Arden is a medium-sized
housing estate
A housing estate (or sometimes housing complex or housing development) is a group of homes and other buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country.
Popular throughout the United States a ...
on the south-western edge of the city of
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, Scotland. The
M77 motorway runs directly to the west of the neighbourhood, with Junction 3 serving the area; a small
industrial estate is located to the south-east (this falls within Glasgow although is named after the neighbouring settlement of
Thornliebank
Thornliebank ( Scots: ''Thonliebank'', Scottish Gaelic: ''Bruach nan Dealgan'') is a suburban area in East Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, it is located on the Auldhouse Burn about s ...
in
East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire ( sco, Aest Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù an Ear) is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. Until 1975, it formed part of the county of Renfrewshire for local government purposes along with the modern council areas of ...
). The residential area of
Carnwadric is to the north-east of Arden, and the
Jenny Lind
Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and a ...
part of
Deaconsbank to the south, while the land to the north is open ground (formerly Kennishead Farm) and woodland.
History
Historically, Arden was a farm and formed part of
Sir John Maxwell
''Sir'' is a formal honorific address in English for men, derived from Sire in the High Middle Ages. Both are derived from the old French "Sieur" (Lord), brought to England by the French-speaking Normans, and which now exist in French only as p ...
's land, one of approximately seven adjoining holdings which were situated on ancient Stewart land, originally granted to
Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland
Walter Stewart (G. W. S. Barrow, ‘Stewart family (per. c.1110–c.1350)’, ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004.9 April 1327) was the 6th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland and was the father of King Rob ...
by
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
upon his marriage to
Marjorie Bruce
Marjorie Bruce or Marjorie de Brus (c. 12961316 or 1317) was the eldest daughter of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the only child born of his first marriage with Isabella of Mar.
Marjorie's marriage to Walter, High Steward of Scotland, g ...
, the King's eldest daughter. Arden is near
Thornliebank
Thornliebank ( Scots: ''Thonliebank'', Scottish Gaelic: ''Bruach nan Dealgan'') is a suburban area in East Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. Part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, it is located on the Auldhouse Burn about s ...
, a village formed on the river to manufacture cloth and a specialized printing of cloth known as
beetling; Thornliebank linen was quite famous from the early-nineteenth century until the closure of the mill, in or around 1920. The building adjoining part of what is now Arden was used as a Prisoner of War (POW) camp during the
Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
The S.S.H.A (Scottish Special Housing Association) built the estate (consisting mostly of four-storey
tenements with a common close entrance) between 1953 and 1957 to rehouse families from the old, overcrowded inner city tenements. Arden became very run-down during the 1970s and 1980s, with grants made for its refurbishment. It is not quite completed but is much improved. The shopping area containing around six businesses is in immediate need of investment and refurbishment. In 1999, the estate was bought by ''Glen Oaks Housing Association'' for a rumoured £6 million but the association has since acknowledged this may have been a rather inflated sum, and they have struggled to make necessary repairs as they are funded only by rents.
Amenities
Arden became the first housing scheme to have a public house (The Cuillins) privately built in 1964-5 which then became a brewery pub in 1968.
Arden boasts the new
Ashpark Primary School
Arden is a medium-sized housing estate on the south-western edge of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The M77 motorway runs directly to the west of the neighbourhood, with Junction 3 serving the area; a small industrial estate is located to the sout ...
which opened on 2 December 2008 and replaced the former Arden Primary School and Carnwadric Primary School. The second school, St. Louise Primary was merged with the newly rebuilt St. Vincent's Primary in
Carnwadric, St. Louise's closed in June 2009 and the buildings subsequently demolished.
The nearest railway station is , named after another of Sir John Maxwell's farms.
In popular culture
Arden featured in the documentary programme ''
Colin and Justin on the Estate'' which looked at the efforts to improve the area. Some of the current and former residents of Arden, were concerned about the slant of the show, and were particularly annoyed by the fact that the producers of the show concentrated their attention on housing units that were scheduled for demolition and not on housing that had seen extensive and successful renovation. Alasdair McKee, Glen Oaks chief executive, concluded however, that the program was a success and "the improvements have helped to convince people that we can make a difference" and contributed to a waiting list of people wanting to get into the estate.
Social deprivation
Over the years, the area has gained a reputation as a well documented centre of social deprivation, particularly the southern area near Nitshill Road. The life expectancy for males in this part of the city is around 60 years, as a result of the 'Glasgow effect'.
Gallery
File:Glasgow. Arden. Housing estate. Kyleakin Road.jpg, Housing. 95-97 Kyleakin Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Housing estate. Carnwadric Road.jpg, Housing. Carnwadric Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Housing estate. 1 Kilmiur Road.jpg, Housing. 1 Kilmiur Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Housing estate. 72 - 74 Kyleakin Road.jpg, Housing. 72-74 Kyleakin Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Polish Shop "Varsovia". 9 Kilmaluag Terrace.jpg, Polish Shop "Varsovia". 9 Kilmaluag Terrace.
File:Glasgow. Arden. View from Kyleakin Road to the shops between Kilmaluag Terrace and Kyleakin Road.jpg, Shops between Kilmaluag Terrace and Kyleakin Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Grocery store. 59 Kyleakin Road.jpg, Grocery store. 59 Kyleakin Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Cuillins Bar. 51 - 53 Kyleakin Road.jpg, Cuillins Bar. 51-53 Kyleakin Road.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Playground. Bench. Kilmuir Crescent.jpg, Playground. Bench. Kilmuir Crescent.
File:Glasgow. Arden. Arden Community Hall. 7 Kilmuir Drive.jpg, Arden Community Hall. 7 Kilmuir Drive.
Notes and references
External links
*
D.A.C.K. Community Council
{{Areas of Glasgow
Housing estates in Glasgow
Areas of Glasgow