Provan Hall - a great old house

It's Glasgow Doors Open Weekend so hubby and I paid a visit to Provan Hall in Auckinlea Park, Easterhouse in Glasgow.  It is a fascinating place with lots of character and is perhaps one of the oldest houses in Glasgow.

 

There are two old buildings dating from the 16th or early 17th century with an enclosed courtyard.  There are also some beautiful gardens.  Provan Hall is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and managed by Glasgow City Council (great information on this website).  It has some wonderful architectural details which you can read about at Canmore.

However, imagine my surprise when I discovered that part of the building had appeared in Outlander - they had filmed at Provan Hall earlier this year!  Wow - I was so excited at that news.  There were photographs of how the place looked when they were there and if you are an Outlander fan then you can see the results in Series 2, Episode 12.  The building appears as McGilvrey's Boarding House where Claire goes with Mary Hawkins to try to help Alex Randall and runs into Black Jack Randall!

The sign for McGilvreys Boarding House from Outlander.

Outlander locations aside, the interior of the buildings contained an assortment of bits and pieces from various eras - here's a wee selection.  Love the photograph of the old dresser filled with plates.

There were some lovely people helping out at Provan Hall and there were activities planned for later in the day.

If you have ever visited "The Fort" shopping centre in Glasgow, then Provan Hall is just nearby. Please check out opening times on their website as it is only open on certain days.

Drawing of the archway showing date of 1647.

That was one lucky Doors Open Days visit for me!

Love, Liz

People's Palace, Glasgow

Visited the People's Palace in Glasgow at the weekend.

Love the intricate cast iron framework of the Winter Gardens.

The People's Palace is a wonderful museum which really shows the social history of the city of Glasgow.

Well worth a visit if you are in Glasgow over the Christmas holidays.

 

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Has anyone else been getting a strange "Error" message when they sign into their blog?  Does anyone know how to fix this?

Love, Liz

Vintage at the Merchant City Festival, Glasgow

Just back from a fabulous morning at the Merchant City Festival in Glasgow.  I wanted to be there early before it got too busy and too hot - I'm glad I did!

My favourite part was the Vintage Maretplace - lots of stalls in Ingram Street car park.  My favourite was Hollie Berries beautiful stall full of vintage china and bits and pieces - gorgeous!  (In case you are wondering - the huge hedgehog at the back is part of a mural!!)

I also love Gillian Kyle items - bags, mugs, tea towels etc all depicting good old Scottish favourites like plain bread and Tunnocks teacakes as well as a few other instantly recognisable Scottish necessities!  Catherine was looking after the stall which was full of fabulous bits and pieces.

Retro Bazaar had an amazing collection of vintage phones and furniture.

Two of the other fabulous stalls were - Love Me Again with gorgeous homeware, and Emily Rose Vintage who had some lovely painted furniture.

Love these two - a Gramophone DJ and a gorgeous vintage thingy which served as a florists.

These lovely ladies posed for me while they waited for the Charleston Brunch at the Old Fruitmarket - don't they look amazing!

I had a fabulous morning - there was loads more to see - lots of food stalls and entertainment, but it got a bit hot and my feet were sore (I stupidly wore the wrong shoes - d'oh!!!!!).

Hope you are having a great weekend.

Love, Liz

Museums and Memories

I love Museum shops - you can get the most amazing reproduction vintage bits and bobs!

 

I got some great things at the People's Palace, Glasgow.  Fabulous vintage advertising postcards and tins.  Love this tea caddy.  The Cath Kidston mug was part of my gorgeous Christmas present from my son and daughter in law.

 

 

As for the museum itself ... well ... I know museums are trying really hard to attract youngsters by providing lots of "hands on" activities.  But I feel that somewhere along the way they have lost a lot of the atmosphere I can remember from when I was young.  To my young mind museums were full of fascinating and wonderful things that sent me back home to my encyclopaedias and the local branch library to find out more about them.

I can still remember the muffled silence and the smell of polish and age of our local museum as I wandered around totally in awe of everything I could see, and at the same time excited by what I would discover in the next display case. 

My recent visit to the People's Palace was spoiled by lots of unruly children (where were their parents/carers?) pushing in front of me when I was trying to look at exhibits, shouting to their friends and running around.  A friend and I sat to watch and listen to a video clip of the history of the local prison which was totally spoiled by kids running in and out of the little room trying to climb the door of the mock prison cell to shout too their friends on the other side.  I won't be back there for a very long time!

 

Anyway, enough of the rant!  My favourite part of the visit was the exhibit about the "steamie" or public washhouse, where women went to do their washing. 

