Five views of Glasgow from high above

Urban explorer Ben Cooper has captured some stunning images from the rooftops of Glasgow.
The Finnieston Crane is a Glasgow icon Picture: Ben CooperThe Finnieston Crane is a Glasgow icon Picture: Ben Cooper
The Finnieston Crane is a Glasgow icon Picture: Ben Cooper

Since 2008 Cooper has visited around sixty sites across the country for his Transient Places photoblog. The blog has covered abandoned power stations, former hospitals, ex-military bases and other industrial relics, each of which present their own unique challenges and hold their own unique charms.

In these pictures, we see a side of Glasgow the general public rarely get to see.

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Cooper’s love of photography, and desire for new ideas, drives his exploration. He aims to bring a spotlight and a new eye to places that “no-one pays much attention to”.

Mitchell Library from the M8 scaffolding Picture: Ben CooperMitchell Library from the M8 scaffolding Picture: Ben Cooper
Mitchell Library from the M8 scaffolding Picture: Ben Cooper

The John Brown’s Crane was built by Sir William Arrol, this is the only one that’s being properly preserved.

The Temple Gasworks was built in 1871 for the Partick, Hillhead and Maryhill Gas Company, and when Glasgow Corporation decided to centralise gas supply it was bought by the city in 1891. The one pictured was built in 1900, is 220ft across, and holds 4 million cubic feet of gas. When built, this was the second-largest gas storage facility in the country.

The Finnieston Crane stands disused in the middle the redevelopment of the docks, and is one of the most well known sites of the city.

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