Bearsden

Bearsden (pronounced "Bears' den") is a town in the northwestern outskirts of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is approximately five miles (eight kilometres) from central Glasgow and is located at {{coor dm|55|55|N|04|21|W|}} on the site of the Roman Antonine Wall. Though once an independent Burgh, Bearsden is now one of the main towns under the jurisdiction of East Dunbartonshire Council, along with Bishopbriggs, Kirkintilloch, Lennoxtown and Milngavie.

History

Roman

The first known settlement on the site of present-day Bearsden was a 2.5 acre (10,000 m²) Roman fort that existed for 20 years in the second century AD. This fort was built on the course of the Antonine Wall and The Military Way, a road that ran parallel to the south of the wall. Indeed, the Castlehill area of Bearsden is so-called due to its proximity to the fort. Little of the fort remains to be seen today. However, close to the fort was a Roman bath-house, built in approximately 142–143 AD. The bath-house's remains were discovered by builders digging foundations for a housing development, in 1973 and today lie well-preserved 150 metres from the town centre.

Related Topics:
Roman - Fort - AD - Antonine Wall - Roman bath-house - 142 - 143 - 1973

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17th century to 19th century

Modern Bearsden began in an agricultural area as a small hamlet called New Kirk, adjacent to Canniesburn Toll, a water mill at Garscube, and the New Kilpatrick Church, which was first built in 1649. The present-day church was built in 1808. The settlement grew in the middle of the nineteenth century when Glaswegian businessmen built houses at a short distance from the city. As a result, the town centre is mainly Victorian and also lies in the Old Bearsden Conservation Area. In 1863, the Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Railway opened, with a station at New Kirk called Bearsden. This soon became the name of the community.

Related Topics:
1649 - 1808 - Nineteenth century - Victorian - 1863

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20th century

Bearsden continued to expand in the twentieth century as residents built large independently-designed villas, estates of bungalows, and other types of houses. Most buildings are of stone. Few sites are now left unoccupied. In 1958, Bearsden became a Burgh, though this was then succeeded by Bearsden & Milngavie District Council in 1975, and East Dunbartonshire Council in 1996.

Related Topics:
Twentieth century - Bungalows - 1958 - 1975 - 1996

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