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Drumchapel (Druim a' Chapaill in Gaelic) (known to locals and residents as 'The Drum') is part of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire in 1938. It borders Bearsden to the east (in East Dunbartonshire) and Clydebank to the west (in West Dunbartonshire). The area is bordered by Knightswood and Yoker in Glasgow. The name derives from the Gaelic meaning 'the ridge of the horse'.
As part of the overspill policy of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s to house 34,000 people - it is this estate that is now most associated with Drumchapel, despite there being an area known as Old Drumchapel made up of affluent villas to the south of modern Drumchapel.
The area has well-known social problems, notably anti-social behaviour and degeneration of often poorly constructed post-war housing. However, it remains popular with many of its residents and more recently there has been substantial private investment in the area, leading to the construction of new housing developments in the North West of the district. The area, along with Easterhouse, Castlemilk and Greater Pollok are collectively know as 'Big Four' post-war social housing schemes. All are similar in terms of architecture and planning, and tend to suffer from a similar range of social problems.
The area is served by Drumchapel railway station.
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History
Drumchapel was part of the parish of Kilpatrick, administered by Baillieston Abbey. This was preceded by two ancient estates: Garscadden (now an area of Glasgow) and Drumry (an area in West Dunbartonshire which is often associated with Easterhouse).
Economy
The major employers for Drumchapel from the 1950s to the 1980s were the Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co (GB) Ltd, Beattie's Biscuit Factory, Singers Sewing Machines - Clydebank, The Reo Stakis Orginisation - Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar, The Golden Garter Night Club and The Butty Public Bar, The Edrington Group Whisky Bond and the various shipyards on the Clyde. Beatiie's Biscuit factory closed in 1978 and the Goodyear and Singers factories both closed in February 1979. Reo Stakis's Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar along with The Golden Garter Night Club closed in June 1988. The Butty Public Bar was sold to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries and is still going strong with Billy Bryson the Manager for over 30 years now holding the lease. The Edrington Group Whiskey Bond has grown over the years and is still a major employer in the area while the shipyards have all gone with the exception the now BAE Systems yards at Scotstoun and Govan. Drumchapel is now going through its 2nd regeneration with promises of better schools and higher employment.
Located to the southern end of Drumchapel sitting on Great Western Road is the Great Western Retail Park. The retail park has retailers which include; Sainsbury's, Pets At Home, Carpet Right, ScS, Allied Carpets. JJB Sports Comet, Curry's, Benson's For Beds, B&Q Warehouse and Mecca Bingo. Also within the retail park are places to eat which include Pizza Hut, Burger King and The Leven Valley (Carvery & Pub).
Families
Families in Drumchaple are usualy very close,there children usualy go to the same school and quite often they live very near each other,for example the Henderson familey has 7 children in Langfaulds Primary School at the moment but alot more Henderson children have been to the school. 19:34, 14 December 2009 (UTC)
People
List of notable people who lived in Drumchapel:
- Billy Connolly, famous comedian and entertainer, lived in Drumchapel, in Kinfauns Drive. His wife Pamela Stevenson mentions this in her biography of him.
- Andy Gray. Between the years 1973 – 1992 Andy Gray played for Dundee United, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Notts County, West Bromwich Albion, Glasgow Rangers, Cheltenham Town and finally Chelsea. He scored a total of 180 goals in his domestic and International career.
- Football player Danny McGrain. Daniel Fergus McGrain played for Glasgow Celtic from 1970 to 1987 and is widely regarded as one of the most talented defenders Scottish football ever produced. McGrain finished his playing career with one season at Hamilton Academicals in 1988 and amassed a total of 62 caps at international level.
- Football player Gregor Stevens. Gregor Stevens played for Motherwell, Leicester City, Glasgow Rangers, Hearts, Partick Thistle, Brechin City and Dumbarton.
- Football player John MacDonald. John MacDonald played for Glasgow Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Barnsley, Scarborough, Ardrieonians, Dumbarton, Fort William and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. MacDonald made 230 appearances and scored 77 goals while at Glasgow Rangers.
- Football player John Wark. John played for Ipswich Town, Liverpool and Middlesburgh. Wark scored 172 goals in domestic and international matches
- Actor James McAvoy was born and bred in Glasgow, McAvoy lived in Scotstoun until he was seven, before going to live with his grandparents in Drumchapel
External links
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