Walking Group visit Stockingfield
There are many areas of interest along the Forth and Clyde Canal, and this week our walking group took themselves to visit one of the latest developments to the North of the city at Stockingfield Bridge Art Park.
Stockingfield Junction is a part of the canal where the three communities of Maryhill, Ruchill and Gilshochill meet. Since the canal opened in 1790, these areas have been separated, but now they have been reconnected with the bridge, making them more accessible to cyclists and pedestrians and allowing travel between them more safely and easily.
Apart from the bridge there are two other major features in the park. One is the huge metal spike on top of a viewing platform with outlooks across the city and beyond. The other is the Beithir, a dragon-like creature from Scottish folklore associated with water. It’s said that if a person is stung by the Beithir then they must head for the nearest body of water, and if they can reach it before the Beithir then they are cured, but if not then they are doomed. The sculpture, as well as the seating and base of the spike, are decorated with ceramic mosaics. So far only the head of the Beithir has been decorated but when it’s finished it’ll be the largest ceramic community artwork in the UK.
You can read more and watch a video about the construction of the bridge at Scottish Canals | Stockingfield Bridge
You can also find out more about the making of the Beithir and the ceramic mosaics at make it glasgow | Stockingfield Bridge, Glasgow, UK | Bella The Beithir
Words by Celine, photos by Celine and Morag.
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Read about previous outings in our Walking Group blog category.
