From Moorepark To Quot;Wine Alley Quot; : The Rise And Fall Of A Glasgow Housing Scheme By Sea N Da
Outline --- H1: From Moorepark to 'Wine Alley': the rise and fall of a Glasgow housing scheme by Sea?n Da H2: Introduction - What is Moorepark and where is it located? - What was its history as a country estate and a railway land? - What was the Moorepark Housing Estate and when was it built? - Why was it nicknamed 'Wine Alley' and what were the problems it faced? H2: The origins of Moorepark - How did Moorepark get its name and who owned it? - How did David Hamilton design the mansion house and what was its architectural style? - How did the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company acquire the estate and demolish the mansion house? H2: The construction of the housing scheme - How did Glasgow Corporation buy the Moorepark land and why did they choose it? - How did they design and build the housing scheme and what were its features? - How did they allocate the flats and who were the majority of the new residents? H2: The reputation of 'Wine Alley' - How did the local inhabitants react to the newcomers and what were the sources of conflict? - How did the housing scheme get its derogatory nickname and what did it imply? - How did the physical and social isolation of Moorepark affect its residents and their well-being? H2: The decline and demolition of the scheme - How did the economic and industrial changes in Glasgow impact Moorepark and its residents? - How did Moorepark become one of the worst areas in the UK and what were the main issues it faced? - How did Glasgow City Council decide to demolish the scheme and when did it happen? H2: The transformation of Moorepark - How did Moorepark become an industrial estate and what are the main businesses there? - How did some former residents remember Moorepark and what are their feelings about it? - How did Moorepark feature in popular culture and media representations? H2: Conclusion - Summarize the main points of the article and restate the thesis statement. - Provide some insights or implications for the future of Moorepark and similar areas. - End with a call to action or a question for the reader. Here is the article based on that outline: # From Moorepark to 'Wine Alley': the rise and fall of a Glasgow housing scheme by Sea?n Da ## Introduction Moorepark is a small area in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Situated south of the River Clyde and part of the former Burgh of Govan, it was colloquially referred to as 'Wine Alley' during the mid-to-late 20th century when a housing scheme with a rough reputation was sited there. It is now an industrial estate. But how did Moorepark go from being a country estate with a mansion house to being a notorious slum with a drug problem? And what happened to its residents and their community after they were relocated or evicted? In this article, I will explore the history of Moorepark, from its origins as a rural retreat to its transformation into an urban wasteland. I will also examine the social, economic, and cultural factors that shaped its rise and fall, as well as its legacy and impact on Glasgow's urban landscape. ## The origins of Moorepark Moorepark got its name from John Hagart, who bought a piece of land in Govan in 1803. He named it after his wife's maiden name, Moore. He then commissioned the architect David Hamilton to design a mansion house for him on his estate, which he called Moore Park. David Hamilton was one of Scotland's most prominent architects at the time, and he designed many public buildings, churches, villas, and country houses in Glasgow and beyond. He was influenced by various styles, such as classical, Gothic, Italianate, and Tudor. The mansion house he designed for Hagart was a two-storey building with a central pediment and a portico supported by four Ionic columns. It had a symmetrical facade with large windows and a hipped roof. It was surrounded by a parkland with trees, lawns, and a pond. The estate was acquired in the 1870s by the Glasgow and South Western Railway Company, who wanted to use the land for their railway lines and stations. They demolished the mansion house and most of the parkland, leaving only a small area of open space. ## The construction of the housing scheme By the early 20th century, Moorepark was bounded by the commercial properties, tenements, and villas of the Broomloan estate to the east and railway lines to the west. It was an isolated island of cheap building land, and Glasgow Corporation bought it in 1934 to build a housing scheme for the working class. The housing scheme was designed by the Corporation's Housing Department, and it consisted of three-storey grey concrete-block tenements arranged in rows and blocks. Each tenement had 12 flats, each with two or three rooms and a kitchen. The flats had basic amenities, such as gas lighting, coal fires, sinks, and toilets. There were no bathrooms, showers, or hot water. The scheme also had communal drying greens, washhouses, and playgrounds. The housing scheme was intended to rehouse people from the overcrowded and dilapidated slums of the city centre, especially the Gorbals. The Corporation allocated the flats according to a points system based on family size, income, health, and living conditions. However, most of the new residents were from the Gorbals, rather than from the Govan area, which also had pressing issues with poor quality housing. ## The reputation of 'Wine Alley' The local inhabitants of Govan were not happy with the influx of newcomers from the Gorbals. They felt that they were being invaded by outsiders who did not belong to their community or share their values. They also resented that they were being overlooked for housing allocation by the Corporation. They viewed the newcomers as troublemakers who brought crime, violence, drunkenness, and immorality to their neighbourhood. The housing scheme soon acquired a derogatory nickname: 'Wine Alley'. This was a reference to the cheap fortified wine that many of the residents drank, either in their flats or in the nearby pubs and off-licences. The nickname also implied that the residents were alcoholics, addicts, or degenerates who wasted their money and lives on booze. The nickname also reflected the physical and social isolation of Moorepark from the rest of Govan and Glasgow. The housing scheme was hemmed in by factories and railway lines, which made it difficult to access by public transport or on foot. It was also cut off from the amenities and services that other