Situated on the south side of Glasgow with the M77 motorway to its west and the M8 motorway to its north, Pollokshields is primarily a residential area developed from the mid-19th Century on land which belonged to Sir John Maxwell of Pollok. Originally two separate burghs, Pollokshields West and Pollokshields East were incorporated into the City of Glasgow in 1891, after gaining police burgh status in 1876 (Pollokshields West) and 1880 (Pollokshields East). Whilst Pollokshields East grew with shops and industrial developments, the conditions of the feus of Pollokshields West were that no shops or trade were allowed to be developed and there was a limitation on the style of housing, which had to comprise villas in their own grounds. This has meant that although the two areas were joined as Pollokshields in 1891, there still exists a marked difference in the area between east and west.
To the southwest near Pollok Country Park is Haggs Castle, Glasgow's oldest inhabited secular building, dating from 1585.
