The Green.

          Gleswegians know your history, without your history you were never here. As George Orwell stated, "The best way to destroy a people is to destroy their history" So make sure that won't happen to us. Spirit of Revolt works hard at trying to preserve and make freely accessible to all, the history of the struggles of the ordinary people. Why not visit their website and delve into a wealth of information on the history, the struggles the victories and the pain of trying for that better world for all.

Spirit of Revolt Archives of Dissent Glasgow/Clydeside

This 25-minute film draws together 1000 years of writings about the area now known as Glasgow Green an integral part of Glasgow and its people the film is part of Spirit of Revolt Archive 

 https://spiritofrevolt.info/radical-history-on-glasgow-green/

 

 

Visit ann arky at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

Our Green.

         The citizens of Glasgow, like those of other large cities have a myriad of likes and dislikes, loves and hates, but one thing you can count on is the general love of Glasgow Green by the majority of Glasgow's citizens. "The Green" as it is referred to is steeped in Glasgow's history It has been a place of celebration, family outings, a place in the city centre where you can walk with kids cycle, have a picnic. However there is another aspect the "The Green" that endears it to the people of Glasgow. It has been a place of struggle, a rallying point for all manner of radical actions. It has hosted thousands on May Days, anti-war protests, suffragette rallies, freedom of speech battles. It is also the place where the state carried out some of its "legal" murders of radicals. Over the years there has been fights with the Glasgow council to save "The Green" for what it was intended, the free use by people. There have been attempt to sell off parts, even, at one point considering starting a coal mine, all resisted by the good people of Glasgow.
       The battle still continues as the council have let the gem in the centre of "The Green", The People's Palace and Winter Gardens, fall into a state of disrepair, trashing the Winter Gardens completely, and a battle rages to have it opened in its original form and for what it was, a centre of history of the ordinary people of Glasgow, and a place for all to relax in its lovely Winter Gardens, FREE for all of Glasgow citizens. Meanwhile the council has ideas to "reimagine" it and turn it into a commercial venue where the citizens will pay to enter and make lots of money for some corporate mob. 

 

 

     You can enjoy Spirit of Revolt's "Radical History on Glasgow Green, HERE 

      Also you can enjoy this new addition to the Spirit of Revolt's Video collection

 

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

More Anger.

        The Protest on the Glasgow Green on Saturday, July 31st. against the avalanche of closures and sell-offs of our public assets, was, I hope, the start of some really angry voices from the citizens of Glasgow. This unprecedented number of closures and sell-offs of our public assets will affect the very fibre of our city, to the detriment of all its citizens and its future citizens. We cannot simple stand by and watch our culture and services being plundered to the benefit of the private corporate world. It's our city, or it's the private owners city, we have to decide, and the decision has to be made now, not sometime in the future when we will be denuded of all our public assets. Fighting to get them back will be a lot more difficult that fighting to hold on to them.

Some more photos from the event.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk  

The Molendinar Burn And Glasgow.

      I have been out on the bike a few times recently, but haven't bothered to stop and take a photo. The reason being the runs are so embarrassingly short, a mere 10-15 miles, the 60+ to 90+ miles two or three times a week seem to be over. The weather hasn't been too kind to me, short spells of good weather and then a return to cold and showery. Since I am now a fair weather cyclist, that limits me quite a bit. Actually I no longer refer to myself as a cyclist, but more an old guy who goes out on his bike now and again.

     Today, despite the overcast sky and a bit of a cold wind, Stasia and I headed for Hogganfield Loch. A small loch to the east of Glasgow, a popular walking, cycling, dog walkers area and kids play area. It only measures approximately 1.3 miles going round the loch, but there are paths that you can deviate from the lochside and meander to change the scenery.

     Though a small loch, I suppose you could say that if it was not for this small loch, Glasgow may not have been the city it is. It is from Hogganfield Loch that the Molendinar Burn runs towards the Clyde, and it was on the banks of the Molendinar Burn that St Mungo set up his little Christian sanctuary, at the site where the Glasgow Cathedral now stands. This attracted people to the area and the rest is history as they say.

