Govan

Govan is a district and former burgh in the southwestern part of the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated on the south bank of the River Clyde, just across from Partick. It was an administratively independent Police Burgh from 1864 until it was swallowed up by an ever expanding city of Glasgow in 1912.

20th Century to the Present

Traditionally viewed as a working-class area, Govan has been a hotbed of support for the Labour Party, but the Scottish National Party (SNP) is strong there as well and in 1973 won a by-election with Margo MacDonald as their candidate. The SNP repeated this with another by-election victory in 1988, this time with Jim Sillars as candidate.

Related Topics:
Labour Party - Scottish National Party - 1973 - Margo MacDonald - 1988 - Jim Sillars

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The area has had a reputation for deprivation and poverty, partly due to the Corporation of Glasgow developing housing estates in the 1930s to relieve the overcrowded slum district of The Gorbals, Glasgow. The most famous of these housing estates is Moore Park - more commonly known as "The Wine Alley" which was parodied by the BBC sitcom Rab C. Nesbitt. Govan was used as a setting for Rab C. Nesbitt but very rarely filmed there. In the post-war years, many Govanites were relocated, often reluctantly, from the town to outlying areas such as Pollok, Darnley, Priesthill and Penilee by the Corporation of Glasgow.

Related Topics:
Glasgow - 1930s - Slum - Gorbals - Rab C. Nesbitt - Pollok - Darnley - Priesthill - Penilee

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Govan is home to the popular Scottish junior football team Benburb who play at Tinto Park, Craigton. They share a rivalry with St.Anthony's who hail from the Helen Street district of Govan.

Related Topics:
Benburb - Craigton

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• The local newspaper serving Govan is the "Local News for Southsiders".
• Sir Alex Ferguson, the manager of Manchester United was born and brought up in the area.
• Govan is also home to the depot for the Glasgow Subway system.