Kids Trail Toolkit

Posted February 10th 2023

Our Kids Heritage Trails have been so popular that we’ve decided to develop a toolkit to help you create your own! So if you fancy making a trail and learning a little bit about the heritage of your local area along the way, just click the image below!

The toolkit is full of advice, ideas and resources to help you.

Need a hand with the design? Access our kids trail template on Canva. Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Teachers can access additional resources such as lesson plans, infographics, posters, video, and more by signing up with your education email address or upload proof of your teaching certification.

We’d love to see pictures of you enjoying our trails or creating your own – you can show them to us on our Twitter, Instagram or Facebook pages – use the hashtag #glasgowkidstrails.

Explore our free online learning resources!

Posted March 9th 2022

Here are a selection of learning resources:

Explore the City Chambers with our new digital tour!

Gallus Glasgow Learning Resources for schools

Download our Gallus Glasgow Inter-Disciplinary Learning Resources for schools!

Kids Trail Toolkit

Explore our new Kids Trail Toolkit!

Video Recording: Spotlight on…Gallus Glasgow for educators

A special recorded webinar for teachers and educators giving a guide to the Gallus Glasgow resource, how you might use it in the classroom and some resources to assist you.

Gallus Glasgow Events Archive

Here are some of the events we’ve held online during the Gallus Glasgow project. Watch back in your own time!

Be a Building Detective!

Is there a building in your area that you’ve always been curious about? Want to know where to find out more?

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Be a Building Detective!

Is there a building in your area that you’ve always been curious about? Want to know where to find out more?

Online Talk: 19th Century Retail and the Rise of the Department Store

Wednesday 8th December 2021 | 7.30pm GMT | via Zoom

Focusing on architecture, window displays, and internal design, this talk will examine how Glasgow department stores, like their Parisian counterparts, became spaces not just of spectacle, but also of manipulation and disorientation.

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

Video Recording: Spotlight on…Gallus Glasgow for educators

Posted March 9th 2022

Support us

Like many other charities, the coronavirus outbreak is having a major impact on our activities, threatening our crucial work to protect, repair and celebrate Glasgow’s rich built heritage. As a result, we expect to lose an important part of our income this year.

We are therefore asking that if you are able to support our conservation and outreach work,
please consider donating to the Trust.

Donate Now

This session was first delivered for the Glasgow City Council Education Improvement Service Spotlight series of CPD session for teachers. It offers a guide to the Gallus Glasgow resource, how you might use it in the classroom and some resources to assist you.

This video is fully subtitled – please click the caption button on the video player. A transcript is also available.

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

Glasgow City Heritage Trust is an independent charity and your support is crucial to ensure that our charitable work promoting the understanding, appreciation and conservation of Glasgow’s historic buildings for the benefit of the city’s communities and its visitors continues now, and in the future.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our loyalty scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

Gallus Glasgow Events Archive

Posted March 8th 2022

Here are some of the events we’ve held online during the Gallus Glasgow project. Watch back in your own time!

The events are password protected – to gain access please contact us from your Glow email address and we will send you the password.

Video Recording: From Brides to The Bridewell: Women’s Lives in a Glasgow City Block

You might also be interested in... Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails! Read moreBe a Building Detective!Is there a building in your area that you’ve always been curious about? Want to know where to find out more? Read moreOnline Talk: 19th Century Retail and the Rise of the Department StoreWednesday [...]

Video Recording: Maps, Myths & Misrepresentations

Support usLike many other charities, the coronavirus outbreak is having a major impact on our activities, threatening our crucial work to protect, repair and celebrate Glasgow's rich built heritage. As a result, we expect to lose an important part of our income this year. We are therefore asking that if you are able to support [...]

Video Recording: Gruesome Glasgow

Video Recording: 19th Century Retail and the Rise of the Department Store

Video Recording: The TREE, the BIRD, the FISH, the BELL …and the PHOTOGRAPHER: Thomas Annan’s Glasgow

Video Recording: Atlantic Slavery Hidden in Plain Sight In A Victorian City

Video Recording: Mapping the City with John Moore

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Be a Building Detective!

Is there a building in your area that you’ve always been curious about? Want to know where to find out more?

Online Talk: 19th Century Retail and the Rise of the Department Store

Wednesday 8th December 2021 | 7.30pm GMT | via Zoom

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk podcast

Posted January 17th 2022

With over 18,000 downloads, our podcast is thriving! While most podcasts don’t get past three episodes, we’ve delivered 20 and are gearing up for 10 more. We’re excited for you to hear what’s next as we explore the unique bond Glaswegians have with their city.

Each episode dives into a specific area, type of building, or aspect of Glasgow’s heritage, blending architectural history with community stories.

Catch up on all our episodes, complete with transcripts:

Niall, Fay and Dougal from Inner Ear, during the live recording at Central Station.