    Today the Molendinar Burn has all but disappeared, in the late 1800's it was contained in a culvert and now runs towards the Clyde somewhere under Wishart Street. Though there is still a small bit just about visible to the Gleswegians that want to have a wee look. At the west side of a fine looking building, 100 Duke Street there is a patch of trees and shrubs and through that growth there is a part of the Molendinar that is still open to the sky.

     The building 100 Duke Street started life as a rather ornate mill, belonging to R F and J Alexander, and is reputed to be the first building in Scotland that was built to be fire resistant. The mill and its workers disappeared as technology changed, and the building then became a home for homeless men, known as the Great Eastern Hotel. Now it is a "residential redevelopment", Still an impressive looking building. 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

WE NEED MORE GLASGOW ANARCHISTS.

Glasgow Anarchists, January 1st. 1915.        

       Anarchism has a long history in our city, its ideas taking root in Glasgow in the late 1800’s and since then the popularity of its ideas has risen and fallen in waves depending on the changing conditions in our society, but the ideas behind the name have never left our city. Ever since the late 1800’s anarchists have been at the forefront of all the battles of the ordinary people of our city as they struggle for a better life, They have been involved in these struggles in a positive and selfless manner putting forward ideas and giving physical support, always helping the people to achieve what they were fighting for, never for the benefit of some political party or political career.

         The people of Glasgow can be proud of their history of struggle, it stretches back to the dawn of our city. There have been great victories, for example the 1915 rent strike, the poll tax, etc. and sometimes crushing defeats but the struggle continues. The city has its legion of heroes to be proud of, some who have stood astride the political scene like a colossus, others who have struggled endlessly in the shadows, and there have been those individuals who have been crushed by the system we live under.

        Today more than ever we need to come together as a class to defend our own people against the coming increase in poverty, unemployment, repossessions, cuts in social services, etc. The party political system has shown itself to be part of the problem, not the answer. It is grass roots people based direct action that will change this society into one that sees to the needs of all our people, based on mutual aid, and brings about equality, justice and sustainability.

 
Glasgow's working class history HERE.
ann arky's home.

WORKERS KNOW YOUR HISTORY-- GLASGOW CITY OF REBELLION.

         From the days of Wallace, Scotland has always had a revolutionary movement. At one time fighting for religious liberty, at another for political equality, more recently for economic and industrial freedom and freedom of the individual. In all of this Glasgow has always played an important part and been home to radical reform movements.

Trongate, Glasgow 1919.           

                                           

1706-THE UNION.

       Glasgow gained in wealth because of the Union, when its tobacco trade rapidly expanded and later the sugar and cotton trades. Surplus wealth began flowing into mining, textile, iron and railway industries. By 1885 ten Scots firms produced 20% of Britain’s steel output. After 1870 the Clyde replaced the Thames as the centre of British shipbuilding, and this, in association with the expanding railway and heavy engineering industries in Glasgow, created a new force, the 'Industrial Working Class'. By 1892 two thirds of all Trade Unionists in Scotland worked in Glasgow. Rebels of Glasgow and the West of Scotland shared the problems of the Northern English industrial population and also shared the hopes of the English Radical Reformers.

1706 - AGAINST THE UNION.

       In spite of this the Union was not universally accepted throughout the country. Glasgow saw popular but violent reaction to this arrangement. On one occasion a large crowd lead by Finly and Montgomery took control of the Bishop’s House. The local forces could not remove them and the Dragoons were called from Edinburgh to dislodge them. Finly and Montgomery were duly arrested. The crowd took it upon itself to seize the City’s Magistrates and dispatched a few of them to Edinburgh with the strictest mandate to obtain the release of the prisoners. However the Privy Council in Edinburgh rejected the request and sent the Magistrates back to Glasgow with the instruction to take better control of their city.

JUNE 1725 - THE MALT TAX RIOTS.

