page_title: Sighthill, Glasgow
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Sighthill, Glasgow / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Plaque on site of former St Rollox Chemical Works The factory stood here for over 150 years, in the area which once also bore the name St. Rollox.
context_page_description: Sighthill is a housing estate in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde.
  Sighthill is part of the wider Springburn district in the north of the city. The area is bordered to the north by Cowlairs, to the east by the Springburn Bypass road, to the west by the Glasgow to Edinburgh via Falkirk Line running into Queen Street Station and to the south by the Townhead interchange of the M8 Motorway. The area is split into two sub-areas, Pinkston to the south and Fountainwell to the north.
  The district is primarily residential and originally consisted of ten 20-storey slab tower blocks, seven 5-storey maisonette blocks and five rows of tenements.
context_section_description: Designed by Crudens Ltd, the scheme was built by Glasgow Corporation Housing Department between 1964 and 1969 on the 'Soda Waste' at Pinkston and Fountainwell Farm, near the cemetery. The former was derelict ground on which the United Alkali Company's St. Rollox Chemical Works, founded by Charles Tennant and at one time the largest chemical manufacturer in the world, used to dump waste chemicals (particularly hydrogen sulfide, a byproduct of the Leblanc process) until its closure in 1964. The Chemical Works was located on the north bank of the Monkland Canal, immediately east of Port Dundas, where the current Pinkston area of Sighthill is now located.
  The neighbourhood (scheme) later suffered from stigma, as high rise living went out of fashion. It has suffered from low demand since the mid-1970s, despite its proximity to the city centre. Because of its low occupancy rate, Sighthill was selected in the late 1990s, along with nearby Red Road, as a temporary housing location for refugees and asylum seekers. As a result, Sighthill has one of the most diverse ethnic makeups in Scotland.
  In 2005, letting was suspended in the Fountainwell side of Sighthill as new landlords, Glasgow Housing Association considered the estate's future. The decision was eventually made that Fountainwell should be demolished. The first two blocks were demolished in July 2008 with the three remaining Fountainwell blocks following in November 2009. 
  The fate of the five remaining Pinkston blocks has now been decided. After a campaign by local residents, at least two of the blocks were to be retained and refurbished by Glasgow Housing Association, with three being demolished or sold to private developers.
  This however will not be happening. After agreeing to retain the two blocks (Pinkston & Hartfield Heights), GCC then bid for the 2018 Youth Olympics. They were successful in that they are now on the short list for the games. However, to qualify one must first have an Athletes Village prepared. Hence the total demolition of Sighthill and the 20 year advancement of its planned redevelopment.
  Sighthill cemetery is located to the north of the estate and originally opened in 1840. Within it stands the memorial to John Baird and Andrew Hardie, the leaders of the 1820 Radical War otherwise known as the 1820 Insurrection. William Mossman and his sculptor sons are buried here.
  There is also an active Community Council consisting of several committed residents who aim to deal with issues affecting the Sighthill neighbourhood, and it holds regular monthly meetings open to all interested residents with these normally taking place the last Tuesday of the month in the Tesco St. Rollox Community Room. Details of agendas, events etc. can be found on their public Facebook group.
caption: Plaque on the site of the former St. Rollox Chemical Works
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