Many people know Charing Cross as a major road junction in the centre of Glasgow, but before the construction of the M8 the area had a tale to tell.
The area was named after a block of tenements called Charing Cross Place which were built in the 1850s, with Charing Cross still marking the notional boundary between the West End and city centre.
One of the standout features about the area is the architecture with notable buildings such as the Mitchell Library, Charing Cross Mansions and St George's Mansions.
Charing Cross was completely changed during the 1960s along with Anderston when much of its architecture was destroyed when the West Flank of the Glasgow Inner Ring Road was built through the area.
![A view of Charing Cross in May 1975 with the corner still looking very recognisable at St George's Mansions.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/18/13/07/download%20%281%29.png.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=600)
1. Charing Cross 1975
A view of Charing Cross in May 1975 with the corner still looking very recognisable at St George's Mansions. | Virtual Mitchell
![Redevelopment work of Charing Cross taking place as the M8 motorway is built. Charing Cross Mansions can be seen in the background.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/18/13/06/download%20%282%29.png.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=600)
2. Charing Cross 1969
Redevelopment work of Charing Cross taking place as the M8 motorway is built. Charing Cross Mansions can be seen in the background. | Glasgow City Archives
![Looking north west from Charing Cross Mansions in 1967. The view is very different nowadays.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/18/13/57/download%20%283%29.png.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=600)
3. Charing Cross 1967
Looking north west from Charing Cross Mansions in 1967. The view is very different nowadays. | Glasgow City Archives
![Looking east along from Charing Cross on Sauchiehall Street in 1905 as horse and carts go along the bustling Glasgow street in the days before the motorway.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/06/18/14/03/download%20%288%29.png.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=600)
4. Sauchiehall Street 1905
Looking east along from Charing Cross on Sauchiehall Street in 1905 as horse and carts go along the bustling Glasgow street in the days before the motorway. | Glasgow City Archives