      Due to the gross dislike of the 'Malt Tax' there were wide spread riots across the country. The most serious of these was June 1725 in Glasgow. When Revenue Officers arrived to assess the Maltsters, they were met by large angry crowds who barred their way. On June the 24th a large crowd decided to attack the house of Duncan Campbell of Shawfield believing that he had supported the tax in the Houses of Parliament. The angry scenes prompted the Lord Advocate Duncan Forbes to call in troops from Edinburgh. The Provost was not in agreement with this decision and refused to use them against the rioters. However the crowd, unhappy with the presence of the troops attacked them. The troops retaliated, at first with powder and then with shot. This resulted in the death of 8 civilians. The Provost ordered the troops to withdraw. The Magistrates spent most of their time investigating the civilian deaths rather than pursuing the leaders of the attack on Shawfield House. It was obvious that the town council had no more love of the 'malt tax' than the angry crowds. Their thoughts would also be on the fact that they had to live in the city after the massacre by the troops. The Lord Advocate somewhat alarmed at the events in the city went himself to Glasgow and arrested the City Magistrates and took them to Edinburgh. There was a failed prosecution of the Magistrates in Edinburgh and they returned to their City of Glasgow to a boisterous welcome from the crowd.

15th FEBRUARY 1800.

        Unemployment and high taxes during this period caused wide spread demonstrations which culminated on the 15th. of February 1800 when angry and hungry crowds took to the streets. They marched along Argyle Street attacking meatsellers and grocers’ shops. Meanwhile vast crowds in the districts of Townhead and Calton were also smashing into similar types of shops. The authorities felt compelled to call out the troops to disperse the rioters.

1812 WEAVERS STRIKE.

         1812 saw in Scotland until that date. The weavers were on strike in an attempt to protect their living standards. The strike was on the whole a peaceful protest, though the Magistrates and the Government claimed otherwise in an attempt to become heavy handed with the strikers. The strike lasted three months and eventually run out of funds and collapsed. Because of this strike Trade Unionism was declared illegal in Scotland and remained so until 1824. Seven of the strikers were arrested and charged with 'illegal combination' and were each sentenced to 18 months in prison.

6th MARCH 1848

        There was a serious riot in the city of Glasgow on the 6th of March 1848. It came about when the unemployed operatives had expected a distribution of provisions. The provisions never appeared and the starving and angry crowds set off up Irongate and other main streets of the city centre breaking into food and gun shops. Business in the city came to a stand-still and all city centre shops closed. The people continued to march through the streets shouting 'bread or revolution'. Eventually the 'riot act' was read. Other groups marched off in other directions entering food shops and demanding bread. The authorities, alarmed at the events sent to Edinburgh for more troops. The following day crowds again gathered at Bridgeton where 'out-pensioners' were under arms. A young boy threw an object at the troops and was arrested but the crowd stormed the arresting group and rescued the boy. Police Superintendent, Captain Smart gave the order to fire: five of the crowd were shot. The Military continued to patrol the streets and the crowd still lined the streets for some days. All public offices were securely guarded.

1915 RENT STRIKES

         1915 saw Glasgow and Clydeside districts gripped by a massive grass roots movement against large rent increases imposed by landlords. Over 25,000 tenants refused to pay rent increases. The struggle spread to the Clydeside engineering workshops and shipyards, forcing the government to introduce the 1915 Rent Restriction Act.

1919 'FORTY HOUR WEEK’ STRIKE.

        In 1919 the struggle for a shorter working week came to a head with a strike which had the support of practically all the workers in the area. Marches and demonstrations were organised. One massive demonstration in George Square caused the authorities some concern and the police baton charged the crowd creating mayhem. The government fearing revolution sent English troops with tanks into the city.

George Square, Glasgow 1919

More on Glasgow's working class history HERE. 

ann arky's home.

WORKERS CITY, KNOW YOUR HISTORY.

