North Kelvinside (also referred to as North Kelvin, Scottish Gaelic: Cealbhainn a Tuath) is a residential district of the Scottish city of Glasgow.
It is often regarded as a subdistrict of Maryhill, sharing its G20 postcode, as well as its House of Commonselectoral constituency prior to incorporation into Glasgow North in 2005. However, North Kelvinside was never a part of MaryhillPolice Burgh prior to its incorporation into Glasgow in 1912 and the area is markedly different socially and architecturally.
North Kelvinside was originally part of a country estate, which became enveloped by the surrounding city. As a result, many buildings date from the early twentieth century. It is located on the northern edge of Glasgow's west end and its southern boundary is marked by the River Kelvin. It is close to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens, the former BBC Scotland building on Queen Margaret Drive, and in the vicinity of the University of Glasgow, although all are actually outwith the North Kelvinside area itself. Being close to the university, many students and academics live in the area.
Kelvinside House was the property of Lord Provost Sir James Campbell, and was located in the area that is now North Kelvinside. It was there that his son, the future Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman was born 1836.
North Kelvinside is not directly north of the more upmarket area Kelvinside, which is mainly located to the west. Rather, the area is so named because it is located on the north bank of the River Kelvin. The housing consists mainly of tenements, although there are also some grander villa-type buildings, converted Victorian townhouses, pre-industrial cottages and a small, well-maintained (now mainly ex-)council estate. The area has a reputation for being quiet and tranquil, despite its central location. Unusually, it is impossible to fully traverse the district by car in any direction, due in part to a system of road-blocks designed to combat ratrunning.
North Kelvinside also contains the former pub where the 'balcony scene' in the film Trainspotting was shot, the Kelvin walkway along the banks of the eponymous river, linking Kelvingrove Park and the Botanic Gardens, and a row of small independent shops and cafes. Outdoor amenities include the North Kelvin Meadow and the Children's Wood which form local green spaces.[4][5] Scotland's oldest dedicated squash club since 1934, SSRC (Scottish Squash and Racketball Club), is to be found on Malloch Street a short distance from Queen Margaret Drive, with connections going back to the military presence at the barracks that are now Wyndford. The area is also within walking distance of the shops, pubs and restaurants on Great Western and Byres Roads.[tone]
There was a North Kelvinside Secondary School that served most of the Maryhill district of Glasgow. However, the school was closed and the vast majority of the pupils transferred to Cleveden Secondary School in the Kelvindale area on the other side of the River Kelvin to the west. Former pupils include actor Robert Carlyle and musician Jimmy Somerville as well as Janis Sharp; mother of Gary McKinnon.
The area is served by North Kelvinside Parish Church, a Church of Scotland congregation which was made famous after World War II, by the work and writing of its minister Rev Tom Allan, particularly his book The Face of My Parish. However, in recent years, the church building was demolished, leaving only the halls which are now in poor condition. The congregation has also been in sharp decline and is currently uniting with the nearby Ruchill Parish Church.
