Scotstoun
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Scotstoun is an historic district of Glasgow, Scotland, west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bounded by Yoker and Knightswood to the west, Victoria Park and Whiteinch to the east, Jordanhill to the north and the River Clyde (and Braehead beyond) to the south. At the heart of Scotstoun lies Scotstounhill, an enclave of late Victorian and post-war housing centred upon Scotstounhill railway station. Scotstoun (along with the Govan shipyard) is home to BAE Systems Naval Ships.
Scotstoun was until the early 1860s the site of the Oswald family estate, which was centred around Scotstoun House. By 1861 the westward march of the shipbuilding yards had reached Scotstoun with the opening of the Connell's Scotstoun Yard (later Yarrow Shipbuilders Ltd). This led to the break-up of the estate, as portions were sold off for housing, to create a park (Victoria Park) and for further industrial development (iron, engineering and shipbuilding) along the river. The southern part of Scotstoun is characterised by late 19th/ early 20th century tenements, while at its heart, and dating from a similar period, is a grid-like estate of mainly terraced cottage style villas with distinctive English styling in wide tree-lined streets, an early example of Ebenezer Howard-type garden suburb town planning which is today a much sought after conservation area, popular with middle class families seeking fine period houses with gardens close to the West End. The local primary school and church lie in the centre. Unfortunately, the area has suffered the loss of many of its mature trees in recent years and these are currently not being replaced. In addition, misguided home "improvements" like the replacement of distinctive multi-paned sash and case windows with upvc double glazing, which contravenes conservation guidelines, continue to take place.
Scotstoun is today home to Scotstoun Primary School, and formely a secondary school, Victoria Drive, which was closed and demolished in 1998. Scotstoun has recently undergone new housing development and is also the site of the new Scotstoun Leisure Centre, opened in 1994, hosting Scotstoun Stadium, an international athletics venue, the Scottish National Badminton Academy, and a 25 metre swimming pool used by the City of Glasgow Swim Team. Scotstoun is a designated conservation area and has an active residents association called Scotstoun Conservation Area Residents Association which works closely with the local school, church and community. Other local groups are often involved in contributing to the community, for example in May 07 the Scotstoun Woodiescleaned up litter on the Nature Walk as part of the council's clean up drive.
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