Owls, larks, cherries, acorns and ivy animate Thomas Hadden’s wrought-iron gateway to a riverside park given for public use.
Quick facts
- Date
- About 1925; park presented in 1924
- Architect / designer
- Sydney Mitchell and Wilson with Thomas Hadden, blacksmith
- Type
- Arts and Crafts park gates, gatepiers and railings
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB48324)
- OS grid reference
- NS 58023 56644
Architecture and continuing use
Granite piers frame swept two-leaf gates and gently curving quadrant railings. Wrought-iron panels combine birds, plants, scrolls and finials. Lower outer piers and a separate lodge gate extend the enclosure around a turning space.
Its story
William J. Kippen presented the former Busby House policies to the parishes of East Kilbride and Mearns in 1924. Sydney Mitchell and Wilson designed the entrance about 1925, working with leading Arts and Crafts blacksmith Thomas Hadden.
Why it is included
Category B listing recognises exceptional civic ironwork and the carefully designed threshold to a park created through public benefaction.
What to notice
- Small owl and lark figures worked into the iron.
- Cherry, acorn and ivy motifs among the scrollwork.
- Curving railings that shape the entrance and turning space.
Reading the surroundings
Use the park’s public routes, keep gateways clear and follow current path and weather advice. Do not climb the railings or enter former lodge property.
Timeline
- 1924 William J. Kippen presented Busby Glen Park for public use.
- c. 1925 Sydney Mitchell and Wilson completed the entrance with ironwork by Thomas Hadden.
- 2002 The gates, piers and railings received Category B protection.
- 2026 East Renfrewshire continues to promote a public walk through Busby Glen.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Vegetation may obscure parts of the railings, and path conditions can change. The former lodge gate does not imply public access to the lodge.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Busby Glen Park Gates, LB48324 — Current designation status, official mapped location, date, fabric and architectural or archaeological interest.
- Trove designation: LB48324 — Parallel national record identity and archival context.
- East Renfrewshire Council: Busby Glen walk — Official current walking route, park access and location information.
Location
OS grid reference NS 58023 56644 · Location confidence: High: the current national designation supplies an exact mapped National Grid Reference; public text separately states access and current-use uncertainty. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
Suggest a marker correction
Suggest a more accurate position
The teal marker is the current published position. The orange marker starts slightly to its right so both remain visible; this is only a visual starting position. Tap the correct place on the map or drag the orange marker. Sending this form creates a private review entry only; it does not move the published marker.
Check this area in Google Maps Choose the Satellite layer there if useful.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. You can also enter checked coordinates below.