Glasgow Boys' Brigade West End Walking Tour

The entrance to Kelvingrove Museum has been a popular place for Companies from the local area to have their photograph taken. Here we see 1st Glasgow in 1907.

Following serious fire damage to the roof of the College Free Church (Lyndoch Street), in 1903, union with nearby Kelvingrove United Free Church led to this fine property becoming the new spiritual home of William Smith and of the 1st Glasg... Read more

The property, overlooking Kelvingrove Park, was erected in 1857 and was the venue for the first Glasgow Battalion Church Parade, held on Sunday 11th April 1886. Between 600 and 700 Boys attended the Parade. The property is now a Hindu Mandi... Read more

This property, which is situated a few short steps from the College Free Church, was once the home of Lady Roberton, mother of the Glasgow Battalion President. It was here in 1904, that the historic meeting between William Smith and Baden P... Read more

The congregation vacated the property (erected in 1856) after it was damaged by fire in 1903 and united with nearby Kelvingrove U.F. Church. Following repair, the former church was used as a college. The property was converted into resident... Read more

At one time this substantial red sandstone property served as the Headquarters of 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers and would have been very familiar to W.A. Smith who joined the 1st L.R.V. in 1874.

329 North Woodside Road. This is the address of the former Free College Church North Woodside Mission. A plaque on the exterior of the property commemorates the building as the Birthplace of The Boys’ Brigade in 1883. The property was sol... Read more

Kelvinbridge Parish Church (formerly Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church) Belmont Street, Spiritual home of the Original Company (1st Glasgow) since 1927.

1906 Along with his new bride, Hannah Ranken Campbell, Smith and his two sons moved to this impressive property. The following year, on 29th July, Hannah unexpectedly died. Number 13 Belmont Crescent was to be W. A. Smith’s last home. Smi... Read more

1868 - When William Smith first came to Glasgow he lived with his uncle, Alexander Fraser and three aunts at 28 Hamilton Park Terrace from 1868 until 1878. (renamed Hamilton Park Avenue)  

1878 - When Smith moved to his first tenement flat, his mother, Harriet, arrived from Thurso to help look after her son’s new home. The precise location of Smith’s tenement flat is unclear, but is thought to have been at either No 9 or ... Read more

1898 - (Hillsborough Terrace - now BOWER STREET) Shortly after the death of Smith’s wife, Amelia, the family moved to a nearby five-roomed flat. Smith’s sister, Kate, stayed with the family to look after the Boys. The flat, with double ... Read more

1884 - Following his marriage to Amelia Pearson Sutherland the couple spent fourteen happy years in what, at that time, were modern spacious flats. The Smith’s two children were born here ~ George Stanley born 1888 and Douglas Pearson bor... Read more

Formerly Anderston Free Church; it was here in 1900 that Dr. William Somerville, Captain of 28th Glasgow Boys’ Brigade Company, founded The Girls’ Guildry (now known as The Girls’ Brigade). The property is currently owned by the Unive... Read more