Pollok Park (also known as Nether Pollok)

http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/hes/web/f?p=PORTAL:DESIGNATIONS:0

Location and Setting

Pollok Park lies 4 miles (6.5km) to the south-west of Glasgow City Centre. It is bordered by busy main roads, the B768 to the north, the B769 to the east, and the B762 to the south. There is a proposal to put a new major road link to Ayr from the M8, 1 mile (1.5km) to the north, southwards through the west margin of the park. The Glasgow/Irvine railway line cuts through the east margin of the park. The underlying geology is Carboniferous with the Upper Limestone groups to the south of the park and the Limestone/coal group to the north and west. (There was a limestone quarry to the north of Pollokhead Wood in 1741 and coal mines on what is now Haggs Castle golf course.) Above these rocks are drift deposits of boulder clay on the hillslopes and marine alluvial deposits on the former raised beach. The landform is relatively low-lying; the park is bisected by the river White Cart Water and, to the west and north, the land rises gently reaching 51m at North Wood. The Shawlands Burn flows from the north-east of the park to enter White Cart Water at the sawmill east of Pollok House. Post-war high-rise flats dominate the skyline to the south and west but otherwise the park woodlands screen the surroundings and restrict the views to within the park. The woodlands are dominant in the scenery from the surrounding area to west and north while the parkland and Pollok House are visible from the B762 cutting through the south of the park. The railway line to the east of the park obscures the view from this side.

Pollok House is set above the north bank of the White Cart Water facing south across the parkland. The designed landscape is bordered by the B768 and Haggs Castle to the north, by the B769 and the railway line through Pollokshaws to the east, and by minor roads and housing along its western boundary. This area has remained similar in extent since the mansion house was built in c.1752, with gradual incursions along its boundaries, and with the gradual development of recreational and other uses within the designed landscape. There are several plans of the estate besides the OS maps: Blaue's map of the River Clyde in 1662, Robert Ogilvy's map of Pollok estate in 1741 and John Ainslie's map of Renfrewshire in 1796.

The mansion house is set to take advantage of the view of the parkland and Pollokhead Wood to the south. The designed landscape at Pollok extends to 1,186 acres (480ha). (Pollok estate covers 1016 acres (411ha): of which 258 acres (105ha) are in agriculture; 295 acres (119ha) are of woodland; 333 acres (135ha) are under golf courses; and 43 acres (17ha) are grassland).

Landscape Components

Architectural Features

Pollok House, a mid-Georgian mansion was designed for the 2nd Baronet in 1750 on a site to the west of the former castle and extended from 1890 by Rowand Anderson; it is listed A. The site of the former castle or motte lies to the east of the present house in the woodland garden. The Square or Old Stable Courtyard containing part of the wall of the laighe castle is listed A. The Bridge over the White Cart Water was built in 1757 and is listed A. The Garden Terraces and Pavilions were designed by Rowand Anderson around 1904 and are listed A. The lions and urns on the terrace are sculpted by Hew Lorimer and the gates at the North Lodge are known as the Lorimer Gates. The Doocot and lodges are listed B. There are also the remains of an Ice House to the south of the river. The Burrell Collection was designed by Gasson and others in 1972.

Parkland

The parkland now accommodates many different uses including three golf courses; grazing land for Glasgow District Council's herd of Highland Cattle; sports pitches to the north and west of the estate; allotments, croquet and bowling clubs; the Police Dog and Horse Training Unit in the south of the park; and The Burrell Collection and associated parking area to the north-east of the house. The park to the south of Pollok House, now in use as a golf course, has kept many of its fine parkland trees, including sycamore, oak, lime, horse chestnut and beech species and has retained an open parkland character with few of the more unsightly trappings of a golf course. The only area of main grassland which is unfenced and open to the public is the area near The Burrell Collection. The former south drive is no longer open as a driveway, being gated south of the river; its sweeping drive would, in the past, have provided a stunning approach to the house. The roads within the park are tarmaced and now carry a great deal of traffic at peak times; major improvements are soon to be made. The 1888 Lime Avenue is a dominant feature to the north of the house, while only traces of the former avenue in the south of the park up to Pollokhead Wood on Baggershill can still be discerned. The East Lime Avenue, east of the house, was originally planted between 1756-1796 and was divided when the railway was put in in 1845.

