21. The White Lady
 |
Of all the many monuments in the Southern Necropolis The White Lady has gained a unique and mysterious reputation. It is the resting place of John S Smith, carpet manufacturer, his wife Magdalene and their housekeeper Mary McNaughton.
In the form of a veiled woman beside a broken pillar, the Ivy covered and much weathered memorial tells a fascinating story. Although the date of her husband's death is no longer visible on the stone the tragic story behind the accidental death of Magdalene and her housekeeper is poignantly told. |
On 29th October 1933 while returning from church to their home at Langside Avenue, sheltering from the heavy rain behind an umbrella, they walked into the path of a tramcar on Queen's Drive. Magdalene died on arrival at the Victoria Infirmary and Mrs Mc Naughton passed away two weeks later.
The monument is a solemn and fitting memorial to the tragedy. Local legend tells how the White Lady turns her head as you pass by. Of the braver among us who have ventured into the graveyard after dark a few come back to testify to a mysterious glow about the White Lady at dead of night.
22. Allan Glen
 |
Allan Glen ( 1850) was born the son of George Glen and Marion Mitchel who were married on 5th November 1771. The family farmed the lands of East Cowglen and Maudlans near Pollokshaws but the small size of the farm meant that it could barely support one family. This forced part of the family, including Allan Glen's parents, to move into the village of Pollokshaws to find work in the mills.
Pollokshaws at the end of the 18th century was a small town with a population of around 2000 most of whom were employed in the cotton industry as spinners, weavers and bleachers. Allan Glen himself was apprenticed to a carpenter. In 1810, Allan Glen decided to set up business as a master Wright within Glasgow. |
Glen was one of the first members of the Unitarian Church which was established in 1808. Unitarians attached great value to education and Allan Glen reflected this in the foundation of his school. When he died in 1850 Glen left money for two charity schools, one for boys and one for girls. They were to be non-sectarian and industrial, meaning they should provide a general basic education as well as the skills on which future trades might be built. Unfortunately, there was not enough money for the girls’ school but the boys’ school was built on ground belonging to Allan Glen at the corner of North Hanover Street and Cathedral Street. Allan Glen died of paralysis at his home in Gourock on the 18th February 1850.
23. George Geddes and family
 |
George Geddes (1826-1889). Orphaned as a baby he was adopted by a family from Govan. At the age of seven he was sent to work 10 hours a day at a silk mill - in 1833 legislation to protect child workers was unknown. In 1837 there was no St Andrew's Bridge at McNeil Street and a ferry took people across the river at that spot. George often helped his brother who was in charge of it. Aged 11 he saved a young girl from drowning which gave him a taste for rescuing people. He joined as an officer of the Humane Society in 1845 and in the first 15 years of his service saved no less than 35 lives. |
His dedication to lifesaving was recognised by the award of a gold medal by the Glasgow Society. As might be expected of someone who rescued people from a river George was an able oarsman. In a contest on Kilbirnie Loch he once beat the then famous Bob Campbell - Champion of Scotland. George died on 17th January 1889 aged 63. His family headstone includes the inscription ‘A faithful public servant for 45 years and rescuer of over 100 persons’. His post was taken over by his son George II that same year. This important position with the Humane Society is held today by George Parsonage who himself took over from his late father Ben.
24. Wee Willie White
 |
Wee Willie White (died 1858) the blind flute and flageolet player. In a Glasgow so unlike the city we know today ‘Wee Willie’ White was indeed a ‘character’ and well respected. Although not much has been recorded about the man his story is like many other ‘deserving poor’ - short and simple.
Willie was below average height and his general appearance was somewhat squat, but neither deformed nor repulsive. Entertaining his street audiences by playing popular and patriotic tunes White worked his talents from Jamaica Street to the Trongate. The small sums that he collected allowed Willie to live in what was then referred to as ‘respectable poverty’. |
On 11th September 1858 while still by no means an old man, he suddenly took ill on Glasgow Green. Willie lived long enough to be taken home to his lodgings at 102 Saltmarket, where he died later that same day. His friends and admirers provided for his decent burial in the far left row in Western Section of the Southern Necropolis, his resting place being marked by a simple headstone bearing a stone flute and the box in which it was carried.
Southern Necropolis Heritage Trail main page