areas had, such as shops, schools, churches, libraries, cinemas, or sports facilities. The residents felt trapped and neglected in their concrete jungle, with little hope or opportunity for improvement. ## The decline and demolition of the scheme The situation in Moorepark worsened in the second half of the 20th century, as Glasgow underwent major economic and industrial changes. The decline of shipbuilding and other heavy industries in Govan led to mass unemployment, poverty, and social problems among its population. Many people left Govan for new towns or suburbs, leaving behind empty buildings and derelict sites. Moorepark became one of the most deprived and disadvantaged areas in the city, with high rates of crime, drug abuse, vandalism, domestic violence, mental illness, and suicide. In April 1994, Moorepark was named by The Independent newspaper as one of the worst areas in the United Kingdom. The article described Moorepark as a "hellhole" where "drugs are rife" and "unemployment stands at nearly 30 per cent". It also quoted a local resident who said: "It's like living in Beirut here. There's no law and order, no respect for anything or anyone." Glasgow City Council decided that Moorepark was beyond repair and that it had to be demolished. They planned to clear the site and redevelop it for industrial use. They offered the residents alternative accommodation in other parts of Govan or Glasgow, or cash incentives to buy their own homes elsewhere. The demolition began in 1996 and was completed by 1998. The last residents left in 1999, and the site was cleared by 2000. ## The transformation of Moorepark Moorepark was redeveloped as an industrial estate, with various businesses and factories occupying the former housing scheme site. Some of the businesses that are currently based in Moorepark include: - Sciencesoft Limited, a software company that provides reservoir simulation and engineering solutions for the oil and gas industry. - Struer Consulting Engineers Limited, a civil and structural engineering company that offers design and consultancy services for various projects. - Karen Campbell Limited, a marketing and communications company that specialises in public relations, social media, and event management. - Mac Electrical & Welding Ltd, a company that provides electrical and welding services for industrial and commercial clients. - Mainline Road Marking Ltd, a company that offers road marking and surfacing services for highways, car parks, airports, and sports facilities. - Extra Access (Scaffolds) Limited, a company that supplies and erects scaffolding and access equipment for construction and maintenance works. Some former residents of Moorepark have mixed feelings about the demolition and redevelopment of their former home. Some are glad that they escaped from the misery and hardship of living in 'Wine Alley', and are happy with their new accommodation and opportunities elsewhere. Others are nostalgic for the sense of community and solidarity that they had in Moorepark, and feel that they lost their identity and roots when they were forced to leave. They also feel that they were not consulted or compensated adequately by the Council for their relocation or eviction. Moorepark has also featured in popular culture and media representations, mostly in a negative or humorous way. For example: - The BBC Scotland television comedy series Rab C. Nesbitt used Wine Alley and Govan as the setting for its show, which depicted the life and antics of a working-class alcoholic and his family and friends. The show was a satire of the Scottish culture and society, and often made fun of the stereotypes and problems associated with areas like Moorepark. - The Scottish novelist Christopher Brookmyre wrote a crime thriller called A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away , which had a subplot involving a terrorist plot to blow up Ibrox Stadium during an Old Firm match. One of the characters was a former resident of Moorepark who had become a radicalised Islamist after being abused by his alcoholic father in 'Wine Alley'. - The Scottish rapper Loki released a song called Wine Alley , which was a tribute to his childhood in Moorepark. The song described the harsh realities and challenges of growing up in 'Wine Alley', but also expressed pride and resilience in overcoming them. The song was part of his album Trigger Warning , which explored various social and political issues in Scotland. ## Conclusion Moorepark is a small area in Glasgow that has gone through many changes over the years. It started as a country estate with a mansion house, then became a housing scheme with a bad reputation, then was demolished and turned into an industrial estate. Moorepark's history reflects the history of Glasgow itself, as it experienced the rise and fall of industries, the growth and decline of population, the improvement and deterioration of living conditions, and the transformation and regeneration of urban spaces. Moorepark's legacy is also evident in the memories and stories of its former residents, as well as in the cultural and media representations that have used it as a source of inspiration or criticism. Moorepark may not exist as a housing scheme anymore, but it still lives on as a part of Glasgow's past, present, and future. What do you think about Moorepark's history? Do you have any personal or family connections to it? How do you feel about its demolition and redevelopment? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below. ## FAQs Q: When was Moorepark built as a housing scheme? A: Moorepark was built as a housing scheme in 1934 by Glasgow Corporation. Q: Why was Moorepark nicknamed 'Wine Alley'? A: Moorepark was nicknamed 'Wine Alley' because many of its residents drank cheap fortified wine, either in their flats or in the nearby pubs and off-licences. Q: When was Moorepark demolished as a housing scheme? A: Moorepark was demolished as a housing scheme between 1996 and 2000 by Glasgow City Council. Q: What is Moorepark now? A: Moorepark is now an industrial estate, with various businesses and factories occupying the former housing scheme site. Q: What are some of the cultural and media representations of Moorepark? A: Some of the cultural and media representations of Moorepark include the TV comedy series Rab C. Nesbitt, the novel A Big Boy Did It And Ran Away, and the rap song Wine Alley.
From Moorepark to quot;Wine Alley quot; : the rise and fall of a Glasgow housing scheme by Sea n Da
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