There is an ancient tumulus south of the river which is now enclosed in a group of trees, but no trace remains today of the former Pollok Town. There were some famous Wych elms on the banks of the river a little to the east of the mansion house which were noteworthy in 1822; two were blown down in 1894 and two were felled in 1905 when they were recorded as about 300 years old. The elms in the park are also dying.

Woodland

Two areas of woodland, North Wood and Pollokhead Wood, have existed for many years, at least since 1741, although they have been replanted since then. The largest area of old woodland is part of North Wood with oaks and beech of 200 years in age, with younger mixed species, and a yew and Rhododendron understorey. There are old trees of beech, sycamore and oak throughout the park, remnants of old field boundaries incorporated into later plantings. During the latter half of the 19th century much tree planting took place; this included the park roundels and the shelterbelts along the lower field boundaries. The 10th Baronet undertook both replanting and new planting programmes from the late 19th century onwards, particularly in the north of the park, where beech, sycamore and Corsican pine species were used. At Pollokhead Wood in the south, there are many old beech trees and a high proportion of pines. There is a variety of species here planted 40-60 years ago. A very comprehensive Woodland Management Plan has been prepared by Glasgow District Council.

Woodland Garden

The woodland garden was first established during the time of the 7th Baronet, from the late 18th century onwards, and particularly by his wife Lady Hannah. Some of the older ornamental trees date from this period. The shrubbery was extended and improved by the 10th Baronet from 1910 onwards. It is surrounded by a 2m high hedge and contains ornamental trees such as Magnolias, maples, (Davidia involucrata), and also some of Sir John's collection of Rhododendrons. Paths of grass and gravel lead through the garden east from the house and down to the walled garden. Steps lead up to the main focal point of the garden, the site of the former motte castle now adorned by the massive spreading beech tree. Rhododendron planting was extended northwards from the woodland garden along the woodland drives and into North Wood. This area is overgrown but there is a clearance programme. There is an ancient fort in North Wood and also a pond, the origin of which is unknown but which is now used for nature study.

Water Features

The White Cart Water was canalised to the south of the house, probably by the 2nd Baronet who had the mansion house constructed. Records in 1782 by Semple refer to there being two cascades along this stretch of river, one on either side of the new bridge, put in by the 3rd Baronet in 1757.

The Gardens

The formal garden was designed by the 10th Baronet shortly after he came to Pollok and began improvements to the house. The garden pavilions were put in by Rowand Anderson at the same time as he carried out the additions to the house in the early 1900s. Sir John himself designed the parterres, both here and at his other house at Corrour, sketching designs of the many country house gardens he visited for the purpose. The parterres were originally formed with hedges infilled with gravel. The hedges to the east of the library remain but the gravel has been replaced with soil. The Alpine Wall was put in to the east of this parterre and is currently being replanted. The south parterres have now gone and are replaced by lawns, but the terrace walls, clipped hedges and decorative iron work remain. Two lions sculpted by Hew Lorimer now guard the upper terrace steps and there are several urns along the terrace.

Walled Garden

The walled garden is shown to the north of the laighe castle on the 1741 map; these two acres are recorded as being laid out 250 years ago as a kitchen garden and orchard with flowers and vegetables. Around 1900 there were many glasshouses, a hot wall and melon pits. Since 1975 the garden has been laid out as a Demonstration Garden, with display beds aimed at the amateur gardener with areas of scented plants, vegetables, fruit, shrubs etc. There is also a rose garden, (this has been closed due to the collapse of the retaining wall, its future is being reconsidered), and a garden for the disabled.