red hair whatever happened to everyone?
  • Hi Linda, My name is Marlene Reid Lichtenfeld now my I live in San Diego California but my cousinJoanne Reid Rodrigues lives in Jersey. She has written two books one just released last yr Slim Happy and Free. She is well known in Jersey, and my sister Jeanette lives in S.D also. We were invited to Jersey and had a lovely time my younger sister Elaine lives in England and 4 brothers still in Scotland
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This article was last modified 14 years ago