The Barras

Barrowland Ballroom

The Barras is a major street and indoor weekend market in the East End of Glasgow, Scotland. The term "barra" is Glaswegian dialect for "barrow", relating to the market's early years, where traders sold their wares from handcarts. Barrowland is sometimes used to describe the district itself where the market is located, which is actually officially known as Calton.

History

One of Glasgow's most famous institutions, The Barras was founded by James and Margaret McIver in the interwar years. Several of the smaller 1921-era market halls still bear the McIver name, although the main Barrowland Ballroom building was rebuilt after a fire in 1958, reopening in 1960. The ballroom has become a world-famous musical venue. There was a 'barra's queen.'

The original building opened in 1934 in a mercantile area east of Glasgow's city centre. The Barrowland building includes large street-level halls used for the weekend markets, with a sizeable weatherproof dance hall above. The front of the building is decorated with a distinctive animated neon sign.

In 2016, with market stalls quieter than in previous decades, the city council looked at proposals to redevelop the area.[1]

Location

Because of its location on Gallowgate – the main thoroughfare from the city centre to Parkhead and Celtic Park, Barrowlands is also notable for its large concentration of public houses and shops devoted to fans of Celtic Football Club. Baird's Bar was one of the best known Celtic-oriented pubs next door to the Barrowland Ballroom building, the bar has since closed down due to violent incidents that have occurred in the premises. The bar is to be reopened as a furniture store.[2]

Glasgow Antiques and Randalls Antique and vintage Center, the Cartwheel and the Square Yard can all be found next to the Squirrel Bar.

Local Features

There is a large number of indoor covered markets, and many stalls in the street markets as well. Wares range from, for example fresh fruit and veg, boots and kilts to antiques and collectables. Also nearby is Saint Alphonsus RC Church - also known as the Church at the Barras.

References

  1. ↑ Braiden, Gerry (4 March 2016). "Glasgow's notorious Barras earmarked as arts, events and music quarter in £30m plans". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Bairds, famous Celtic bar shut after violent incidents, to re-open as furniture store". The Herald. 20 March 2014. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
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