TOLLCROSS VILLAGE
Prior to the late 18th century, Tollcross as a village did not truly exist. There were three small, separate hamlets - Tollcross, Auchenshuggle and Fullarton - which gradually expanded in response to the earliest stimuli of the Industrial Revolution to coalesce into a community large enough to warrant being called a village. It started as a typical rural community dependent upon the land, and evolved with the weaving trades and then mining and iron working.
3) Main St., Tollcross from William St (Ardfern St) c.1911
Tollcross developed along the Main St, connecting the two older portions of the hamlet - Calton (at Dalness St) in the west with High and Low Dennistoun at Springfield Rd (now Amulree St) in the east. Some of the original one and two storey buildings with their strip of land to the rear are still very much in evidence, particularly in the vicinity of Tollcross Central Church.
4) Tollcross Rd from Braidfauld St, 1982.
With its inclusion into Glasgow in 1912 Tollcross, like so many other villages, was required to change a number of its street names to avoid duplication with those already used by Glasgow. Thus, Main St was changed to Tollcross Rd. The line of Tollcross Rd itself is of very ancient origin; it was part of a main Roman road.
The ancient owners of Tollcross were commemorated in the street name, Corbett St. This had previously been Dunlop St, but was changed to avoid confusion with Glasgow's Dunlop St which was named after Colin Dunlop of Carmyle who opened it in 1772.
5) This photograph shows some old houses which used to face into Tollcross Rd opposite Wellshot Rd, where the new route of Braidfauld St now exists. It shows the external wooden staircases which were used to gain access to the upper storey of the building. These houses are referred to by MacEwing in his book.
The line of Braidfauld St has been altered at its intersection with Tollcross Rd. The old junction is believed to be the site of the ancient cross of Shettleston.