Gothic Glasgow (& Glaswegian Graves)

Hello again, Blogonauts!

Earlier I noted that Glasgow is studded with Neo-gothic architecture, dating mostly from the 19th century.

And while this is true, a few remnants of genuine medieval-ness have survived. Let's start with the Glasgow Cathedral, which dates from the 12th century.

The Glasgow Cathedral
(currently getting a facelift)

The cathedral contains the remains of St. Mungo, a 6th-century priest who is Glasgow's patron saint. Even after the reformation Glaswegians continued to revere his memory. The city's seal contains a bird, a fish, a bell, and a tree, each representing a miracle that St. Mungo is credited with performing during his lifetime.

The Nave, leading into the Choir.
Before the Reformation, the stone screen kept the common folk
from mingling with the clergy and well-to-do.

The Lectern and the Altar

The altar atop the tomb of St. Mungo, in the crypt

The Protestant Reformation saw a host of Catholic churches & cathedrals laid to ruin. But in Glasgow, the Reformers were waylaid from causing ruin, and they simply removed the stained glass and sainted statuary. Thus, while it is still known as the Glasgow Cathedral, there's no bishop presiding here.

 

St. Mungo (as imagined by graffiti artist Smug)

Not far from the Cathedral is another of Smug's graffiti creations: a modern-day St. Mungo, shown holding a European robin that he reputedly resurrected. (I'm not making that up.)

Now, speaking of death, let's head back to the Cathedral and cross a ravine to the Glasgow Necropolis—a rolling 37-acre landscape of tombs and internments. It contains the remains of 50,000 Glaswegians, almost all from the Victorian era. The well-heeled deceased got ornate rocks to turn their final resting places into fine showplaces. Most graves, however, are unmarked.

Bridge to the Glasgow Necropolis

The Necropolis

It appears that a distant cousin of mine may have earned enough respect (and/or money) to secure a particularly prominent pillar near the peak of the hill.

Cousin Duncan!
(My ancestors had fled Scotland during the mid-1700s,
so Duncan's branch must have feared getting seasick.
And yes, spellings of my last name vary a lot.)

Let's now leave the well-preserved Gothic cathedral to visit a poorly preserved Gothic castle.

Crookston Castle sits among suburban houses on the edge of Glasgow. It dates from the 15th century, and sadly, it hasn't aged well.

Only one of the castle's square turrets has survived.

The once grand banquet hall
now only allows for dining al-fresco.

This derelict citadel was famous in its day. Mary Queen of Scots is said to have had a romantic dalliance here with her soon-to-be second husband, and in one of his novels, Sir Walter Scott wrote of the ruined fortress. As recently as World War 2, the castle proved useful as a watchtower where members of the Home Guard kept a lookout for approaching Nazi bombers.

And in testimony to how little people change, I found initials carved into the stairway, with the date 1861. (Smug's graffiti achieves far more than just her own signature.)

It's now, however, time to return to the present day. Thanks for sharing my wander through the rocks & ruins of Gothic Glasgow. 

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Blog to you later!