Pollok House
If you read this blog, you will know I spend time visiting places of historical interest and like to flag them up. I’m not going to give you a potted history of these locations as you can easily look up the background online if you are interested to find out more. I like to signpost their existence as it’s part of what I do and this blog is a diary of sorts. These places are far better documented elsewhere, so no need for me to repeat that information. If you research these places, you will discover a huge amount of interesting and entertaining snippets, so I can recommend spending time delving into Scottish history and the artefacts that have been preserved for us to enjoy today. All I do here is highlight some of the things I find of interest and what my impressions are.
Pollock House in Glasgow shut in November due to refurbishment, and will remain closed for two years, so it has been on my list to visit. It’s set in Pollock Park, which is a wonderful open space. You can get up close to Highland Coos here and for that alone it’s worth going along. The park won Best Park in Europe in 2008. Pollock House itself was started in 1747, is fully furnished and was lived in until the mid twentieth century. It is not a ruin, but it does need some work to maintain it for future generations hence the closure. It was occupied up until 1966, and at this point the Glasgow City Council took over the running.
I’m a big fan of Grandfather clocks and I’m always excited to see them. There are a couple of examples in the house and I’m hoping next year to gather all the images I have and post them here. The astronomical longcase from 1764 is a marvellous example of Scottish clockmaking and I love the detail that adorns the clockface.
There is a library which is considered to be one of the finest in Scotland, consisting of 7000 volumes. I could have spent all day in here. You very much feel you have stepped back in time.
I love art and paintings and it’s worth pointing out that Pollock House still has twelve paintings which came from the Galerie Espagnole, created in the Louvre, opening in 1838. This holding from the gallery is the largest in the world after the Art Gallery in Dresden. Who would have thought this was available to view within a park in the middle of Glasgow in Scotland.
The Fiction Factory 