WESTTHORN

Between St Peter's Cemetery and the grounds of Belvidere Hospital lies what used to be Westthorn estate The name was originally West Thorne, with an East Thorne and Thorne also existing although the latter two names have now vanished from the area.

The 1865 Ordnance Survey map shows a house named Thorne which sat at the site of the present Auchenshuggle bus terminus, on the land of Braidfauld farm. However, General William Roy's Military Survey Map of 1755 places it more in the region of Newbank House although this seems more geographically unlikely.

MacEwing notes that the manager of the Clyde Ironworks, John Meikleham, built the mansion house of East Thorne shortly before his death in 1863. This house was sited at the eastern, London Rd end of the Braidfauld housing scheme built in 1966/67. The location is now a filling station. It seems likely that the land associated with the name was in its vicinity.

The name of West Thorne is noted in the diocesan rental book as early as 1522 and that of East Thorne in 1563. Again, the lands were Church lands and were confiscated by the Crown at the Reformation. The Wadrops owned most of the original Dalbeth lands, including West Thorne. The most notable of the later 18th century owners of modern Westthorn was Thomas Harvey whose story is told later.

Into the 20th century a considerable portion of Westthorn remained under cultivation, but the westernmost portion was more subject to commercial and public development.

The location of the present Celtic FC Supporters Association Social Club and the land to the rear used by Celtic as a training ground, was previously a brick works utilising clay dug locally. Further towards the river, where the present recreation grounds are, was Westthorn Pumping Station. This Station, with two large reservoirs sitting 60 feet above the river, was constructed late in last quarter of the 19th century to provide a water supply to mills and factories near the river. This portion of Westthorn was joined with Glasgow in 1891.

Within the loop of the Clyde, an area liable to flooding by the river, built in the early 1900s was Westthorn, later Tollcross and Shettleston, Sewage Works. It continued in use until c.1957 when Dalmarnock took over its function.