Pollock Park

So, before proper classes started up, we had a week at uni that was going over things we have to do for the portfolio that is due at the end of the year. They also threw in a mini fieldtrip to Pollock Park (which is sort-of in Glasgow. It's where the famous Burrell collection is, to which I still haven't been!)

Anyway, Pollock Park is certainly an interesting place! Once a large estate, from medieval times, it is now a public park. Ewan Campbell told us that he knew someone who had visited the estate in the 1950s where people were still living in medieval-style (if not age?) cottages with no electricity or plumbing. It's fascinating to imagine. 

We looked at Pollock House first, which was built in the 18th century to look more grand than it actually was. They told us that the top storeys are shorter than the lower levels of the house. 

Pollock House

The War Memorial, unique for several reasons: 1st that it lists the names of the survivors as well as those who were killed, 2nd, that it has pride of place in the wall, and it is in plain sight of any visitors who would come over the bridge. This indicates that the Maxwells valued their tenants. Hmm...maybe that was it. I think I covered it.

The bridge leading to Pollock House.

We then took a look at the old courtyard, which has several phases of building, ranging from the 14th century to the 20th!

The entrance to the courtyard.

Those semi-triangular shapes were from an earlier building and were added when this part of the courtyard was built.

In the corner is the remainder of the 14th century keep.

See that copse? That used to be the village of Pollock.

The other side of the courtyard - the 14th C. keep. It's now on the outside, but originally this was the inside wall.

This might possibly be the remains of a medieval motte. 

An Iron Age settlement/farmstead of some sort used to be here.