Short film about the history of Glasgow:
Origins
In the 6th century the Christian bishop, St. Kentigern (later known as St Mungo, 518 - 603) established a monastery beside the Molendinar Burn and Glasgow became a bishopric (it was under the laws of a bishop). A cult of St Kentigern was fostered around the 11th or early 12th century.
A cathedral is builtIn 1136 a cathedral was built on the banks of the Molendinar Burn and a small rural settlement with a market developed around it to serve the needs of the clerics (priests) and other members of the Catholic Church.
In England the crown practiced granting certain towns exclusive trading and self-governing privileges so that they could become centres of prosperity and stability. In return, the towns must pay the money they earned from sales to the crown. These towns were called burghs. During the 12th century the Scottish crown adopted this idea from England.
Bishop Jocelin
Sometime between 1175 and 1178 Bishop Jocelin was given permission for the bishops to have burgh at Glasgow, and the town was to have a weekly market to make money for the Scottish crown. During the 1190s Glasgow’s economy improved when it was granted an annual fair; a sort of super-market where people from the burgh and strangers could do business with each other.
Agriculture, brewing, fishing
From early days, Glasgow’s main income came from agriculture, brewing and fishing; salmon and herring were exported to Europe and the Mediterranean. The burgh remained small during the medieval period (5th - 15th century). Probably no more than 1,500 people lived in Glasgow.
University and bishopric
Glasgow continued to grow over the following centuries. The founding of the University of Glasgow in 1451 (by Pope Nicholas V) and the elevation of the bishopric to become the Archdiocese of Glasgow in 1492 served to increase the town's religious and educational status.
Glasgow becomes a royal burgh
The Scottish crown had many burghs but could not support them directly. Some burghs failed economically. But Glasgow had influential bishops that were able to keep the money wheel turning. During the reformation of 1560, Scotland started moving away from Roman Catholicism and towards Protestantism. This was particularly the case for Glasgow. In 1611, Glasgow became a royal burgh, directly under the authority of King William I (The Lion).
Trade, self-governance and growth
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| Jocelin. |
Sometime between 1175 and 1178 Bishop Jocelin was given permission for the bishops to have burgh at Glasgow, and the town was to have a weekly market to make money for the Scottish crown. During the 1190s Glasgow’s economy improved when it was granted an annual fair; a sort of super-market where people from the burgh and strangers could do business with each other.
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| Fish. |
From early days, Glasgow’s main income came from agriculture, brewing and fishing; salmon and herring were exported to Europe and the Mediterranean. The burgh remained small during the medieval period (5th - 15th century). Probably no more than 1,500 people lived in Glasgow.
 |
| University of Glasgow. |
Glasgow continued to grow over the following centuries. The founding of the University of Glasgow in 1451 (by Pope Nicholas V) and the elevation of the bishopric to become the Archdiocese of Glasgow in 1492 served to increase the town's religious and educational status.
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| Part of a document that testements Glasgow as a Royal Burgh. |
The Scottish crown had many burghs but could not support them directly. Some burghs failed economically. But Glasgow had influential bishops that were able to keep the money wheel turning. During the reformation of 1560, Scotland started moving away from Roman Catholicism and towards Protestantism. This was particularly the case for Glasgow. In 1611, Glasgow became a royal burgh, directly under the authority of King William I (The Lion).
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| Goods. |
The union of the Scottish and English crowns in 1603 did wonders for Glasgow's economy. It made it possible to do business with other countries. During the 1600s, Glasgow became important as a hub of trade to and from America.
Substantial fortunes came from this international trade, manufacturing and invention, starting with sugar, followed by tobacco and then cotton, linen and manufactured goods. In 1690, Glasgow gained the rights to full self-governance and was no longer a dependent medieval burgh. It was becoming an early-modern town.
The Act of Union, 1707
With the Act of Union, 1707 Scotland gained increasing access to the vast markets of the New British Empire.
By the late 1700s century more than half of the British tobacco trade was concentrated on Glasgow's River Clyde, with over 47,000,000 lb (21,000,000 kg) of tobacco being imported at its peak.
Substantial fortunes came from this international trade, manufacturing and invention, starting with sugar, followed by tobacco and then cotton, linen and manufactured goods. In 1690, Glasgow gained the rights to full self-governance and was no longer a dependent medieval burgh. It was becoming an early-modern town.
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| The Act of Union. |
With the Act of Union, 1707 Scotland gained increasing access to the vast markets of the New British Empire.
By the late 1700s century more than half of the British tobacco trade was concentrated on Glasgow's River Clyde, with over 47,000,000 lb (21,000,000 kg) of tobacco being imported at its peak.
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| Loading locomotives in Govan. |
During the Industrial Revolution (1770s - 1830s) Glasgow was transformed from a small merchant town into a rapidly growing industrial city and became the powerhouse of the Scottish economy. By the end of the 1800s Glasgow was known as the "Second city of the Empire" and was producing more than half Britain's tonnage of shipping and a quarter of all locomotives in the world!
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| Queen Mary. |
Industrial and technical innovation attracted many people to Glasgow in search of work; not just from rural Scotland but also from England and Ireland. The city became one of the world's most important centres of heavy engineering when shipbuilding and marine engineering industry saw the light of day. During the early 1900s the riverbanks of Clyde were filled with shipyards and Glasgow produced many innovative and famous vessels; the big transatlantic luxury liners "Queen Mary" and "Queen Elizabeth" set off for their maiden voyage from the River Clyde.
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| Steamers at Broomielaw, 1900. |
In addition to its superiority in shipbuilding, engineering, industrial machinery, bridge building, chemicals, explosives, coal and oil industries, Glasgow also developed as a major center in textiles, garment-making, carpet manufacturing, leather processing, furniture-making, pottery, food, drink and cigarette making; printing and publishing. Shipping, banking, insurance and professional services expanded at the same time.
Heavy engineering ~ unhealthy city environment
Glasgow in the 1950s was far from an attractive place to be. Thick smog enveloped the city tightly and in general health conditions in the city weren’t good. In 1957, Glasgow launched a mass X-ray campaign where 36 mobile units X-rayed over 700,000 people. The goal was to get rid of tuberculosis in the city.In 1983 a national advertising campaign was launched with the slogan "Glasgow's Miles Better". Better than what? Better than it was! And the city's image continued to improve.
1990 saw Glasgow become European City of Culture and towards the end of the 20th century things were looking up in Glasgow. Old buildings had been given make-overs, trees had been planted and museums, delicatessens and wine-bars had opened and thrived. New theaters opened in old churches and there were business centers, sports centers, heritage centers, arts centers etc. etc..
Main sources:
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.scotland.gov.uk
http://www.theglasgowstory.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow
Glasgow in the 1950s was far from an attractive place to be. Thick smog enveloped the city tightly and in general health conditions in the city weren’t good. In 1957, Glasgow launched a mass X-ray campaign where 36 mobile units X-rayed over 700,000 people. The goal was to get rid of tuberculosis in the city.In 1983 a national advertising campaign was launched with the slogan "Glasgow's Miles Better". Better than what? Better than it was! And the city's image continued to improve.
1990 saw Glasgow become European City of Culture and towards the end of the 20th century things were looking up in Glasgow. Old buildings had been given make-overs, trees had been planted and museums, delicatessens and wine-bars had opened and thrived. New theaters opened in old churches and there were business centers, sports centers, heritage centers, arts centers etc. etc..
Main sources:
http://www.youtube.com
http://www.scotland.gov.uk
http://www.theglasgowstory.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow
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