Linn Park is an park in
Glasgow, Scotland
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 ...
, surrounded by the suburbs of
Cathcart
Cathcart ( sco, Kithcart, gd, Coille Chart)
is an are ...
,
Muirend
Muirend is an area on the South side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated about 4 miles (6.5 km) south of Glasgow city centre. Muirend became extensively urbanised in the 20th century, developing into a commuter suburb. In a 201 ...
,
Simshill
Simshill is an area of Glasgow, Scotland. It is on the South Side of the city, approximately south of the city centre. Adjacent areas are Cathcart, King's Park, Croftfoot and Castlemilk. Linn Park is to the south-west of Simshill.
The area h ...
, and
Castlemilk
Castlemilk ( gd, Caisteal Mheilc) is a district of Glasgow, Scotland. It lies to the far south of the city centre, adjacent to the Croftfoot and Simshill residential areas within the city to the north-west, the town of Rutherglen - neighbourho ...
, also bordering
Netherlee
Netherlee is a suburban residential area in East Renfrewshire, Scotland. It is situated on the west bank of the White Cart Water about 4 miles (6.5 km) south of Glasgow city centre. Part of the Greater Glasgow conurbation, it is mostly cont ...
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 ...
. It is Glasgow's third largest park, after
Pollok Country Park
Pollok Country Park is a country park located between Shawlands, Crossmyloof, and Pollok in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2007, Pollok Country Park was named Britain's Best Park, and in 2008 it was named the Best Park in Europe, beating competition fro ...
and
Dams to Darnley Country Park
Dams to Darnley Country Park is a 1350 acre country park in East Renfrewshire and Glasgow, in Scotland comprising the historic greenspace between the towns of Barrhead and Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire, and the areas of Darnley, Parkhouse an ...
, although Dams to Darnley is half in East Renfrewshire. Both Linn and Pollok parks have the
White Cart Water
The River Cart ( sco, River Cairt) is a tributary of the River Clyde, Scotland, which it joins from the west roughly midway between the towns of Erskine and Renfrew and opposite the town of Clydebank.
The River Cart itself is very short, being f ...
flowing through them. Some areas in the park are unsuitable for prams and the infirm.
History and features
The park was acquired by
Glasgow Corporation
The politics of Glasgow, Scotland's largest city by population, are expressed in the deliberations and decisions of Glasgow City Council, in elections to the council, the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament.
Local government
As one o ...
in 1919 and incorporated within the city boundaries in 1938. It was originally part of the lands of Hagtonhill and several others owned by the
Maxwell family, who were extensive local landowners based at
Pollok House
Pollok House, formerly the family seat of the Stirling-Maxwell family, is located at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland (which also houses the Burrell Collection).
Overview
The house, built in 1752 and originally thought to be designed ...
.
[ The park is managed by Glasgow City Council and there is an active ''Friends of Linn Park'' group.
The remains of ]Cathcart Castle
Cathcart Castle was a 15th-century castle, located in what is now Linn Park in the Cathcart area of southern Glasgow, Scotland. The castle was abandoned in the 18th century, and the remaining ruins were pulled down in 1980, leaving only founda ...
are situated at the northern end of the park. The castle was built by the first Lord Cathcart around 1450 and added to the park in 1927. It was demolished in 1980 after lying derelict for a long period.
The park contains a large mansion, Linn House, which was originally built c. 1811 for Rev. James Hall, who a short time later became bankrupt resulting in the house and estate being put up for auction on behalf of the creditors. James Hall's wife, Mary Maxwell, separately owned adjacent land at Bogton which was the subject of a legal action by the creditors against her, which was determined at the Court of Session in January 1814. The mansion and surrounding estate was sold again in 1820, by which time the familiar cast iron "Ha'penny Bridge" (now a Category B listed structure
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
) was in place.
A new mansion house was then constructed in the 1820s and extended in the 1850s, the architect being Charles Wilson. The name "Linn" refers to the waterfall on the river[Mill Dam, Cathcart (Glasgow School of Art Archives, 1890s)]
''The Glasgow Story'' and old maps show that the title pre-dates the development of the mansion house, which was converted to four private homes in 2007 after lying derelict for some time.
The park offers woodland and river walks. There is also an equestrian centre, an orienteering course, an 18-hole public golf course (bordering the suburb of Castlemilk
Castlemilk ( gd, Caisteal Mheilc) is a district of Glasgow, Scotland. It lies to the far south of the city centre, adjacent to the Croftfoot and Simshill residential areas within the city to the north-west, the town of Rutherglen - neighbourho ...
but accessed from Simshill) - this was once Cathcart Castle Golf Club, this was set out in the 1890s before the Glasgow Corporation purchased the land and the club moved out to their current site near Clarkston in East Renfrewshire in 1924. There are also a couple of children's play areas, one of which is on the opposite bank of the White Cart from the majority of the park's land, directly adjacent to Cathcart Cemetery
Cathcart Cemetery is a cemetery in East Renfrewshire, Scotland, which was opened in 1876 . It is named after the nearby neighbourhood of Cathcart on the southern outskirts of Glasgow, but does not actually fall within the city boundaries, instea ...
. A small area of the park has been made inaccessible by a fence cordoning off an area containing a potentially dangerous landslip.
On the southern edge of the park are Linn Crematorium and Linn CemeteryLinn Cemetery (Mitchell Library, Glasgow Collection, 2004)
''The Glasgow Story'' (accessed from Castlemilk, where there is also a small
industrial estate
An industrial park (also known as industrial estate, trading estate) is an area zoned and planned for the purpose of industrial development. An industrial park can be thought of as a more "heavyweight" version of a business park or office park, ...
named after the park).
References
External links
Linn Park (guide and map)– Glasgow City Council
Linn Park et alia loca(walkers' guide to flora and fauna)
{{Parks and gardens in Glasgow
Parks and commons in Glasgow