Pictured: Huntly pleasure gardens from above, captured by drone.
By Jade Yates
Picture taking your morning coffee across the road, opening the gates to the gardens and finding a quiet bench where you can sit for a while before the day gets going.
For some residents in Glasgow’s West End, that’s one of the benefits of having access to a private residents’ garden. A green space just outside your front door, shared with your neighbours.
Behind the railings of some of the West End’s grand Victorian terraces, these gardens have been part of the neighbourhood for almost 150 years. And while the West End has changed quite a bit since they were first laid out, they’re still enjoyed by the people who live around them today.
The history of residents’ gardens in Glasgow
The story of these gardens goes back to the 19th century, when Glasgow was expanding westwards. Much of what we now know as the West End was once countryside, with farmland and large estates gradually making way for new residential streets. As Glasgow grew, wealthy merchants and professional families began moving west, and developers built the grand sandstone terraces and townhouses that still give areas like Dowanhill so much of their character.
In some of these developments, the gardens were part of the original plan. Rather than each home having its own large front garden, residents shared private access to a landscaped space, enclosed by railings and made for the enjoyment of the surrounding homeowners. Even today, access is restricted to residents with a key.
Some became known as ‘pleasure gardens’, such as Crown Pleasure Gardens, a term used for gardens designed for relaxation and enjoyment, rather than growing fruit and vegetables.
These gardens aren’t found on every street in the West End, but there are several pockets where they’ve been part of residential life for generations. They’re one of the reasons why some of the West End’s Victorian neighbourhoods still feel so leafy and residential today, despite being close to some of the city’s busiest streets.
Pictured: Aerial view of Westbourne Gardens.
A quieter side of the West End
Ask someone what they love about living in the West End and they’ll probably mention the boutique-style shops, the great selection of independent cafés and restaurants, or the fact that there’s always something going on. But just beyond the busier streets are quieter residential pockets, where the pace of life feels quite different.
Dowanhill is a particularly good example. You’re really close to both Byres Road and Hyndland Road yet come home to a peaceful street overlooking mature trees and gardens.
While Glasgow has some great public parks, there’s something a bit different about having a garden that you share with just your neighbours. Somewhere to sit with a book, enjoy a picnic with the kids or have that morning coffee, without having to go very far at all. And when the gardens are just opposite your front door, they almost feel like an extension of your home.
I think one of the nicest things about living here isn’t just your home itself, but the bit you share with your neighbours. It’s part of what makes homes overlooking these gardens so appealing to buyers, even after all these years.
Pictured: Sunny morning view of Westbourne Gardens.
How are residents’ gardens looked after?
Another thing I like about these gardens is that they’re not just shared spaces, they’re also something neighbours take care of together. Many are looked after by residents’ associations, with homeowners contributing towards the maintenance of lawns, flowerbeds, trees, paths and railings.
There’s a social side to this too. Some gardens have hosted summer garden parties, children’s Easter egg hunts and other gatherings for local families. It’s a great example of the community spirit that these gardens can encourage. They’re somewhere neighbours can get to know each other and take a shared interest in nurturing the space around their homes.
These gardens must have seen quite a few changes over the last 150 years, with generations of families coming and going and the West End growing and changing around them. Yet they’re still being enjoyed much as they were when they were first created.
Finding a home with residents’ gardens
Neil and Mark, our photographers, have been out capturing some of these gardens over the past few weeks for properties currently on the market.
These homes are all conversions within some of Dowanhill’s beautiful Victorian terraces. Each has its own character and has been renovated with care, mixing original features with more modern finishes and layouts that work well for everyday living. All four share access to private residents’ gardens, giving these homes a little something extra.
Pictured: 23 Westbourne Gardens. A first-floor, two-bedroom apartment with a bay-windowed living room overlooking the residents’ gardens. Home Report valuation of £450,000.
Pictured: 8 Crown Terrace. A three-bedroom apartment on the elevated ground floor, with a shared garden and off-street visitor parking. Home Report valuation of £550,000.
Pictured: 15 Crown Road North. A two-bedroom duplex apartment with both bedrooms en-suite, its own private patio and a communal garden. Home Report valuation of £500,000.
Pictured: 34 Huntly Gardens. A two-bedroom main door garden flat with an enclosed front garden and private terrace. Home Report valuation of £400,000.
While the gardens of these homes are looking lovely in their autumn colours just now, they’re something buyers can enjoy all year round. A little piece of Glasgow’s history, right outside your front door.
Interested in one of these homes?
If you’d like to find out more about any of the four homes I’ve mentioned or arrange a viewing, give our sales team a call on 0141 248 8726 or fill out the form below.