About Pollokshields

The Pollokshields district is an attractive residential area on the south side of Glasgow, Scotland, some two miles from the city centre.

It is a conservation area which was developed in Victorian times according to a plan promoted by the original owners, the Stirling Maxwells of Nether Pollok, whose association with the area goes back to 1270.

The elegant architecture of the substantial sandstone villas and tenements is enhanced by broad streets and, particularly in West Pollokshields, by many mature trees.

There are good public transport connections to the centre of Glasgow with convenient train, underground and bus services.

Facilities in the district include three primary schools, the attractive Maxwell Park, the Tramway Theatre, and shopping areas in Albert Drive, east of Shields Road, and Nithsdale Road at Kildrostan.

In the grounds of Maxwell Park is the Scots renaissance style Pollokshields Burgh Hall, which is used for a large variety of social functions.

On the south-west side of Pollokshields is Pollok Country Park. It contains the famous Burrell Gallery, housing the very extensive Burrell Art Collection, and Pollok House, formerly the home of the Stirling Maxwells and now open to the public under the management of the National Trust for Scotland.

A secondary school and a large leisure centre are available in the adjoining district of Bellahouston.

The population is multi-cultural with a significant proportion of people form an Asian background, principally from Pakistan and India.

All the major faiths are represented in the district and there are a Muslim mosque and two Sikh temples as well as the five Christian churches. The different communities have always enjoyed good relations with one another.

Books on the history and architecture of Pollokshields: