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Post by Waverley on Mar 30, 2010 16:19:56 GMT 1
Workmen on the recent renovation job of the Bridgeton Cross Umbrella have discovered a bell inside the tower. The question now being asked by the people responsible for the renovation is ' did this bell ever toll and if so did it ring at quarter past and quarter to the hour or on the half hour and on the hour. Our enquiries will continue It is hoped that the bell will be back in use sometime in the future but a decision will have to be taken as to what time of the day will it toll and for what reason. Me personally I would suggest 11 am...so that the good people of Bridgeton will know that the pubs are officially open. The Brigton Bell...
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Post by Waverley on Apr 3, 2010 8:50:55 GMT 1
Thanks for your PM McGoo and like your good self hen I have never heard the bell in the Umbrella ring. I have just read on another Glasgow board that it was ringing on a regular basis in the 1980's...which I very much doubt. I used to go with a lassie years ago and she told me of an old boyfriend of hers who told her that he would always remember her no matter what happened between them in the future. How would he remember her - 'whenever he heard the bottle work in Shettleston works horn blast he'd remember their love forever'...how romantic. ;D
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Post by xelor on Apr 3, 2010 18:18:07 GMT 1
I can't recall it ever ringing so I phoned my mum (she's 85) and she's doesn't remember it ever ringing.
Good idea to ring it at 11 ;-}
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 3, 2010 20:04:17 GMT 1
Re conversation with elder sister. She agrees no knowledge of a bell saying.. 'Can you imagine that racket for all the tenants who lived at the Toll folks bedrooms faced on to it, an quite a few had their room and kitchens faced on to the Umbrella' tho' my dad was born and raised in the tenement across from umbrella - same as us - said she never remembers him mention the bell she also agrees there was no optician shop opposite our room window Perhaps the Bell will be rung again when all the renovations at the Cross are finished
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Post by Waverley on Apr 3, 2010 20:28:29 GMT 1
Alice this young pup is adamant that the Toll had a bell in the 1980's and that you were probably one of the ones who complained to get it stopped.
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 3, 2010 20:37:00 GMT 1
didnt live there in the 80's
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Post by Waverley on Apr 3, 2010 20:37:04 GMT 1
As I say I worked down in Alexander Stores for several months in 1969 before I joined the Post Office and I never remember hearing a bell ring at Bridgeton Cross. There again maybe I couldnae hear the bells for the sound of the banging of the drums and the auld root to toot toot of the auld Orange flutes. ;D Naw, I have spoken to dozens of people since I learned about this bell at the meeting that me and Carol (Palaisgirl) attended on Tuesday afternoon and nobody but nobody can remember a bell ringing in the Bridgeton Cross Umbrella.
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Post by palaisgirl on Apr 3, 2010 21:00:57 GMT 1
Oh Mcgoo I thought if anybody knew about this bell it would be YOU
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Post by palaisgirl on Apr 3, 2010 21:14:27 GMT 1
Oh Mcgoo I know you weren't around then, but knowing how much you know about Brigton history (and staying just across the road from it), I was sure you would know about this bell. Are you sure you wirnae the wan that complained about it ringing
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Post by davidhendry on Apr 4, 2010 7:43:34 GMT 1
What`s the future of the bell?
Why was it installed, if it was never(?) used?
Was it connected to the clock?
Charlie, do your bit and enlighten us. I`m sure all Keelies would want this mystery explained.
Regards, Davie.
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Post by Waverley on Apr 4, 2010 8:51:17 GMT 1
David that is the mystery as nobody has a clue as to why it was installed as nobody can ever remember it working within living memory apart from a fairly young guy on another Glasgow board. As far as we know it was attached to the clock at one time but as to when it started and stopped ringing nobody knows. I am trying my best to solve this 'Ring O' Bells' mystery.
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Post by palaisgirl on Apr 13, 2010 20:01:03 GMT 1
Spent hours today in Mitchell trying to unravel the mystery of this bell. I had all the librarians and the Head Archivist searching for information, but to no avail. I managed to get a paragraph in the Glasgow Herald for 4th March 1875, informing readers that the Pavillion had opened the day before. It goes on in detail about the structure of the Umbrella and the existance of the clock tower, which was illuminated at night, but NO mention of a BELL, it was donated by George Smith & Co of the Sun Foundry to Glasgow Council. Contractors were T Leadbetter & Co. The archivist gave me the Minutes of the Council meeting records for 1875, as it would have been mentioned there, after going through this book (the size of an encyclopedia) found nothing, then realised it would have been long before that as permission would have had to be granted. She then proceeded to give me 1873 and 1874, but by this time my eyes were nipping after going through 1875. But it must be in one of those books somewhere. I then tried looking for the contractor, but there was no listing of him, then checked Sun Foundry, to see if I could see a design, but no luck there either. Still remains a mystery but I am sure it must be in one of those Council Meetings books, as it would have to have been passed by them. Another day at the Mitchell me thinks!!!!!
