Glasgow’s distinctive orange, green and cream coloured trolleybuses, powered by electricity, dated back to the 1920s and could be found on Glasgow streets until 1967. The buses became popular owing to their ability to reach new communities, such as Knightswood, not catered for by the existing tram network. Diesel buses then replaced the trolleybuses in 1967 and the distinctive paintwork was replaced by Strathclyde Red in 1983. You can find examples of the “Corpy bus” at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.Glasgow’s distinctive orange, green and cream coloured trolleybuses, powered by electricity, dated back to the 1920s and could be found on Glasgow streets until 1967. The buses became popular owing to their ability to reach new communities, such as Knightswood, not catered for by the existing tram network. Diesel buses then replaced the trolleybuses in 1967 and the distinctive paintwork was replaced by Strathclyde Red in 1983. You can find examples of the “Corpy bus” at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust.
Glasgow’s distinctive orange, green and cream coloured trolleybuses, powered by electricity, dated back to the 1920s and could be found on Glasgow streets until 1967. The buses became popular owing to their ability to reach new communities, such as Knightswood, not catered for by the existing tram network. Diesel buses then replaced the trolleybuses in 1967 and the distinctive paintwork was replaced by Strathclyde Red in 1983. You can find examples of the “Corpy bus” at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust. | Picture: John Devlin

12 objects that made Glasgow what it is today and where you can find them

Callum McCormack
By Callum McCormack

News Features Writer

Published 19th Jul 2024, 14:11 BST

A look at some of the objects that reflect how Glasgow found its place in the world.

Glasgow has had a long and interesting history that has established the distinctive character, outlook and culture of the city over 850 years.

Glasgow is filled with reminders of its history - from how we used to get around the city to the Glaswegian sense of humour and its place as a magnet for Scottish talent.

We’ve put together this list of 12 objects that made Glasgow what it is today - reminders of the people and places that give us our identity - and where you can find them in the city.

We’ve put together this list of 12 objects that made Glasgow what it is today - reminders of the people and places that give us our identity - and where you can find them in the city.

Never has a statue’s headwear led to such controversy. The Duke of Wellington was sculpted by Italian artist Carlo Marochetti and erected in 1844 in celebration of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. However, the sculpture underwent a sartorial makeover in the 1980s when people took to placing an orange traffic cone on its head. Attempts have been made to dissuade people from continuing the tradition - including motion sensor cameras - but it has remained rare to see the Duke without his hat. You can see the Duke of Wellington statue and cone outside the Gallery of Modern Art.

5. Duke of Wellington and traffic cone

Never has a statue’s headwear led to such controversy. The Duke of Wellington was sculpted by Italian artist Carlo Marochetti and erected in 1844 in celebration of the French Revolutionary Wars and the Napoleonic Wars. However, the sculpture underwent a sartorial makeover in the 1980s when people took to placing an orange traffic cone on its head. Attempts have been made to dissuade people from continuing the tradition - including motion sensor cameras - but it has remained rare to see the Duke without his hat. You can see the Duke of Wellington statue and cone outside the Gallery of Modern Art. | Canva/Getty Images

Glasgow has stood in for a number of places across the world thanks to its stunning architecture - but perhaps the most loved is Craiglang. In the episode Hot Seat, Jack and Victor are battling with Tam and Winston for the best seat in the park during an unprecedented heat wave. Despite their best efforts, Jack and Victor are always one step behind. You can find the famous Still Game bench in Victoria Park.

6. Still Game Park Bench

Glasgow has stood in for a number of places across the world thanks to its stunning architecture - but perhaps the most loved is Craiglang. In the episode Hot Seat, Jack and Victor are battling with Tam and Winston for the best seat in the park during an unprecedented heat wave. Despite their best efforts, Jack and Victor are always one step behind. You can find the famous Still Game bench in Victoria Park. | BBC

James Watt is the father of the Industrial Revolution and can rightly be name checked as someone who changed not just Glasgow, but the world. As an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow, Watt was asked to repair a Newcomen pump in 1763. However, dissatisfied with its efficiency, he sought to improve on it. Two years later, during a walk in Glasgow Green, Watt came up with the idea for a separate condenser. He would patent his idea four years later and in doing so, trigger the industrial revolution. This stone marks the spot near where Watt had his idea. You can find the James Watt Commemorative Stone in Glasgow Green.

7. James Watt Commemorative Stone

James Watt is the father of the Industrial Revolution and can rightly be name checked as someone who changed not just Glasgow, but the world. As an instrument maker at the University of Glasgow, Watt was asked to repair a Newcomen pump in 1763. However, dissatisfied with its efficiency, he sought to improve on it. Two years later, during a walk in Glasgow Green, Watt came up with the idea for a separate condenser. He would patent his idea four years later and in doing so, trigger the industrial revolution. This stone marks the spot near where Watt had his idea. You can find the James Watt Commemorative Stone in Glasgow Green. | Supplied

Avril Paton painted Windows in the West in 1993 whilst living as a caretaker of a building on Saltoun Street in Dowanhill. The 5 by 4 ft watercolour painting depicts a snowy scene of the building opposite where Paton was living. The painting took six months to complete and was initially intended to be exhibited at Anne Mendelow's Gatehouse Gallery. However, with the painting taking up too much space in Paton’s flat, it was instead loaned to the Royal Concert Hall where it enjoyed success. This led to the painting being purchased by the city in 1996. You can view Windows in the West at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

8. Windows in the West

Avril Paton painted Windows in the West in 1993 whilst living as a caretaker of a building on Saltoun Street in Dowanhill. The 5 by 4 ft watercolour painting depicts a snowy scene of the building opposite where Paton was living. The painting took six months to complete and was initially intended to be exhibited at Anne Mendelow's Gatehouse Gallery. However, with the painting taking up too much space in Paton’s flat, it was instead loaned to the Royal Concert Hall where it enjoyed success. This led to the painting being purchased by the city in 1996. You can view Windows in the West at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. | Contributed

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