The Chronicles of St Mungo's Square

The Chronicles of St Mungo’s Square are written by Aileen Paterson, a member of one of our Hub groups, The Scribble Creative Writers. Aileen has been working on them since the group started meeting in the Clarice Pears.  She has been following the work and changes outside the building.  We are very grateful to Aileen for allowing us to share her writings.  They provide a social history of the Western Campus development from May 2023 until May 2024 and we will publish them in instalments. They remind me of Glasgow artist, Mitch Miller’s ‘pigeon’s eye’ drawings he terms ‘Dialectrograms’  which are ‘illustrations drawn not from on high, but as those at ground level see and live it’. The Chronicles describe the new campus and Clarice Pears becoming part of the West End community.

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 02:42:00 GMT

Wednesday 31st May 2023 - Nearby a man is cutting grass and another has just walked past with a leaf blower, creating a huge amount of noise. An elderly woman stops to tell me what she thinks of this – ‘they should be banned!’

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square part 2

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 02:42:00 GMT

Wednesday 12th July 2023 - Dark clouds have come over St Mungo Square, though there is still a scattering of blue sky. The red cherry picker has gone but I can still hear a van reversing somewhere and sounds of activity. A clock chimes twelve.

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square part 3

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:33:00 BST

Wednesday 1st November 2023 - After the deluge of rain this morning, the square is damp and glistening and scattered with wet yellow leaves. The sky is a uniform grey but it is not actually raining.

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square part 4

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 14:33:00 BST

Wednesday 22nd November 2023 - Excitingly, I am inside the ARC building, sitting at the window of the café, which turns out to be called the Western, presumably after the hospital which used to be here, a small reminder of the past.

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square part 5

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 14:33:00 BST

Wednesday 31st January 2023 - I arrive in the square in the middle of a storm, utterly soaked, and seek refuge in the ARC building.

Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.
Maisie, the wee star dog mentioned in the opening instalment of ‘The Chronicle’s’.

The Chronicles of St Mungo Square part 6

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:33:00 BST

Wednesday 10th April 2024 - Today is extremely wet and I have traversed the square and retreated into the ARC building for a latte and a cannoli, the only civilised course of action.