#trongate

[aradxan]

Magdalena by Charles Hamilton Photography Magdalena is from near Krakow in Poland. She is currently a law student at university in Glasgow. Photograph, Trongate https://flic.kr/p/2ogejzy

[aradxan]

Danielle, Trongate by Charles Hamilton Photography Danielle is from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. At present she is studying for a degree in public relations at university in Glasgow. https://flic.kr/p/2ok1fXn

[aradxan]

Jamie, Trongate by Charles Hamilton Photography Jamie worked as a printer in Glasgow https://flic.kr/p/2ogKXRN

[scotianostra]

Tron Theatre Clock Tower Glasgow.

Looking through pics from last year, this shows the elements of Glasgow’s coat of arms

I dreamt I took a dander with St. Mungo To try to catch a fish that couldnay swim And the tree And the fish And the bird And the bell

Lyrics from the Michael Marra song 

[occasionallyglasgow]

Trongate, G1

[occasionallyglasgow]

Trongate, G1

[scotianostra]

The tale of the menacing Trongate cherub.

Next time you find yourself walking Trongate next to the Tron Theatre, take a look up at an alcove on the outside of the building.

Well, only if you dare - for something positively evil lurks there.

Cherubs are supposed to be angelic, representing innocent little children singing the praises of God.

Not this guy, he has a distinctly menacing and impish look about him.

According to the website of the Merchant City Public Art Trail "the cherub steps confidently forward from an already existing ornate niche in the screen wall, as if about to fly or jump into the bustle below".

Perhaps an alternative theory would be that the creature is raising his hand as if to cast an evil spell on the unfortunate souls passing beneath him.

Whatever your take on the Tron Theatre cherub, there is no doubt he commands an imposing presence.

He is a recent addition to the city, having been built by sculptor Kenny Hunter in 1998 when the theatre was refurbished.

Hunter has completed a number of public artworks in Glasgow, including the Citizen Firefighter outside Central Station and The Calf in Dennistoun.

Cherub statues and carvings have long been associated with theatres and churches and the Tron Theatre example is one of a pair.

Not a pair of cherubs - but a cherub and a skull.

The skull sits in another alcove at the back of the building in Parnie Street. As a pair they are said to represent birth and death, possibly the rebirth of the theatre itself when it was being renovated.  next time I am along tis way I will try and remember and see if I can grab a pic of the skull. 

No matter how you feel about this little fellow, he brings a certain presence to that corner of the Merchant City - just watch how you go.

[scotianostra]

Trongate.

The Trongate was originally known as St. Thenew’s Gait because it was the way to St. Thenew’s Chapel, named after the mother of St. Mungo, and situated where St. Enoch Square is today. 

It should be noted that the term “gait”, also spelled “gate”, does not refer to a gated entry but is instead an old Scottish word meaning “the way to”. In 1491, a trone or balance for weighing goods was set up at Glasgow Cross and St. Thenew’s Gait subsequently became known as the Tronegait or the way to the trone.

I would also like to point out there are a few different spellings for St Thenew, Tenue, Theneva, Thaney, Thanea, Denw, she is however most well known in Glasgow, or Scotland as a whole as St Enoch.