Arden (UK:/ˌɑːrˈdɛn/) is a medium-sizedhousing estate on the south-western edge of the city ofGlasgow, Scotland. TheM77 motorway runs directly to the west of the neighbourhood, with Junction 3 serving the area; a smallindustrial estate is located to the south-east (this falls within Glasgow although is named after the neighbouring settlement ofThornliebank inEast Renfrewshire).[1] The residential area ofCarnwadric is to the north-east of Arden, and theJenny Lind part ofDeaconsbank to the south, while the land to the north is open ground (formerly Kennishead Farm) and woodland.
Historically, Arden was a farm[2] and formed part ofSir John Maxwell's land, one of approximately seven adjoining holdings which were situated on ancient Stewart land, originally granted toWalter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland byRobert the Bruce upon his marriage toMarjorie Bruce, the King's eldest daughter. Arden is nearThornliebank, a village formed on the river to manufacture cloth[3] and a specialized printing of cloth known asbeetling; Thornliebank linen was quite famous from the early-nineteenth century until the closure of the mill, in or around 1920. The building adjoining part of what is now Arden was used as a Prisoner of War (POW) camp during theSecond World War.
The S.S.H.A (Scottish Special Housing Association) built the estate (consisting mostly of four-storeytenements with a common close entrance) between 1953 and 1957 to rehouse families from the old, overcrowded inner city tenements.[4][5] Arden became very run-down during the 1970s and 1980s, with grants made for its refurbishment. It is not quite completed[when?] but is much improved. The shopping area containing around six businesses is in immediate need of investment and refurbishment. In 1999, the estate was bought byGlen Oaks Housing Association for a rumoured £6 million but the association has since acknowledged this may have been a rather inflated sum, and they have struggled to make necessary repairs as they are funded only by rents.
Arden became the first housing scheme to have a public house (The Cuillins) privately built in 1964-5 which then became a brewery pub in 1968.
Arden boasts the newAshpark Primary School which opened on 2 December 2008 and replaced the former Arden Primary School and Carnwadric Primary School. The second school, St. Louise Primary was merged with the newly rebuilt St. Vincent's Primary inCarnwadric, St. Louise's closed in June 2009 and the buildings subsequently demolished.
The nearest railway station isKennishead, named after another of Sir John Maxwell's farms.
Arden featured in the documentary programmeColin and Justin on the Estate[citation needed] which looked at the efforts to improve the area. Some of the current and former residents of Arden, were concerned about the slant of the show, and were particularly annoyed by the fact that the producers of the show concentrated their attention on housing units that were scheduled for demolition and not on housing that had seen extensive and successful renovation. Alasdair McKee, Glen Oaks chief executive, concluded however, that the program was a success and "the improvements have helped to convince people that we can make a difference" and contributed to a waiting list of people wanting to get into the estate.[6]
Over the years, the area has gained a reputation as a well documented centre of social deprivation, particularly the southern area near Nitshill Road. The life expectancy for males in this part of the city is around 60 years, as a result of the 'Glasgow effect'.[7]
Media related toArden, Glasgow at Wikimedia Commons
