THE TRADES HOUSE OF GLASGOW ARCHIVES

The Trades House has a wonderful archives in the basement of the Trades Hall in Glassford Street, Glasgow.   Access is by arrangement and the House encourages students and lecturers studying the Trades , Education and the effect that the Trades House has and continues to have on Glasgow.

Periodically gems from the archives will be uploaded to this area and may be downloaded free of charge for personal use only.
Old Glasgow Club ~ Album No 1
Published 2025
Author: Ex Deacon Convener David Dobson
Available from:   The Old Glasgow Club ~ Archive  
Contents: Insurance certificates and receipts from 1813; 
The following Hundred (circa) Items of Early Postal Covers are called “Free Fronts” because they have been removed from fronts carrying the address and name (or “Frank”) of the sender of letters that have passed through the Post.
From times contemporary with their postage (See the reverse of number 44) these “Free Fronts” were collected as “autographs”, whether of the nobility or any person of note or fame, or notoriety;
Five Burgess Tickets from 1792; 
Variety of other miscellaneous items.  

Old Glasgow Club ~ Album No 2
Published 2025
Author: Ex Deacon Convener David Dobson
Available from:  Old Glasgow Club ~ Album No 2
Contents: Information on The Bridgeton Working Men’s Institute and Club; PROVAN HALL – The ancient country seat of the Lairds of Provan; Glasgow Urban Archaeology Support Group; the Articles and Rules of the Glasgow New Militia Society (1802 and 1816); a legal case concerning a Duty of Two Pennies Scots (1783); Foulis Archives Press including – Late Eighteenth and Nineteenth century GLASGOW WORTHIES including details of:-
  • THE MAJOR
  • HAWKIE – William Cameron
  • BLIND ALICK – Alexander Macdonald
  • DOUGAL GRAHAM – “skellat bellman”
  • JAMIE BLUE – James McIndoe
  • BELL GEORDIE – another “skellat bellman”; Corporation of Glasgow City Factor’s Department:-
    Tenant’s Rent Book May 1957 – April 1963
    Tenant’s Rent Card May 1963 – May 1965
    Tenant’s Rent Card May 1965 – May 1967
    Tenant’s Rent Card May 1967 - May 1969
    All above Rent Cards were for Mr. Maurice Cross and for a property at 42 Langton Road, Glasgow S.W.3.; A Menu and a History of Sloan’s Restaurant.  (from 1797 to 1827); Pictures of 22 ships from “Comet”; “The Bulletin” dated Monday 10th, October 1921 – Many Lives Lost in the sinking of the Steamer “Rowan”; Postcards of various Glasgow scenes; A fabric print for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888 showing pictures and signatures of Lords Provost of Glasgow from 1834 to 1888; Copies of Flemings Plan of Glasgow 1807; Copies of David Smith Plan of Glasgow 1821; 

Map of Tradeston 
Published: 1858
Author: George Crawfurd
Available from: Map of Tradeston  
Contents: The map covers the area of Tradeston and shows the plots and names of the occupants for the year 1858.

HERITAGE NEWSLETTERS
The Heritage Team have started to produce a quarterly newsletter to inform members of the Incorporations and others with an interest in the history of the Trades House, what we have in the Library, Archives etc.

To download the newsletters, please click the newsletters below:
Heritage Newsletter No 1 April 2023 ​  
Heritage Newsletter No 2 June 2023  
Heritage Newsletter No 3 September 2023
Heritage Newsletter No 4 December 2023
Heritage Newsletter No 5 March 2024  
Heritage Newsletter No 6 June 2024   
Heritage Newsletter No 7 September 2024  
Heritage Newsletter No 8 December 2024
​Heritage Newsletter No 9 March 2025

Incorporation of Masons Newsletters
Newsletter 1 ~ December 2023
Newsletter 2 ~ December 2023 to January 2024  
Newsletter 3 ~ February 2024 to March 2024   
Newsletter 4 ~ April 2024 to May 2024   
Newsletter 5 ~ June to August 2024  
Newsletter 6 ~ July to November 2024
Newsletter 7 ~ December to April 2025  
Newsletter 8 ~ March to May 2025  

CRAFTSMEN ARTICLES
Articles from the Archives
Female Beneficiaries
This short article tells the story of how females were added to the Roll of the Trades House 
Pensioners.   Available from: Female Beneficiaries     

Manasses Lyle
Manasses Lyle was Deacon Convener eight times and this is a short account of his time in the Trades House of Glasgow.   Available from: Manasses Lyle  

The Trades House Education Legacy
This short article tells the story of the Trades Free School.   Available from: Education Legacy  ​  

Trades House Arms
A short description of the Trades House Arms.  Available from: Trades House Arms       

Articles from the Library
A Great Educational Resource
This is one of the first articles written by the Librarian Carol Parry informing users about the great resource.   Available from: A Great Educational Resource   

John Alston: Helping the Blind to Read
This excellent article describes the work of John Alston in inventing the Alston Type, a precursor to Braille which enabled the children and adults in the Blind Asylums to read.  Available from: John Alston