The lands and barony of Gorbals, till the year 1771, formed part of the parish of Govan. In that year the vil lage and burying ground, containing about 12 or 14 acres, were erected into a new parish ; and afterwards the lands of Little Govan and Polmadie, containing about 500 or 600 acres, together with the whole barony of Gorbals, includ ing upwards of 400 acres, were annexed to the parish of Gorbals. The village of Gorbals had most likely its origin soon after the huilding of the old bridge of Glasgow, and at an early period, from its situation, was called Bridgend. It had for many years, however, made little progress ; as we are informed, that so late as the beginning of the last century it consisted only of a few thatched houses on each side of the great road from the south end of the old bridge. These were mostly possessed by maltmen, who carried on the principal business of the village. In the year 1730, it had increased considerably ; the intermediate spaces be twixt the old houses being filled up with others, so as to form a regular and connected line of street. In 1748, the greatest part of the village was burnt, after which the houses were built after a more modern plan, some con sisting of two and others of three stories in height. It is only, however, within these 28 years that any remarkable improvements or additions have been made with respect to the laying out of new streets, or erecting buildings on this barony. Previous to that time, the only street, pro perly so called, was that running southward from the old bridge, and from which branched two or three lanes, as Rutherglen lane and Paisley lane, leading to these places. Since then, and in 1794, the directors of Hutcheson's Hos pital have feued their property to the east of the old vil lage of Gorbals, which now forms Hutcheson Town, hav ing several broad and spacious streets, and regular and well built houses. The Trades' House of Glasgow, and other proprietors have, in like manner, feued the grounds to the west ; and in this situation are Lawrieston and Tradestown ; the last feued in 1790, which also contain many ex cellent streets. The finest of these is Carleton Place, a beautiful range of buildings, scarcely to be surpassed in Scotland, upon the banks of the Clyde, between the old and new bridges of Glasgow, and immediately opposite to Clyde street, Charlotte and Claremont places, in that city.
It has been already mentioned, that an hospital, called Leper's Hospital, was erected here about the middle of the 13th century ; it was situated, with its burying ground, to the east of the Old Bridge, but no vestiges of it have been observed for more than a century. An old chapel, dedicated to St. Ninian, still remains on the east side of the principal street of Gorbals, adjoining to which is a square tower, with turrets, now used as a prison, &c. which was built by Lord Viscount Belhaven, about the beginning of the 16th century. The chapel is now used as a court-house, police office, &c. The old church of Gorbals, situated to the west of the main street, was built as a chapel of ease to Govan in 1729, and used as the parish church till within these few years. It is now a Gaelic chapel, where wor ship in that language is regularly celebrated. The new church is a handsome modern building, facing the Clyde to the east of Cat leton Place, with a fine spire, 174 feet high ; it was erected in 1810. In Hutcheson Town is a meeting house for a Relief congregation, built several years ago, and in Tradestown, another for the Methodists, on an ele gant plan, erected in 1812.
The barony of Gorbals is governed by a magistrate, ap pointed by the magistrates and town-council of Glasgow, who is one of that body, and under whom are two deputies or magistrates resident within the barony, who hold regular courts for the discussion of cases, either civil or criminal. An excellent system of police has also been established of late years, which has been found of the greatest service to the public, by the protection it affords to the persons and properties of the inhabitants.
The population of the parish of Gorbals, including Hutcheson Town, Lawrieston, and Tradestown, has of fate rapidly increased. An enumeration was made two years ago, when it was found that the inhabitants amounted to 17,000 ; but, as the buildings have been still increasing, the amount of the population may be stated at present, J mu ary 1818, at no less than 20,000. See Denholni's MS. History of Lanarkshire ; Nasmyth's Agriculture of Cly desdale; Denholm's History of Glasgow ; Hopkirk's Ac count of the Forth and Clyde Canal; Statistical Account, (D. a.)