Govan's ambitious public buildings and statues reflect the wealth of the community and occasional benevolence of the employers.
Elder Park was established in 1885 by Mrs Isabella Elder
as monument to her shipbuilder husband. She wanted to give
the people of Govan 'healthful recreation by music and amusement'.
Statues of husband and wife can be seen in the park. John Elder, by
Victorian sculptor, Sir J. E. Boehm(1888), stands beside one of the
compound engines that underpinned Fairfield's success. Isabella Ure
(Mrs Elder) is depicted dressed in academic robes by Scottish
sculptor Archibald Shannan (1906).
Isabella Ure (1828-1905) was an important philanthropist whose
used her wealth and status for the benefit of the wider community,
especially championing women's education. A well-to-do solicitor's
daughter, she married John Elder, partner in the marine
engineering company of Randolph, Elder & Co, in 1857. The
firm prospered becoming John Elder & Company in 1868, and
taking over the Fairfield shipbuilding yard in Govan. It soon
became a world leading company. After John Elder's death in
1869 Isabella Elder supported many charitable causes,
notably in Govan and in support of the education of women.
In Govan she bought the land and created Elder Park, established
a School of Domestic Economy for local girls and young women and
paid for and supported the Elder Park Library, insisting on Sunday
opening which made it accessible to working people. At the
University of Glasgow she endowed a chair of marine
engineering in memory of her husband and was an active contributor
to building projects and initiatives to advance technical training.
However, her greatest achievement was her support for the
development of medical training for women. She bought North Park
House (subsequently the home of BBC) and presented it to Queen
Margaret College, supporting women's medical training there. When
the College became part of Glasgow University in 1892 she used her
influence to help persuade the University to allow women to
graduate in medicine.
In the sculpture she is shown in the robes of a doctor of
Glasgow University where she was awarded an honorary degree in
1901. It was sculpted by a local architect turned sculptor and
Glasgow University graduate, Archibald Macfarlane Shannan
(1850-1915). He had also undertaken work on Govan Town Hall. The portrait is based
on photographs and sittings by the now frail Mrs Elder who, sadly,
died before the sculpture could be unveiled. The £2,000 cost was
raised by public subscription, much of it from ordinary working
people of Govan who held her in high regard.
Also at Govan (Back
to listing)