by Socceroo » Sun Mar 19, 2006 3:40 pm
As mentioned earlier in this thread by Ronnie, there is an article in James Cowan’s book “From Glasgow’s Treasure Chest” in which he investigates the hidden house in Woodlands. Here is the full article from the Evening Citizen in January 1935 which appeared in the book published in 1951 :
A HIDDEN HOUSE IN GLASGOW
It would probably surprise most Glasgow people to find a self - contained house within a few yards of one of the busiest city streets where tramway cars run past, and yet as completely secluded from all noise and bustle as if it were out in the peace and quietness of the country ; but there is a least one house of that description in the city. I discovered it when I looked out from the window of a stair landing at 144 Woodlands Road. There it was, in the space bounded by the tenements of West – End Park Street, Woodlands Road and Arlington Street, which should in ordinary circumstances, have been used entirely for back greens ; but the space is so ample that in this case there is room for both the house and the greens.
As this promised to be interesting, I decided to investigate, and found the easiest way to reach this curiously situated house was through the entry at West – End Park Street. It is occupied by two tenants, and the top storey is reached by an outside stair. A single large tree stands beside the house, and this tree along with the house, I judged must be considerably older than the tenements surrounding them.
Further investigations proved that such was the case ; for I interviewed more than one person who could remember West – End Park Street “before it was made” ; and the house stood there at that time, apparently in the midst of a market garden, or nursery, one informant being able to remember a cart which periodically took the produce away.
A map dated 1862 showed a house seemingly in the position of the one in question, though it was difficult to be certain on the point, owing to the absence of other known buildings for comparison ; but on the map dated 1848 there is no sign of it. The house was, therefore, probably not in existence earlier than, say, 1850 ; but although of little or no antiquarian interest, its present curious position makes it worthy of mention as being possibly unique of its kind in the city, and if it could only be discovered there must be some interesting reason for this house having been left in such a position, instead of being removed when the surrounding tenements were built. Strangely enough it is not shown on the most recent maps of the city ; so it would appear that so far as present – day map makers are concerned, this house does not now exist !
Note – In a letter to the Evening Citizen dated 25/02/35 Dr. Leslie Buchanan points out that the cottage referred to in the foregoing article is shown in the Glasgow Directory of 1856-57, p.50 as Woodside Cottage, the postal address being 86 Woodlands Road. In the Directory of 1848-49, p.66, the name of David Brown, nurseryman, Woodlands Cottage appears. This David Brown was in the same house as far back as 1843, calling himself a landscape gardener. The house must therefore, have been built before that date. Dr. Buchanan also mentions that the famous firm of photographers, Messrs. Annan, once occupied the cottage. This point is dealt with more fully in the later article entitled “More Hidden Houses in Glasgow,” No. 93.