By Ben Wilson and Jamie Findlay 

By Ben Wilson and Jamie Findlay 

Wax Fruit is an inspiring story about how a farming family is forced to move out of their land in Ayrshire Scotland and moves to Glasgow. Through Arthur Moorhouse’s business ventures and his wife Bel’s desire to climb the class system, the family ends up moving from the east end tenements to the prestigious west end. Wax Fruit shows two very different lifestyles of Glasgow - the luxury available in the west to the poverty and unsanitary conditions of the east.  

Glasgow's east end tenements were built for those from working-class low-income backgrounds who arrived in the city to work during the surge in ship building in this industrial boom of the 1800s. The tenements housed multiple families with shared washing and toilet facilities. They were often cramped and not well maintained due to the amount of people sharing and living in such small spaces. The creation of the tenements was done to house a population which increased from roughly 250,000 in the 1800s to well over a million by 1931. 

Not all tenements were built equally; they often changed in size and number of residencies depending on who was living in them; however, they all shared the same common traits, those being a courtyard, similar entrances and similar stairwells.  

Due to the rapid increase in population, the city of Glasgow started to experience poorer and poorer living conditions due to overcrowding, poor public health and sanitation. In 1855 there was a municipal project launched to access clean running water from Loch Katrine and link it to the city. By the end of the 1800s landlords were required to provide indoor sanitation for their tenants. 

The east end of Glasgow is incredibly cramped compared to the more affluent West end. The architecture of the east end consists of many tenements and shops being in close proximity. But you can also find the city’s cathedral and the necropolis, a sprawling city of graves for the important and rich from Glasgow's history.

Often the tenements and shops would have shared large courtyards with fences to offer some separation. Whereas in the West end, there is much more green open spaces to reflect the much wealthier upper-class lifestyle. 

 Life in the west end was traditionally where the wealthy settled. This is where the majority of Glasgow's businessmen, merchants and political representatives would have been located. Areas such as Park Circus were perfect for the upper class of the city as it offered a variety of amenities of that time. Private gardens and wide roads to cater for carriages were perfect for the many social events hosted by the residents and proximity to Glasgow's most renowned institute the University which was reserved for the most affluent men of the area.

Indeed Park Circus and Ashton Lane advertised themselves as a playground for the rich. Houses were four stories high with space for a butler and servant quarters and the homes were just a short walk to and from the city centre. The whole side of Glasgow was to support the rich with social outing opportunities such as The Kibble Palace and Kelvingrove both on the doorstep. 

This didn't just mean the living conditions were different but also the opportunities were different. Being born in the east end meant you rarely got any chances to move up or progress in life. Whereas if you were born in the west, you had a silver spoon in your mouth since birth and were provided with the best opportunities from education to networking through family connections. 

Glasgow had two very different faces, and it was difficult to rise up the social ladder. The west had vast wealth and opportunity, whereas the east was in abject poverty however they would both face the same issues with disease and sanitation. This is reflected in the journey the Moorehouse family take and, in the show, demonstrates how some issues stay the same no matter someone's level of wealth. 

Glasgow: The city divided by wealth

Glasgow: The city divided by wealth 