Newbank, Glasgow

Newbank is a working class district in the East End of Glasgow, near the home ground of Celtic F.C.. It sits just north of the River Clyde, adjacent to Parkhead, and is bounded to the south by London Road. It is now a settlement of council houses but its name derives from an 18th-century estate of that name. The original 'Newbank House' has left no remains, but there is a fine red-sandstone 19th century Newlands Primary School in Springfield Road, near Parkhead Cross. This school was the generous gift of Lord Newlands, hence its name. Over many years, Newlands School earned a reputation for academic excellence; its dedicated teaching staff served the Newbank/Parkhead districts well and produced many children who, despite their inauspicious origins, went on to do exceptionally well in life.

Although many residents of Newbank would consider themselves residents of Parkhead or Tollcross, they have been officially placed within the Braidfauld Ward of Glasgow City Council.

Architecturally, the Newbank area is notable for its solid 4-in-a-block council houses which, with full bathroom facilities and their own gardens, were a substantial improvement on the older tenement flats which for generations dominated the East End. Many of the more modern Newbank tenement flats also boasted internal facilities not commonly found elsewhere.

Much of the original Newbank housing, including the fine old Belvedere Hospital on London Road, has recently been demolished. Riverside Secondary School, on Springfield Road, which previously serviced the area, has also gone, and the site is currently scheduled to accommodate athletes for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.