Welcome to Drumchapel in Glasgow

Drumchapel known to locals and residents as 'The Drum is part of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, having been annexed from Dunbartonshire in 1938. It borders Bearsden to the east (in East Dunbartonshire) and Clydebank to the west (in West Dunbartonshire). The area is bordered by Knightswood and Yoker in Glasgow. The name derives from the Gaelic meaning 'the ridge of the horse'.

Drumchapel as part of the overspill policy of Glasgow Corporation, a huge housing estate was built here in the 1950s to house 34,000 people - it is this estate that is now most associated with Drumchapel, despite there being an area known as Old Drumchapel made up of affluent villas to the south of modern Drumchapel.

Drumchapel area remains popular with many of its residents and more recently there has been substantial private investment in the area, leading to the construction of new housing developments in the North West of the district. The area, along with Easterhouse, Castlemilk and Greater Pollok are collectively know as 'Big Four' post-war social housing schemes. All are similar in terms of architecture and planning, and tend to suffer from a similar range of social problems.

The area is served by Drumchapel railway station.

Drumchapel was part of the parish of Kilpatrick, administered by Paisley Abbey. This was preceded by two ancient estates: Garscadden (now an area of Glasgow) and Drumry (an area in West Dunbartonshire which is often associated with Clydebank).

Drumchapel the major employers for Drumchapel from the 1950s to the 1980s were the Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Co (GB) Ltd, Beattie's Biscuit Factory, Singers Sewing Machines - Clydebank, The Reo Stakis Orginisation - Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar, The Golden Garter Night Club and The Butty Public Bar, The Edrington Group Whiskey Bond and the various shipyards on the Clyde. Beatiie's Biscuit factory closed in 1978 and the Goodyear and Singers factories both closed in February 1979. Reo Stakis's Hills Hotel and Rigg Public Bar along with The Golden Garter Night Club closed in June 1988. The Butty Public Bar was sold to Scottish & Newcastle Breweries and is still going strong with Billy Bryson the Manager for over 30 years now holding the lease. The Edrington Group Whiskey Bond has grown over the years and is still a major employer in the area while the shipyards have all gone with the exception the now BAE Systems yards at Scotstoun and Govan. Drumchapel is now going through its 2nd regeneration with promises of better schools and higher employment.

Famous People from Drumchapel

Andy Gray. Between the years 1973 – 1992 Andy Gray played for Dundee United, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Everton, Notts County, West Bromwich Albion, Glasgow Rangers, Cheltenham Town and finally Chelsea. He scored a total of 180 goals in his domestic and International career.

 Danny McGrain. McGrain played for Glasgow Celtic from 1970 to 1987 and finished his playing career with one season at Hamilton Academicals in 1988.

 Gregor Stevens. Gregor Stevens played for Motherwell, Leicester City, Glasgow Rangers, Hearts, Partick Thistle, Brechin City and Dumbarton.

John MacDonald. John MacDonald played for Glasgow Rangers, Charlton Athletic, Barnsley, Scarborough, Ardrieonians, Dumbarton, Fort William and Inverness Caledonian Thistle. MacDonald made 230 appearances and scored 77 goals while at Glasgow Rangers.

The one thing all the above had in common was that they all attended Kingsridge Secondary School, Drumchapel.