The first two series feature Niall Murphy, Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, chatting with guests about their personal experiences and memories. Niall’s deep knowledge of Glasgow’s architecture and his popular #MomentsofBeauty tweets, which began during lockdown, have gained quite a following.

For Series 3 we welcomed Fay Young as a co-host. Fay, a talented journalist who worked behind the scenes on Series 2, brings her storytelling magic to the podcast.

Curious about how the podcast is made? Check out our exclusive interview with Dougal Perman, Director & co-founder of Inner Ear, the production team behind If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk.

If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk is produced by Inner Ear, sponsored by National Trust for Scotland and kindly supported by Tunnock’s.

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Glasgow Historic Environment: A Snapshot – 2019

Ever wondered which buildings in your neighbourhood are listed, or even on Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register?

Our new interactive map shows data collated between February and April 2018 which gives a snapshot of the current state of Glasgow’s historic built environment.

Blog Post: Ghosts and Zombies

Read our latest blog post about our Ghost Signs of Glasgow project, pondering the nature of ghost signs and what they tell us about the urban landscape.

Enjoy Family Fun with our Kids Trails!

Download our Kid’s Heritage Trails!

Each year, our events help over 2000 people to understand and appreciate Glasgow's irreplaceable built heritage. Can you help us to reach more people?

We are hugely grateful for the support of our Friends whose subscriptions help cover the costs of these events, thereby ensuring accessible pricing for everyone in Glasgow in these challenging times.

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our Friends scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

Feature: An Introduction to Traditional Sign Writing

Posted May 21st 2021

Support us

We are therefore asking that if you are able to support our conservation and outreach work,
please consider donating to the Trust.

Donate Now

GCHT grantees Lindsay and Simone opened their store “The Bridal Courtyard” in 2021. With the help of GCHT Traditional Skills funding, they employed traditional sign writers Scott and Ross Hastie to create beautiful, hand painted signage on their shop window. Lindsay and Simone interviewed Scott and Ross to find out more about their craft! Check out the video below to see Ross in action and learn more about his craft and how his journey into his fascinating career.

Lindsay and Simone’s vision: “Our aim at the Bridal Courtyard was to remove the purple vinyl machine made logo on our main window and bring our signage back to a formal Victorian glory, in keeping with the Italiante style Tannery Building in which we are housed. Therefore, we employed Ross to create Traditional gold leaf signage.”

Window Signage Before:

Window Signage After:

The artist, Ross Hastie: Ross takes inspiration from the spectrum of traditional and contemporary design. His colour choices, lettering styles and effects are carefully chosen for each individual project. He considers styles and trends correct to the intended era, and aims to be in keeping with established themes in each individual project.

The Project Team:

To find out more about Traditional Skills grants, check out our Guidance Notes.

An Interview with Traditional Sign Writers Scott & Ross Hastie Recorded at “The Bridal Courtyard” in April 2021.

Visit the Bridal Courtyard: www.bridalcourtyard.com

Follow The Bridal Courtyard on Instagram: @thebridalcourtyard

Visit Ross Hastie Signs: www.rosshastiesigns.com

Follow Ross Hastie Signs on Instagram: @rosshastiesigns

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our loyalty scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

Looking Up and Looking Out for Tenements – Download Link

Posted November 24th 2020

Looking Up and Looking Out for Tenements

Traditional and historical buildings are an integral part of the environment in which we live and work, and are widely valued for their character, form and local distinctiveness. However, they are often considered expensive to run and difficult to maintain. This need not be the case. With regular maintenance and repair, the right skills and materials we can all play a role in ensuring that these older buildings continue to contribute to the fabric and amenity of Scotland’s built environment.

Glasgow City Heritage Trust in collaboration with UnderOneRoof invite you to become a “tenement detective” using our Looking Up and Looking Out for Tenements guide, which covers maintenance repairs and shared responsibilities for the tenement owners of Glasgow. The guide features detailed information on the different features of a traditional tenement, and checklists to complete your own maintenance inspections.

Download the guide by clicking the image below and tell us on social media what you find in your own tenements!

Video Recording – CPD: How Lime Mortar Works with David Wiggins

Posted September 15th 2020

Support us

We are therefore asking that if you are able to support our conservation and outreach work,
please consider donating to the Trust.

Donate Now

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our loyalty scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership

Be a Building Detective!

Posted September 13th 2020

Is there a building in your area that you’ve always been curious about? Want to find out more?

Here are some resources that may help:

To find out more about the building:

Historic Environment Scotland’s designations portal provides information on listed buildings across Scotland. You can search by keyword or on a map.
Does the building look derelict? The Buildings at Risk Register provides information on buildings that are vacant or have fallen in to disrepair.
The Dictionary of Scottish Architects is a database providing biographical information and job lists for all architects known to have worked in Scotland during the period 1660-1980. you can search by building or architect.

