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Glasgow
Excursion
*
This walking tour starts from point number 1 on this map.
When you arrive at each point read the description of the sight.
You will have the chance to discover and admire many of the most
beautiful and important sights of this city.
Entrances not included.
1
2 3
5
6
7
8
4
Tolbooth Steeple
5
The Tolbooth is a seven-storey
structure, and it is the most
important feature of Glasgow’s
Cross. It used to be a part of
a much larger building, which
provided accommodation
for the Town Clerk’s office,
the council hall and the city
prison. The Tolbooth acted as
a site for many of the dramatic
events in the city, such as
the hanging of witches, thieves
and murderers. The prison
housed in the Tolbooth was
nothing like prisons today, it was
run by the inmates more like as
an exclusive club than a prison.
As the city of Glasgow expanded
and moved westwards,
the Tolbooth was abandoned
and eventually demolished.
Only the Steeple was left as
an isolated reminder
of the days gone.
Glasgow Cathedral
7
The first Glasgow Cathedral
was the very first stone building
built in 1136, and the present
larger building was constructed
in 1197. Since these times
the Cathedral has never been
uncovered, and it has been
a functioning Cathedral
for over 800 years. However,
not everything in Cathedral is
old, it has got one of the finest
post-war collections of stained
glass windows in Britain.
The Cathedral is thought to be
built on the site where
St Mungo, the first bishop within
the ancient British kingdom,
was buried in 612AD.
His tomb is still in the lower
crypt in the Cathedral.
The Cathedral is the oldest
building in Glasgow,
and a typical example
of Gothic architecture.
Provand’s Lordship
8
Provand’s Lordship was built
in 1471 as part of a hospital,
and with the Cathedral it
is one of the only surviving
medieval buildings in Glasgow.
It is the oldest house
in the city, and today it provides
a look back to what homes
around 1700 would have
looked like. Behind the house
is the St Nicholas Garden, built
in 1997. It is a medical
herb garden, containing medical
plants used on the 15th century,
designed to reflect the original
purpose of the house.
The Garden also has a series
of stone masks called
Tontine Faces.
Merchant City
6
Merchant City is one
of Glasgow’s oldest quarters
dating back to the 1750s.
Back then it was home to
the warehouses of wealthy
merchants,“tobacco lords”, who
shipped tobacco, sugar and tea.
In the 19th century the area
was the home to Glasgow’s
central fruit, vegetable
and cheese markets.
Today Merchant City has some
of the city’s most exciting bars,
restaurants, galleries
and boutiques. It is one
of Glasgow’s most vibrant areas,
and one of the most prestigious
parts of the city.
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