Glasgow apparently loves Police boxes

[Beltalowda]

I grew up near Glasgow, but have lived in Japan for quite a few years now. I recently (December 2022) visited Scotland to see family and had a wee wander around Glasgow too. I wanted to compare the TARDIS I built with real ones, so I decided to take some pictures of the Police Boxes I know, and then found a couple more quite by accident. There is one I missed on Wilson Street, so no pictures of that one unfortunately.

The first is well known, nestled next to the Botanic Gardens, on the corner of Byres Road and Great Western Road. I remember this being in a terrible state when I was a student in Glasgow, looks like they sell coffee now.


Some of the window repairs look a bit dodgy.


Right hand side


Buchanan Street
Another one I already knew about, it seems to be a CBD shop now.


And from behind


And a dry shot, getting this picture was a challenge.


London Road, next to the Barras market. I didn't know about this one and just happened to bump into it on the way to the Barras.


And from behind


I noticed there were some plaques describing the box and who placed/restored it. Looking a little worse for wear now.




Bottom end of Sauchiehall Street near the top of Buchanan Street. Couldn’t figure out what it was being used for, although it did have security cameras, perhaps it's a "Police Box"?


And from the back


Close up


Looks like this one has been to Trenzalore


Sauchiehall Street no.2 - this one is new to me, and I originally thought they moved the one further down until I walked all the way down. This one sells food and seems to be in reasonable condition.


And the back


Window close up


And a bonus Police box I spotted while in Edinburgh during my recent trip.

 

[Andrew Harvey]

Brilliant pictures of the Glasgow boxes. Battered, vandalized but still standing solid! Like silent sentinels of a long lost time.... Love the last one from Edenborough; nice 'almost' play on words with the Tardigrades ( water bears) on the information board behind!
  Right on
  Andrew

 

[kingpin]

A shame to see most of the boxes have had a rough past few years since they were fixed up.

Edenborough

Edinburgh. 

 

[Andrew Harvey]

Good heavens! Fancy spelling that wrong! Must clean my glasses.

 

[Beltalowda]

I recently found myself back in Glasgow and for completeness, I decided to take a walk to the Police Boxes I missed in my original post.

Wilson St. box is a waffle/coffee shop, it seems these boxes are only being turned into CBD or Coffee shops. Looks like it's in good condition.


Looks like it is being maintained by the local council or similar organisation.


This one is located on the corner of Cathedral square and Castle street, another coffee shop.


View from Castle street.


Let me know if I missed any.... but do it quickly while I am still local!

 

[Volpone]

It's funny.  When I built my TARDIS an online acquaintance suggested I do a TARDIS-themed coffee shop.  I told him that, because if intellectual property (IP) rights I'd probably need a license from the BBC to stay out of trouble if I ever got successful.  But since the shops in the Glasgow are in actual Scottish police boxes the only way the BBC could go after them is if they used "TARDIS" or "Dr. Who" in their branding.  (IIRC at some point they did change the color of Glasgow boxes from red to blue while they were still functioning police boxes--and more importantly, before the BBC registered the TARDIS design as IP.) 

 

[Beltalowda]

Just happened to find myself back in the west end of Glasgow a few days before I fly off, and it looks like the Botanic Gardens box has had a fresh coat of paint, and new "Police" signs put up. Nice to see it in better condition. Wish the new "Tennant" best of luck with their new business.



New signs at least on the front and sides, and I couldn't see the back. Looks like sheet plastic signage and borders.