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Queen's Park (Pàirc na Banrìghinn in Gaelic, Queen's Pairk in Scots) is a park situated on the south side of the city of Glasgow, Scotland. The 60 hectares (150 acres) park lies about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of the city centre, and gives its name to an adjacent residential district, and the football team Queen's Park F.C..
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History
The park was developed in the late 19th century in response to the increasing population density of Glasgow in general, and the South Side in particular, with the growth of tenement housing supplying the increased demand for middle-class homes. Victorian Glasgow took the provision of open spaces extremely seriously, with the result that parks such as Queen's Park sprang up across the city. It is surrounded by several residential city districts, mostly consisting primarily of tenements, namely Battlefield, Crosshill, Langside, Shawlands and Strathbungo. The buildings of Glasgow Victoria Infirmary hospital (both the 19th century and 21st century facilities) are also nearby.
The park was acquired in 1857 and was designed by Sir Joseph Paxton, also responsible for noted public parks in London, Liverpool, Birkenhead and the grounds of the Spa Buildings at Scarborough. The park was dedicated to the memory of Mary, Queen of Scots - Mary lost the Battle of Langside near the park.
The residential area came to national attention in 1984 when Patrick Magee, the Brighton Bomber was arrested along with other members of an IRA Active Service Unit.
Current usage
Today the park is used by many thousands of people annually, and remains a focal point for the people of the South Side of Glasgow, and beyond. The park holds the annual Southside Festival which attracts over thirty thousand people. The park holds a farmers market twice a month.
There are three lawn bowls clubs, a tennis centre, a Five-a-side football facility and a miniature golf course within the park, as well as Camphill House (a former mansion built 1806, now private apartments), and Langside Hall, a former bank office which was originally in Glasgow city centre before being moved to its current location in 1889; it is now a community centre. Both buildings are Category A listed.
The park is also extremely popular in times of snow when the public rush to make full use of the parks steep hills with sledges in tow for fun in the snow. There is also a music festival held annually at the Glasshouse house called The Wee Chill.
From various points of the park, it is possible to view the full expanse of Glasgow in a given direction. The most comprehensive viewpoint is marked by a flagpole, and affords views of tens of miles to the north, east and south. In good visibility this view encompasses the Campsie Fells and Ben Lomond.
Archaeology
An earthwork runs over the top of the hill in the park enclosing an area approximately 120 metres by 100 metres. Excavations in 1951 revealed 14th century pottery. By comparison with similar archaeological sites in the area, it is suggested by Eric J Talbot, then of Glasgow University, that this was a Norman ringwork earth and timber castle.