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GLASGOW: Glasgow - Some fascinating facts |
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Written by SeeGlasgow
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Wednesday, 07 May 2008 |
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Here are some fascinating facts about Glasgow, including facts about The Cunard Shipping Line, John Logie-Baird, James Watt, Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Hope you can join us soon.
Here are some fascinating facts about Glasgow. Hope you can join us soon...
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> John Logie Baird,
inventor of television, transmitted the first long distance TV pictures
from a room in the Central Hotel, Glasgow.
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> The
Cunard Shipping Line was founded in Glasgow and that the liners Queen
Mary, Queen Elizabeth, QE2 and the Royal Yacht Britannia were all built
on the River Clyde at Clydebank.
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> Greenock-born
James Watt invented the separate condenser after a walk on Glasgow
Green in 1765, an invention which made the steam engine economically
viable.
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> Paisley Museum houses the world's largest collection of Paisley Pattern shawls.
- > Craignethan Castle, by Crossford, is where Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have spent her last night of freedom.
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> Granville
Sharp Pattison, a Glasgow Surgeon, emigrated to the United States in
1816 and founded the Baltimore Infirmary, the country's first teaching
hospital.
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> Charles
Macintosh, inventor of the waterproof coat, lived and worked in Glasgow
where, in 1824, he was responsible for the first commercial manufacture
of the waterproof material.
- > Hamilton Mausoleum, which dates from the 1850s, has the longest echo of any building in Europe - 15 seconds!
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- > The Waverley, the world's last ocean going paddle steamer was built in 1947 by A & J Inglis on the River Clyde.
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- > Charles
Rennie Mackintosh, the world-famous architect and designer, was born in
Glasgow in 1868. His work can be seen in many locations in and around
the city.
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- > Sir William Burrell was estimated to have spent around £20,000 a year on works of art for more than 45 years of his life.
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- > In
1939, Glasgow had 114 picture houses, seating in excess of 175,000;
more cinema seats per head than any other city in the world. The
average Glaswegian would go an incredible 51 times per year!
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- > Billy Connolly, the comedian and actor, was born in Partick in Glasgow in 1942.
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- > Robert Carlyle was originally a Glasgow house painter prior to becoming a major television and cinema actor.
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- > Roy Rogers and Trigger are reputed to have descended the staircase of Glasgow's Central Hotel.
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- > Glasgow City Chambers features a miniature version of the Statue of Liberty.
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- > 'Braveheart'
William Wallace is reputed to have been born in the Renfrewshire
village of Elderslie. He also lived in Lanark for a few years around
1297 and is commemorated by a statue on the town's St Nicholas Church.
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