Rise and fall of city’s well known Red Road flats
THE Red Road flats are part of Glasgow’s history but in 1965, they were hailed as the future of high-rise living. These smiling workers, pictured in a spectacular shot of the buildings’ construction, were fearless posing for the cameras.
The story of the Red Road flats began in 1962, when architect Sam Bunton came up with the designs for Glasgow Corporation, although the eight-block project was not completed until 1969 when around 4700 people were living in towers of up to 30 storeys.
They dominated the Springburn skyline – and public debate around the pros and cons of high rises – for 50 years, until demolition removed them from the map between 2012 and 2015.
They were created as an answer to the city’s housing problems, a way to provide safe homes for thousands of families existing in slum conditions. However, in the 1970s complaints were made about growing anti-social behaviour and a lack of accessible facilities. Latterly, the Red Road development housed asylum seekers. A plan to blow up five of the remaining blocks during the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games was scrapped amid criticism it was insensitive because of the vulnerability of residents and particularly after the deaths in 2010 of the Serykh family, who jumped from their balcony.
In 1969, Conservative MP Enoch Powell – who had made the controversial “rivers of blood” immigration speech the previous year, visited the flats. He spoke to local children and was photographed with Jack Sorbie, the prospective Tory candidate for Springburn.
HERE at the Glasgow Times, we know the tales of ordinary people paint a picture of what life was really like for the men, women and children of the city over the decades.
We want to hear them, for our great new Times Past series, All Our Yesterdays. Each week, we will cover a theme connected to Glasgow’s ‘good old days’ – it could be the parks and gardens, transport, dance halls and cinemas, or something completely different.
We’d love to hear your stories and see your old photos – all you have to do is write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, Print Centre, 125 Fullarton Drive, Cambuslang G32 8FG or email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk