Sites and Monument Record: Westquarter Model Village (SMR 1216)

Description
"The dull red of the tiles and the creay white of the houses blended particularly well with the rustic scenery. The houses are built in squares, crescents and avenues, each group having their own village green. This together with the steeply sloping gables of the houses with their dormer windows and little balconies, gives a charming old-world atmosphere to the scheme. The gardens too were worth a mention; the way each garden was screened from the front by walls cut with arches and fitted with wrought iron gates and how each garden was divided from the other with laurel hedges." [Falkirk Herald, Nov 1936]
 See full details

Object detail

Site type
building
model village
Site history notes
In 1935 the estate of Westquarter (118 acres) was purchased by Stirling County Council to provide housing for slum tenants in old mining communities such as Standburn. Westquarter House was demolished. A competition was held to design a model village and John AW Grant won. The layout adopted was for 458 houses for an estimated population of 2,748. The glen was to be retained for recreational walks and open spaces were provided throughout the area. Even the wide verges kept their rhodedendrons at first. Space was reserved for a school, shops, a recreation or church hall and a welfare hall. The overall cost was estimated at £189,205.
The first phase of housing cost £42,502 for 126 houses; the second £27,274 for 82 houses. The first sod was cut on 25 October 1935. Laurel Grov and Beech Crescent were in this early phase.
Site grid ref
NS 913 788

Share

My shortlist

Image auto tags

Explore other objects by colour

Public comments

Be the first to comment on this object record.

Google reCaptchaThis site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.