A View From Here / Norrie / Gilbert & Ash 1972 Gorbals Archive

A View from Here

AVFH is a multi-disciplinary arts and heritage project documenting the heritage of the high flats in two iconic districts of Glasgow and the shared and disparate experiences of asylum seekers, refugees and local Scots who lived there.

Many of Glasgow’s historic high Rise flats were demolished from 2015 onwards. What happens to the memories of people who live there?

The project follows two community groups who explore the heritage of high rise living and the experiences of asylum seekers, migrants and local Scots who live in and around these flats. The exploration culminated in a unique performance which combined performance, visual art and film to tell a powerful story of the people who live in these areas.

All films directed by Basharat Khan

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Norrie

Norrie McNamee talks about his experiences of living and working in Gorbals. Using archive footage and photos from his own collection this short film reflects on the housing condition of Gorbals in the 1960’s and the experiences of local Scots, migrants and refugees who stayed in Norfolk Court Gorbals.

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Gilbert & Ash 1972 Gorbals Archive Footage

Archive footage from 1972 which shows the constructions of High Rise flats around Laurieston and Gorbals with narration by Neil Freel.

Laurieston is a district in the Gorbals area of the Scottish city of Glasgow and It is situated south of the River Clyde. It derives its name from James Laurie who, along with his brother, developed a large part of the district in the early 19th century.

The original silent archive footage was filmed by the foreman of Gilbert & Ash who were building the new high rise flats in response to the slum housing condition of Glasgow of that time.The film was provided by Neil Freel who started working for Gilbert & Ash in 1972 and he provides a first hand insight into the heritage of high rise flats of Glasgow.