Editing Rottenrow (section)

==History==
[[File:Rottenrow.jpg|thumb|The Rottenrow as it looked in the Victorian era, from ''Views and Notices of Glasgow in Former Times'' (1848)]]
The Rottenrow is one of eight streets which formed the medieval burgh of Glasgow.<ref>{{cite book|last=Foreman|first=Carol|title=Street Names of the City of Glasgow|date=1997|location=Edinburgh|publisher=John Donald|page=ix|isbn=0-85976-482-6|url=https://archive.org/details/streetnamesofcit0000fore/page/n10}}</ref> It was recorded as ''le Ratonraw de Glasgow'' in 1283.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rattoun_raw|title=Rat(t)o(u)n raw|publisher=Dictionaries of the Scots Language|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The name was once a common one in British towns and cities and literally means "rat row" (from Middle English ''ratton raw''), suggesting a tumbledown row of houses infested with rats.<ref>{{cite news|last=Duncan|first=Archie|date=1993|title=Rottenrow|url=https://heraldscotland.com/news/12717375.rottenrow|work=The Herald|location=Glasgow|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>  The original alignment of Rottenrow stretched from [[High Street, Glasgow|High Street]] at its  east to John Street in the west.

The original premises of the [[University of Glasgow]] were situated in the Rottenrow, in a building known as the "Auld Pedagogy".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA01006 |title=Auld Pedagogy |publisher=TheGlasgowStory |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

Townhead was once a densely populated residential area, but in 1962 the [[Glasgow Corporation]] earmarked it for redevelopment as part of its policy of [[Slum clearance in the United Kingdom|slum clearance]]. The [[tenement]]s and other buildings surrounding the Rottenrow were swept away to make room for the new University of Strathclyde, formed in 1964 from the [[Royal College of Science and Technology]], and their inhabitants were moved into [[high rise]]s.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Byrne |first1=Liam |last2=Crawford |first2=Shelley |last3=Cui |first3=Lishan |last4=McCallion |first4=Kieran |last5=Walker |first5=Jordan |date=2018 |title=History and Stories: High Street, Glasgow |url=https://issuu.com/udsu-strath/docs/2_history-and-stories_2018-2019 |publisher=Strathclyde University |page=43 }}</ref>  Much of the surrounding street grid was either lost completely or realigned between the new campus buildings. The western section between Montrose and John Streets disappeared after the demolition of John Street Ironworks in the 1950s, the new [[James Weir Building|Engineering Block]] and Chemistry Block of the Royal College were constructed over this portion in the early 1960s.  The western continuation of Rottenrow - a footpath known as Love Loan which ran behind [[St Paul's Building, Glasgow|St Paul's Church]] parallel to Martha Street - also disappeared around this period.

Today, the Rottenrow itself is now divided into two sections. The eastern part which starts at High Street is designated ''Rottenrow East'', and terminates at Taylor Street where it becomes a pedestrian footpath around the [[Strathclyde School of Architecture|Architecture Building]] and [[Wolfson Centre]]. The western section then continues as ''Rottenrow'' from North Portland Street to Montrose Street, following the original alignment where it terminates on Montrose Street.

The Rottenrow is perhaps best known as the site of the [[Princess Royal Maternity Hospital|Royal Maternity Hospital]], the birthplace of generations of Glaswegians. Opened in 1860 to replace an older maternity hospital in [[St Andrew's Square, Glasgow|St Andrew's Square]], it continued to function until 2001, when it was replaced by the Princess Royal Building at the [[Glasgow Royal Infirmary]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/c4f3c6b4-2941-3644-915c-4b980cc7e127|title=Records of Glasgow Royal Maternity Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland|publisher=Jisc|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The University of Strathclyde subsequently purchased and demolished the hospital, turning it into a park, Rottenrow Gardens.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSS00008 |title=Townhead Demolition |publisher=TheGlasgowStory|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> A few parts of the building, including the main entrance portico, the arch on North Portland Street, and sections of basement wall were spared destruction.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.archiweb.cz/en/b/rottenrow-gardens |title=Rottenrow Gardens |publisher=Archiweb|access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref> The area's heritage is commemorated by a giant metal nappy pin at the centre of the gardens, created by sculptor [[George Wyllie]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/monument-to-maternity-250512 |title=Monument to Maternity |publisher=Art UK |access-date=25 September 2022}}</ref>

In 2023, the University of Strathclyde reached an agreement with [[Glasgow City Council]] to take full possession of the Rottenrow along with neighbouring North Portland Street and Richmond Street.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loudon |first1=Calum |title=University acquires three city streets as part of campus upgrade |url=https://news.stv.tv/west-central/university-of-strathclyde-acquires-three-glasgow-city-centre-streets-as-part-of-campus-upgrade |website=STV News |publisher=Scottish Television |access-date=12 April 2023}}</ref>  The land, which carried a nominal value of £50,000 was transferred to the university at no cost.<ref>{{cite web |title=Rottenrow site in Glasgow to be acquired by University of Strathclyde |url=https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=30118 |website=Glasgow City Council |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>  The three streets will be pedestrianised, to allow for the expansion of Rottenrow Gardens and to create an uninterrupted public space for students and staff.  A new Love Loan is also being created parallel to its original alignment but further south, between John Street and North Frederick Street in 2024.