Medieval Map Launched
Glasgow turned “medieval” today (Thursday June 22, 2006) as it unveiled a map to the city’s ancient past.
Councillor Catherine McMaster of Glasgow City Council was joined by schoolchildren from Garrowhill and Wyndford primary schools to launch a map and trail, which helps to bring the city’s medieval past to life.
It is the first time a map of medieval Glasgow has been produced by the Council for the public. Dressed in colourful period costumes, the schoolchildren highlighted the 26 historical places, which cover the city’s development from 1150 to 1550. The map and trail are part of a wider initiative by Glasgow City Council to promote the history of Glasgow’s medieval past. The map was produced in association with the West of Scotland Archaeology Service.
Councillor McMaster, Convener of the Council’s Local History and Archaeology Strategy, said: “I hope that this map will give Glaswegians and tourists alike a chance to delve into the missing history of Glasgow’s medieval past.
“This map is a first for our city and gives a definitive guide to Glasgow’s beginnings in an attempt to reconnect our past with the present. It is also our intention to build on the map as part of a wider initiative which will promote the history of our splendid medieval legacy.”
The configuration of medieval Glasgow was very simple with a single main street - today’s High Street and Saltmarket - leading from the Cathedral to the Clyde. Both the Cathedral and the Clyde were vital for the city. Glasgow was a very important ecclesiastical centre for Scotland - second only to St Andrews - with many pilgrims visiting the city and its large community of priests and clerics.
The bishops of Glasgow also promoted the development of trade, encouraging merchants to set up business in the burgh, in particular along the High Street.
Mario Conti, the Archbishop of Glasgow, expressed delight at the launch of the city’s first Medieval Map, and said: “I very much welcome the efforts being made to uncover the largely untold story of Glasgow’s medieval history. This new initiative will hopefully encourage many to take part in a fascinating historical detective story which will bring alive the traditions, lifestyles, customs and culture of the city of St Mungo.”
Notes to Editors
Images are available of a colour illustration by David Simon of the Medieval High Street circa 1520, which is being unveiled at today’s launch. There are also pencil drawings available of the medieval cathedral, Blackfriars Church and Bishops Castle.
In March 2005, the remains of 20 followers of St Francis of Assisi were re-interred at the Southern Necropolis. The remains were discovered on the site of the new City Science development at High Street, where archaeologists had unearthed the original Franciscan Friary, established in 1476. The archaeological dig was funded by Scottish Enterprise Glasgow.The Council used the experience of the Franciscan archaeological dig as the basis for its new Medieval Strategy, which explores the city’s past. The Medieval Map has been produced as part of this strategy.
Sites highlighted in the map include the Auld Pedagogy - a site of living quarters and lecture rooms for the University of Glasgow in the 1450s; the Bishops Castle, located at the top of High Street; the medieval Grammer School and the chapel of Little St Mungo.
In the autumn, an education pilot project will be launched to help primary school children to look at and understand the history of the medieval burgh of Glasgow.
In medieval times, there were about 32 well-made stone buildings surrounding the Cathedral. Today Provand’s Lordship, built in 1471, is the only remaining one. All the others were demolished by the beginning of the 20th century. It was through the work of the Provand’s Lordship Society that the house was saved. The building was taken over by the then City of Glasgow District Council in 1978 - Glasgow City Council operates it today.