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Govan
Most cities are just a collection of villages that grew together and Glasgow is no different. Welcome to one of the most famous villages in Britain - Govan. During the days of the British Empire, Glasgow was its second city, and its beating heart was the shipyards. At one time one in ten of the world's ships were Govan-built.
Sadly the shipyards closed and in our opinion Govan is just a big dustbin these days.
| The Stop |
| Out the station and straight ahead through the Tolkeinesque avenue of trees (we jest), past the grubby chip shop and some other shops on your left. The Brechin Bar is set into the isolated red sandstone building behind the statue of Sir William Pearce - after whom the Pearce Institute across the road is named. |
| The Pubs |
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Brechin Bar (803 Govan Road, G51 3DJ. Tel. 0141 445 1349)
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There is an upstairs area that serves food (though it's a while since we've dined there) and a downstairs where all the drinking gets done. Every time we go into this place we think what a waste of a good pub it is. This place boasts a beautiful U-shaped bar easily 20 metres (that's 67 feet to any greengrocers in the audience) long under a high ceiling. There rest of it is a manky mess. The owners need to strip everything out, with the exception of the bar, give it a good clean and then redecorate. The area at the bottom of the U is a midden and the only part of the pub with tables. We have never been
in here when it has not been busy. The clientele are grubby middle to
elderly aged working class types, very much indicative of the general
area. They are usually friendly enough, but just like Govan itself,
you get the feeling that many of these people are just going through
the motions waiting for the abyss to claim them. During the sixties,
we have been told, the Brechin was 'the place' to hang out and it boasted
a great live band called The Crescendos. So the Brechin is a shadow
of its former self. In more recent times a more typical Brechin experience
may be akin to that recently encountered by one (female) correspondent:
"I came out
of a toilet cubicle to see a wifey wi' her skirt round her waist pissing in the sink.
She waved at me and said "don't mind me hen!". Needless to say I didn't wash my
hands!"
Okay, so you might think we have been too hard on
Govan. We do know that Govan was once a thriving and bustling place
with a heart of gold. The so-called, city 'planners' ripped out buildings,
complete streets and Govan's heart in one fell swoop. The past is just
that, these days Govan is fairly miserable. |
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| Notes and Anecdotes |
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Did You Know . . . This stop was originally called Govan Cross? On the way back to the station you pass that grubby chip shop again. AIMS (see Cessnock) may by now have you by the throat and you may think you really want something to eat, but do yourself a favour and avoid this chippy, 'coz we think it's crap. The statue of Sir William Pearce is commonly known by locals as 'The Black Man' (no doubt because that has fewer syllables). More info on Sir William can be found at the SunnyGovan website. |
Continue on your journey . . .
