|
This 1912 photograph is a view from modern-day Queen Victoria Drive, looking east across the Loanie. The photo was taken
south of the Scotstounhill railway bridge. The houses in the background are those situated on Southbrae Drive. The ink
'X' to the right indicates where Jordanhill House would have stood (built, 1782; demolished, 1961).
The wasteland bounded by the fence was course ground containing a narrow avenue of hawthorn bushes leading to Northland
Drive. Writing in 1966, William Imrie remarks that
"a lover's lane, the Loaning or "Loanie" took a fairly straight course from Dumbarton Road at Westland Drive (where
the bowling green stands) to the railway bridge at Scotstounhill. All evidence suggests that at one time this lane might
have commenced at Whiteinch ferry. Little by little, however, the hawthorn-lined path was truncated, until now only the
last 200 yard remain. And this final stretch is doomed to extinction."
(Imrie, W. Both Sides of the Burn - the Story of Yoker, 1966: p.129)
|
In the interest of clarity, I have marked the historical extent of the Loanie on the following satellite photograph,
taken in 2006. The most southerly point is Whiteinch Bowling Club mentioned by Imrie above.
Imrie was correct: most of the remaining stretch of the Loanie was developed upon in the late 1970s (to build the aforementioned
Northland Drive School). However, approximately 70 yards of the Loanie exist today at Scotstounhill railway bridge, leading
down to Northland Drive. This section is highlighted in red on the above satellite photo.
Today, Scotstounhill retains its Victorian charm and importance despite the inexorable march of time: Queen Victoria
Drive – the northern part of which has not been altered at all since the 1890s – remains the arterial route for
automotive transport through the area, and Scotstounhill Station is still one of the busiest links to the City
Centre on the FirstScotrail low-level system.
With the construction of new housing developments on Anniesland Road and with the development of a section of
Victoria Park into a carpark successfully resisted in 2007, the residents of Scotstounhill have an increased awareness that
preservation of the amenity of the area is essential for its future survival.
|