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Post by Waverley on Apr 13, 2010 20:14:12 GMT 1
It is a great place Carol but it can really get to you if you spend a day there and find nothing of interest.
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Post by palaisgirl on Apr 13, 2010 20:53:54 GMT 1
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 14, 2010 21:30:44 GMT 1
think I got a wee bit of info for your, will get it wrote down later
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Post by Waverley on Apr 15, 2010 7:42:16 GMT 1
think I got a wee bit of info for your, will get it wrote down later We are all looking forward to your words of wisdom Alice.
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 15, 2010 17:05:29 GMT 1
will let you know later got visitors shortly
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2010 18:50:21 GMT 1
the things yea learn on the keelies is majic passed the toll a million times never heard a bell keep us posted all the best on yer endeaveors
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Post by Waverley on Apr 17, 2010 9:24:48 GMT 1
will let you know later got visitors shortly For God sake Alice have yer visitors over stayed their welcome, hurry up and pap them out and tell us about the bells, the bells...come on I am sure your ears must be ringing by now. ;D
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 17, 2010 18:24:44 GMT 1
will post later off to get my dinner
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 17, 2010 20:32:41 GMT 1
right here is that we bit of info, collected with someone else the original bridgeton cross was at the intersection of reid st and dale st. the bridgeton shelter (umbrella) built 1874 the mansions (onion crowned turret) was last of the tenements to be completed at the cross in 1899. we have read were coal mines, iron works sawmills, cotton mills in area so was that ole bell was tolled, was it possibly to let people know the time to start work - who knows? A lot of factories hooted their horns for their workers. Tulliss was one, where my mam worked, we could hear it in our kitchen sorry, thats all the info i have at present, any more will post it..
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Post by Waverley on Apr 17, 2010 20:33:16 GMT 1
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mcgoo
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Post by mcgoo on Apr 17, 2010 20:36:32 GMT 1
was eaten few hours ago charlie anyhow carol might find out more at the Mitchell next week - lets see what she finds out eh?
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Post by Waverley on Apr 17, 2010 20:43:06 GMT 1
We need sources of references Alice before we can print this as legit...
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Post by dalmaggie2 on Apr 20, 2010 19:39:12 GMT 1
Interested in the bell.
Could it have been silenced in the war(s) or was it already quiet by then.
Or is it the bell that never rang........
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Post by tammccann on Apr 20, 2010 19:50:31 GMT 1
My auld mans 86 and was brought up in Bridgton and cant remember the bell ever sounding.
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Post by adaline on Apr 20, 2010 20:36:45 GMT 1
It is times like this when questions need answered that I wish my da and his family were still livin, as they all came fae Brigton. I also was born and bred in Brigton and never knew there was a bell never mind heard it.
I am intrigued hope ye find some answers Charlie.
Adaline
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Gibbsy
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Post by Gibbsy on Apr 21, 2010 20:25:51 GMT 1
Charlie I tried a google search to see if ah could dig anything up on a bell at the toll/umbrella - never brought anythin up as im sure yese huv tried this. Best ah could find out was that the upgrading work being carried out is about 1 or 2 months behind schedule caused by the weather over the winter months. did find another board (ah think) where this guy is convinced the bell was still ringing in the 80's and that he knows lots of cleansing workers that would back him up
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Post by Waverley on Apr 21, 2010 20:40:28 GMT 1
Gibbsy if you look closer you will maybe know the guy who is arguing with him. He has no back up whatsoever re the bell being rung in the 1980's and actually got the post blocked when he started spouting opinions on sectarianism which did not please one or two other people he was debating with. An easy opinion whenever you are losing face in an argument on the web just accuse your tormentors of bigotry or sectarianism and the moderators will pull the plug on the topic...anywhere but on here, if you make those accusations you will need to be able to back them up with fact.
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