To see information on a map:

Explore Scotland’s Historic Environment via modern, historic, aerial and data maps using PastMap
The National Library of Scotland has a large collection of maps that can be searched by place name.

To find old photos of the building:

The Virtual Mitchell service by the Mitchell library enables the user to search for historic photos of a particular location.
Scran aims to provide educational access to digital materials representing our material culture and history.

Here are some things to think about when considering the significance of a building:

Look at the building on its own and in its context
What is it made of? Where did the materials come from?
When was it built? What else was built at the same time? Is this building similar or different?
Who designed it? What else did they design in Glasgow?
Are there details on the building eg. carved decoration?

Happy investigating!

My favourite building: The Barrowland Ballroom

Posted September 12th 2020

By Taylor Cross-Whiter, GCHT Development Officer

The Barrowland Ballroom music venue in Glasgow lit up at night with a neon sign

WHERE GLASGOW MEETS THE WORLD

The giant neon sign flashes red, yellow, green and blue as you eagerly join the queue waiting to get inside, before climbing the stairs sticky from decades of spilt drinks, and walking into a cavernous room with stars twinkling down from the ceiling. There is the atmosphere of feverish anticipation common to so many live music events, but today there’s an extra special electricity in the air- this isn’t just any gig, this is a Barrowland gig.

CITY OF MUSIC

The Barrowland Ballroom is a world-famous music venue, beloved by musicians, their audiences and the people of Glasgow. Shining like a beacon for the city, its giant neon sign lights up the Gallowgate and acts as a symbol of Glasgow’s music heritage, a heritage so important that in 2008 it was designated the U.K.’s first City of Music by UNESCO. Music is a huge part of Glasgow’s culture as a city, from the folk songs learnt off by heart in primary school to modern pop bands taking the world by storm.

GOIN’ DANCIN’

This cultural heritage all comes together at the Barrowland, which was originally opened in 1934 by “The Barras Queen”, Maggie McIver, who was also responsible for setting up the Barras Market. The current building, with its iconic sign, was built in 1960 after the original building burned down. Initially a dance hall, many Glaswegians still fondly remembering getting dressed up on a weekend to go dancin’ there. Its legacy as a dance hall gives the building one of its most popular features- the spring-loaded wooden floor, a rarity now in music venues but which makes jumping up and down in unison with a crowd all the more enjoyable.

CHERISHED MEMORIES

People’s memories of the Barrowland Ballroom range from the formal tea dances of the 1960s to today’s sweaty joy of being packed together singing along to a favourite band, all of the memories a testament to the venue’s ability to build community and why it remains such a cherished place for Glasgow.

BARROWLAND BALLADS

Therefore, when the artists behind Recollective approached Glasgow City Heritage Trust about celebrating the venue and its untold stories, the Trust recognised the need for a project establishing the Barrowland’s importance to the city’s heritage. GCHT gave Recollective a Heritage Grant in 2017 to help fund “Barrowland Ballads” a multi-year long project which used the mediums of photography, text and graphic art to explore the building, its history and cultural legacy. Barrowland Ballads culminated in a book of the artists’ work, filled with stories from the local community, photos of the building and its people, and pencil sketches of people engaging with the space. GCHT also held artist talks and an exhibition of the work.

GRANT FUNDING AVAILABLE

For many people, Glasgow’s heritage means the gothic spires of Glasgow University, the stately Victorian West End tenements, or the imposing City Chambers. While these all play a vital role in Glasgow’s historic fabric, places like the Barrowland Ballroom, with its legacy of uniting and rallying the city around it, are just as important. GCHT aims to promote and protect all of the city’s heritage, whether it’s Mackintosh masterpieces or iconic social history. We do this through our grants programme, which is open to everyone in Glasgow.

You might also be interested in…

City Portals: A Heritage Project for Schools

Where will your portal take you? In Glasgow, some of the most striking features of our built environment often go unnoticed due to their structural function. Entrances, including doorways, archways and gateways, are not normally recognised for their aesthetic qualities but pupils from four Glasgow secondary schools, Hyndland Secondary, loch end Community High School, St. [...]

Walking Tour 4

The Tenement Renaissance City – the New Gorbals and Laurieston

Our walking tours are taken by GCHT Building Grants Officer, Niall Murphy who is a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge!

Walking Tour 3

The Gilded City – the Victorian and Edwardian city Our walking tours are taken by GCHT Building Grants Officer, Niall Murphy who is a walking encyclopaedia of knowledge! From the 1830s onwards, as the population rose and the rapidly industrialising city boomed, Glasgow was transformed. This age gave rise to some of the city’s finest […]

Become a Friend of Glasgow City Heritage Trust

The easiest way to support the Trust’s work is to join our loyalty scheme. Our tiered loyalty scheme means you can choose the level that’s right for you.

Click to find out all the benefits of membership