 

 

 

When I saw this pram, it reminded me of a photograph of my brother (what a chubby little boy he was!)and I in a similar pram.  I actually remember the colour of that little basket I'm holding - it was yellow, I loved it and took it everywhere with me, and my Dad used to sing that song "A Tisket a Tasket" to me.

Love, Liz

Vintage College Scarf & Party Games

Does anyone out there remember when college scarves were popular in the 70s?

 

I found mine from when I attended Jordanhill College in Glasgow (vintage now?!!).  I remember we all wore them, there was quite a fashion for them for a while.  We wore them with our maxi coats and flared trousers.  I had another one in lilac stripes, not a real college scarf, but I think that's what they were all called in general.

 

 

They remind me more of students in the 50s wearing them with duffle coats, but I suppose this must have been a revival.  Love the college emblem.  Made from pure wool - had to be hand washed.  Saw lots of folk who had put them in the washing machine (yes, we had them in those days) and they had gone a bit out of shape and the colours had run!!!

 

Party Games

Are you having a bit of a do in the coming weeks?  If so, I thought I'd help you out by introducing a few fun party games from the 50s to liven up the dullest of events!

 

These are from the vintage Citizen Housewife book which I wrote about ages ago, but I think these are very apt for the season!

 

Have fun!

Love, Liz

Driving Back In Time

Some friends and I had a great time at the Riverside Transport Museum in Glasgow yesterday.  We were shown around by a guide who was absolutely wonderful in telling us all about the museum and the exhibits.  He had an amazing knowledge about  - well, everything!  It really enhanced our visit.

 

 

My favourite part was the old street.  I remember when I was you going to the Castle Museum in York, seeing the Victorian street there, and asking my Mum and Dad if I could just stay - I've been fascinated by places like that ever since!

 

I had fun enhancing some of these photos.

 

This may look like a display of toy cars, but they are full size!

 

If you are ever in Glasgow, you really should visit the Riverside Museum!

 

Love, Liz

Govancroft Vase

It is amazing what you learn from vintage bits and pieces!

I picked up this sweet little vase in a charity shop yesterday.  I was intrigued by its stamp - Govancroft, Glasgow.

When I got home I googled it did a bit of research and discovered that there the Govancroft Potteries Ltd were started in 1911 in Potter Street, London Road, Glasgow, and made, among other things, jugs for the whisky industry.

This little vase is only 8 inches in length, but I'm sure I've seen loads of these - usually green and usually much bigger - in various antique and charity shops.  In fact, I'm sure my Granny had one (as did most Grannies, I think)!

It needed a good clean and now its ready from some flowers - small narcissi would look lovely in it - must get some tomorrow.

Hope you all found great bargains this week - I'm popping over to Flea Market Finds to check them all out.

Love, Liz

Doors Open Day - Bridgeton Heritage Trail

I absolutely love Doors Open Days.  This year a friend and I decided to go on the Bridgeton Heritage Trail in Glasgow.  It was absolutely fantastic - not just for the wonderful architecture, but also for the marvellous insight into life in Bridgeton in the past.  Our guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic which made the tour even more enjoyable.  Bridgeton is to the east of Glasgow Green.

Here are some highlights.  This is the fountain erected in memory of Bailie (Scottish civic office) James Martin in 1894.  Looks like lace, doesn't it - amazing workmanship!

This building is absolutely amazing and I'm glad it was such a beautiful day for taking photographs.  It was built as a private residence for a mill owner in 1846.  In 1859 it was converted to a school with money from Glasgow merchant James Buchanan.  Named the Buchanan Institute for Education and Industrial Training, it took in destitute boys and gave them the chance of a better future.

The pediment was added in 1873.  Wonder how many boys benefited from this establishment.

Right next to this is the former Logan & Johnston School of Domestic Economy (1890).  Love this sculpture of a beehive - symbol of industry.

Great sculpture on Bridgeton Public Library - still in use today.  In fact, on our tour was a woman who had worked there years ago then left for America.  She was visiting for the first time in ages.  Think it was quite an emotional tour for her.

Perhaps one of the most famous landmarks of the area is the Bridgeton Cross Shelter, or the Bridgeton Umbrella as it is more commonly called.  It really is quite striking. 

The area seems to be undergoing a bit of a facelift.  Its very encouraging when councils recognise the importance of their heritage and ensure that it is saved to be passed on to future generations.

That, I think, is one of the most important aspects of Doors Open Day - local people exploring and revisiting what is on their doorstep and learning to appreciate it through the efforts of local heritage groups and volunteers.



Let Glasgow Flourish



You can actually follow the Bridgeton Heritage Trail on the Glasgow City Council website.  There's lots of other interesting articles there too.

Love, Liz