For decades, it was the Glasgow landmark familiar to thousands of commuters on their way to work every morning, but today the iconic Bilslands' Bakery tower is sadly no more.
In 2015 the main structure of the Anderston institution, which was visible to generations of motorists going over the Kingston Bridge, came tumbling down, bringing more than a century of bread-making heritage to an end in the process.
The bakery, which in the 1950s hired a teenage Billy Connolly as a van driver years before his shipyard days, was one of the largest in the city, producing millions of loaves, cakes, and biscuits a year and employing hundreds of workers at its height.
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The company's roots were planted in the early 1870s when young entrepreneur William Bilsland joined the family business and helped them expand to new areas of the city. In 1877, William, aided by his brothers James, Alexander, and John Bilsland, purchased a large plot of land in Hydepark Street, Anderston, and built what would become the Bilsland Brothers Bakery - and it wasn't long before they were making plenty dough.
By the end of the 19th century, Bilslands' was employing 200 people and baking around a quarter of a million loaves of bread every week. Workers' conditions were unusually fair for the time, with the number of hours capped at 40 hours per week and the added bonus of free bread for their families.
Further expansion came in 1912, when Bilslands' took over one of their biggest city rivals, Gray Dunn & Co. The Bilsland Brothers empire then re-emerged under a new name: Glasgow Bakeries.
William Bilsland was a respected man and a towering figure in the community. In later years he worked as a local councillor and was devoted to making improvements to health, education and people's general well-being.
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A philanthropist at heart, he donated funds to public parks, libraries, transportation, art galleries, and museums, and played a vital role in the establishment of the People's Palace.
In 1905, William was elected Glasgow's Lord Provost, serving in the role for three years. After being made a baronet in 1907, Sir William resided in a handsome Georgian townhouse at 28 Park Circus until his death in 1921, at which point the business was passed on to his eldest child and only son, Steven Bilsland.
The bakery business continued to go from strength to strength under Steven Bilsland, who would go on to run a number of other successful firms in the city. Of course, Bilslands' Bakery was the biggest and most well-known of his ventures, and for the next 50 years it remained a major employer in the Anderston area.
Following the death of Steven Bilsland in 1970, Bilsland Brothers Ltd survived for a few more years as a subsidiary of the British bakery and pet food firm Spillers, who eventually dissolved the Bilsland brand in 1985 and sold off the smaller parts of the business to competitors.
The bakery section of the old Bilsland business was swept away when the building was purchased by MC Computer Technology, the offices and iconic tower stood as a reminder of Anderston's bakery heritage until 2015.
In a post on the Lost Glasgow Facebook group, dozens reminisced about Bilslands' Bakery. Many recalled family members being employed there, while others remembered attending the annual works' Christmas parties at the Hydepark Street site.
Former Bilslands' employee Agnes Haldane wrote: "Worked in Bilslands' Bakery in the late 1960s, I have fond memories of being there - shame they had to bring down the tower."
Jenni Shaw said: "My grandpa worked there for a long time - straight from school, time off for the war, then back there until retirement. A true family landmark we always spotted it when we crossed the Kingston Bridge."
Patrice Leonard recalled how fortuitous it was that her dad worked at Bilslands' during the bread strikes of the 1970s. She said: "There wasn't any [bread] to be bought anywhere but dad managed to keep us going on bread and cakes - I've never had so many friends!"
Chrissie Marley said: "A landmark. My hubby worked there in the sixties. One thing we never went short of was plain bread - always fresh before it got to the shops."
Tracy McKernan commented: "My dad worked there in the late 60s early 70s - Ian Dunlop. I remember the iced coronation coach and horses in the glass case, the fab kids Christmas parties, the superb sweaters Susan, my dad's secretary used to knit me when I was wee and my fave - Bilslands' snowballs! So sad it has gone.. Another memory smashed by the wrecking ball."
Fin Barbour added: "My pal's dad worked for them and we used go to the work's Christmas parties there. Bilslands' Bread beats ordinary bread."
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