Fernhill, Scotland

Fernhill is a residential district in the Scottish town of Rutherglen in Lanarkshire. It is situated south of the River Clyde. Built largely in the 1950s and 60s as a slum clearance area for Rutherglen, Fernhill could be considered as a smaller equivalent to the once-infamous Castlemilk estate in Glasgow which borders the scheme immediately to its west, due to its location, the reasons behind its construction and the fact that the inhabitants of both schemes have encountered many similar problems such as poverty, social isolation and drug abuse. Residents of both 'rival' areas have suffered as a result of antisocial behaviour and gang violence between local youths.

One benefit of the location of Fernhill on a steep incline which is part of the Cathkin Braes range of hills is an excellent view over the south and east of Glasgow.

After becoming part of South Lanarkshire in 1996, the Fernhill area initially received few of the improvements to housing and amenities from which Castlemilk and other nearby areas in Glasgow benefitted. However measures to regenerate Fernhill were enacted including replacing derelict maisonettes on Morar Drive in 2009, the opening of a new Community and Sports Centre in 2011 [1] and the demolition of abandoned shops on the main road in 2014 in advance of new housing being built there.

Although the Fernhill district is generally a low-income housing scheme, it is also the location of one of the more prestigious fee-paying schools in Scotland, Fernhill School whose buildings are at the highest point of the incline at the southern edge of the district.

Notes and references

Coordinates: 55°48′20″N 4°12′19″W / 55.80556°N 4.20528°W / 55.80556; -4.20528

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