Yoker

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Yoker
Row of shops, Yoker - geograph.org.uk - 470011.jpg
Shops in Yoker
Yoker is located in Glasgow council area
Yoker
Yoker
Yoker shown within Glasgow
OS grid reference NS513692
Council area
Lieutenancy area
  • Glasgow
Country Scotland
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town GLASGOW
Postcode district G14
Dialling code 0141
Police Scottish
Fire Scottish
Ambulance Scottish
EU Parliament Scotland
UK Parliament
Scottish Parliament
List of places
UK
Scotland
GlasgowCoordinates: 55°53′34″N 4°22′46″W / 55.892898°N 4.379428°W / 55.892898; -4.379428

Yoker (Scottish Gaelic: An Eochair) is a western district of Glasgow, in Scotland, UK, lying on the northern bank of the Clyde to the east of Clydebank. It is located approximately 5 miles (8 kilometres) west of the city centre. From the fourteenth century a ferry has linked Yoker with the burgh of Renfrew on the south bank. Although shipbuilding has declined, the Yarrows shipyard, now owned by BAE as part of BAE Systems Surface Ships is still in operation on the Yoker/Scotstoun boundary.

The name Yoker is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic Eochair meaning a river bank.[1]

Motor vehicles and tramcars were also manufactured in Yoker, which is now an operations centre for the North Clyde Line, part of Glasgow’s suburban rail network, the largest suburban rail network outside London.

From late 2006, there has been substantial investment in building residential property in the Yoker area; this is most likely due to the popularity of property in the banks of the Clyde.

Transport links include Yoker railway station offering services on the Argyle and North Clyde lines, the Renfrew Ferry, and numerous bus routes.

Famous Rangers F.C. footballer Sam English also played for Yoker Athletic. Another famous Yoker Athletic son was Charlie Gallagher who went on to play for Celtic F.C..

In March 2008, BAE Systems announced to local residents that it began plans to demolish one of its derelict buildings at Esk Street. Demolition work is due to be completed late summer 2008.

In Limmy's Show Yoker features prominently in one sketch. In the sketch, the character Dee Dee goes to Yoker on a bus and treats the experience as incredibly exciting, despite him only living half an hour away. In said sketch, Dee Dee goes to Yoker and finds a barber's shop called 'Hair by Les Porter', which he finds intriguing as he believes Porter rhymes with Yoker, prompting him to ask another bus rider 'What's the bettin his name used to be Smith or something?'

Population[edit]

  • Total: 8,000

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ "Search Results: Yoker". Gaelic Place-names of Scotland. Ainmean-Àite na h-Alba. Retrieved 14 February 2012.