Neale Thomson was a forward-thinking social reformer, who realised many of his employees at the Adelphi Cotton Works in the Gorbals could not afford to buy a decent loaf of bread. As a result, he set up Crossmyloof Bakery, which became famous for the Crossmyloof loaf. Ten bread shops providing good quality, cheaper loaves, eventually opened across the city. Thomson donated land from his family estate to build a church (on land now occupied by St Helen’s RC Church) and a school (now a coffee shop and restaurant on Skirving Street.) Bakers in those days were often expected to work 20-hour shifts and many slept on the premises. In 1855, he commissioned Glasgow architect Alexander Greek Thomson to build a row of houses for workers. Baker Street was demolished in the 1980s. He also sold land to the city at much less than its value, for what would become Queen’s Park. Thomson’s family home Camphill House, has been converted into flats in the park.