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Glasgow Leasing

Did You Know?

Fossil Grove, in Glasgow’s Victoria Park, is home to eleven very special trees. These fossilised tree stumps date to the Carboniferous Period, making them 330 million years old, twice as old as the dinosaurs. The trees were discovered in 1887 during excavations to make a new park from an old quarry.

According to local stories, the city of Glasgow was founded by 6th-century Christian missionary St Mungo. However, in reality, there had been a settlement on the banks of the River Clyde since prehistoric times, and even the Romans built a number of outposts in the area now known as Glasgow, designed to keep out the unruly Celts and Picts to the north.

However, Saint Mungo (also called Kentigern) did establish a missionary settlement in what is now the city centre of Glasgow. This small village quickly grew to be an important bishopric and trading centre in the early medieval period. 

Glasgow’s subway system is the third-oldest underground train system in the world, and began to welcome passengers in 1896. The bright orange carriages and regular service mean that it is often dubbed ‘The Clockwork Orange’.

Glasgow has historically been a centre for science, art and learning, and the fabulous museums across the city are littered with artistic, cultural and scientific treasures. Of these, one of the most famous is the world’s first ultrasound machine, which was developed and first used in Glasgow in the 1950s.

Ah – chicken tikka masala! Britain’s favourite dish has long been a fixture on menus in Indian restaurants from London to Aberdeen. However, did you know that this supposedly Indian dish may have actually been invented in Glasgow?.

This is a surprising fact about Glasgow. Did you know the bones of the patron saint of lovers, Saint Valentine, can be found in the Church of Blessed St John Duns Scotus. The remains, housed in a small wooden box, are part of a set of relics donated to the Franciscan church in 1868.

Scotland might not rank highly in international football these days, but this Scottish city is actually the birthplace of the beautiful game! In 1872 the first international football match (association rules, of course) took place between England and Scotland at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick. Happily, the game was a 0-0 draw, so it didn’t create any diplomatic incidents!

Although Edinburgh is famous for its many festivals, including the annual Fringe Festival in August, Glasgow is the undisputed capital of Scottish culture. There are more than 20 museums and art galleries in Glasgow, featuring works by some of the world’s most famous artists.