ROTTENROW - One of Glasgow's Oldest Streets

A brief history of one of Glasgow's oldest streets. The Rottenrow probably came into existence in the early medieval period, at around the same time that Glasgow started growing from the area of the old High Kirk or cathedral and the Bishop's Castle. It once emanated from an ancient mercat cross at the junction of Rottenrow, Kirk Street, Drygate and High Street, and was lined with grand old manses lived in by religious men associated with that High Kirk. Sadly, like too much of Glasgow, not much is left of the Rottenrow. It was largely raised to the ground in the 1960s during a period of comprehensive urban renewal, a fancy name that just means flattening practically everything in sight and replacing it with bland box-like constructions. Which is exactly what happened to the Rottenrow. The University of Strathclyde formally became a university in this period and built over the whole area. Precious little is left of the old Rottenrow, a street once lined with a jumbly mix of solid stone manses, thatched cottages, churches and inns. In addition to being home to religious manses and parts of the early college or university, Rottenrow contained Glasgow's social safety-net, with old folk's homes, hospitals for those with venereal diseases and, of course, the world-famed Royal Maternity Hospital. Which is where I was born. And chances are, given that an estimated half-a-million babies were born there, you were probably one of them too. #glasgow #glasgowhistory #scotlandhistory #scottishheritage #scottishhistory