As the millionaire cabal set about doing a hatchet job on the welfare state we will have to  come up with strategies to resist this free market onslaught. As society has changed over the years so our strategies will have to change. Of course we can still learn from the past, our working class history is a rich well of ideas and strategies that can be used adapted and used again. The main thing is to come together in our communities and link those communities in a federation of resistance. Organised resistance is necessary to win this battle against the millionaire corporate take over of our country.

      The Workers City was an organised movement in opposition to the 1990 European Capital of Culture which was intent on branding Glasgow as a tourist centre with a mono culture that in no way showed the rich diversity of culture that sprang from the ranks of the ordinary people. As far as Glasgow's City Council Mafia were concerned there was no working class in Glasgow, just cheap labour to service the tourist industry.

     This short video gives a hint of what Workers City was about, perhaps there are ideas in there that can be reworked and used to continue that working class resistance.

More of Glasgow's working class history HERE.

ann arky's home.

A PROUD HISTORY. NOVEMBER.

       We the working class have a history steeped in presecution, exploitation and struggle, a history of which we can be rightly proud. Every little freedom and little bit of luxury we have we owe to those who fought and in some cases died to force it from the capitalist class, who gave it grudgingly, and now that same capitalist class is in the process of trying to take it all back. We owe it to our grandchildren and to those forefathers who showed such selflessness, to bravely carry on that struggle and create a society that will bring and end to the exploitation of our class.

COTTON SPINNERS STRIKE, 1837


DEPRESSION AND STRIKE.

     1830 saw a sharp depression grip the West of Scotland. By 1837 the weaving industry was attempting to push through wage cuts. The cotton spinners of Glasgow took strike action in an attempt to defend their wages. The strike lasted from July through to the end of August 1837. During the strike a blackleg (knobstick), was shot and the authorities arrested the leadership of the union. Those held in prison were indicted on midnight on the 24th of October, the last possible moment they could be legally held. The trial was to take place on the 10th of November in Edinburgh.

TRIAL.

      The Public Prosecutor had taken three months to put their case together. The defence had fifteen days to prepare an answer to the charges. Three days before the trial and without knowledge of their agents, the prisoners were moved, heavily ironed, from Bridewell Jail in Glasgow to Edinburgh Jail. Just before the trial the Crown stated " ...not convenient for them to proceed with the trial...", and postponed the trial until the 27th of November. The delay increased the expenses for the prisoners' council and the witnesses.
      Andrew Gemmel, the law agent for the prisoners put all other business aside, immediately employed 15 extra clerks and worked day and night to copy down Crown witnesses' evidence. This amounted to 2 large volumes containing evidence from over 150 witnesses from different parts of the country and was completed in fifteen days. The verdict from the trial was;
On charges,

1.Conspiracy to keep wages up.
2.Disturbances at Oakbank Factory.
3.Molestation at Mile End Factory.
Proven by a majority of one vote.

On other charges;

Appointment of “secret committee” to do unlawful acts.
Attempting to set fire to houses and factories.
Invading dwelling houses of, and assaulting “knobs”.
Not proven by unanimous verdict.

       The sentence of the court was that the prisoners should be transported for a period of 7 years. However they spent 3 years in prison hulks at Woolwich on the Thames and then were pardoned. After the trial the Cotton Spinners' Union collapsed due to the lack of funds.

WAGE TRENDS.

Below is a short table showing the trend in wages during the period referred to above.

Wage trends (wkly)                           1836-37    1841-42    1846-47

Cotton spinners (machine)                    35/-           25/-            26/-
Cotton spinners (power)                       11/-            7/-              8/-
Coalminers                                           25/-           15/-            20/-
Bricklayers                                           21/-           21/-            24/-
Joiners                                                 20/-            ?                22/-
Stone masons                                       22/-           18/-            22/6
Handloom weavers                                6/-             6/-              7/-
Railway labourers                                 14/-            ?                15/-
Railway masons                                    21/-           21/-            31/-
 
More on Glasgow's working class history HERE.
 

 
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