2025 marks a remarkable milestone in our city’s history – Glasgow is celebrating its 850th anniversary. From medieval beginnings to modern regeneration, one of the clearest ways to trace the city’s story is through its homes.
Medieval beginnings – modest dwellings
When Glasgow was first established in 1175, families lived in timber-framed houses with wattle-and-daub walls and thatched roofs. These clustered around the Cathedral precinct and the High Street. They were simple, functional, and reflected a small but growing settlement.
Image: The Provand’s Lordship (1471) is the city’s oldest surviving house (prior to restoration). Image courtesy of Glasgow Life.
Georgian Glasgow – elegance and order
The 18th century brought prosperity and new housing for the city’s merchants and professionals. Georgian townhouses in the Merchant City, Blythswood Square and in the West End of Glasgow, showcased proportion, symmetry, and refinement, with stone facades, sash windows, and decorative interiors.
Image: Claremont Terrace.Managed by Taylor & Martin. Image courtesy of Rightmove.
Victorian expansion – the tenement tradition
By the 19th century, Glasgow was the “Second City of the Empire.” Its population exploded with industrialisation, and housing had to keep pace. The result: the sandstone tenement – arguably Glasgow’s most distinctive domestic building.
Tenements were built for every class:
- Working-class tenements in areas like Govanhill, Dennistoun, and Govan were more modest, often with shared toilets in back courts.
- Middle-class tenements in the West End (Hyndland, Hillhead, Partick) were larger, with bay windows, ornate stairwells, stained glass, and decorative tiling.
Despite their density, tenements created strong communities. Neighbours met on the stairs, children played in the back greens, and shops were often on the ground floor. Many of these buildings are over 120 years old, yet remain in demand today thanks to their craftsmanship, spacious layouts, and adaptability.
Image: Gardner Street, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin.
For us as property factors, tenements are at the heart of our work. They require ongoing care – from maintaining communal areas to preserving historic features – but they remain the backbone of Glasgow’s housing story.
Conversions – giving old buildings new life
One of Glasgow’s most exciting housing trends has been the conversion of former schools, churches, and industrial buildings into homes. These projects preserve architectural heritage while meeting modern housing needs.
- Schools: Many former Victorian schools, such as Woodside School and Napiershall Street in the West End, have been converted into stylish apartments. Their high ceilings, tall windows, and solid stone construction make for unique living spaces.
- Churches: Glasgow’s deconsecrated churches, often landmarks in their own right, have also been reimagined as housing. From gothic spires to stained glass, they offer dramatic features you won’t find in new builds.
- Industrial conversions: Former mills, warehouses, and factories along the Clyde have also been successfully repurposed into loft-style apartments.
These conversions balance respect for the past with a vision for the future, giving historic buildings new relevance and extending their lifespan for generations to come.
Image: Belmont West, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin.
20th century – new ideas, new materials
In the 20th century, Glasgow experimented with different housing models. Suburbs like Knightswood reflected Garden City principles with semi-detached homes and green spaces. Later decades introduced tower blocks in areas like the Red Road and Gorbals – ambitious, though often problematic.
While many high-rises have been demolished, the drive to innovate shows Glasgow’s ongoing ambition to meet housing needs in changing times.
Image: Cottonyards, New Gorbals, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin. Image courtesy of Westpoint Homes.
Today – blending old with new
Today, Glasgow embraces both heritage and innovation. Restored tenements in Shawlands and Dennistoun sit alongside riverside developments at Glasgow Harbour. Conversions breathe new life into old schools and churches, while contemporary builds push sustainable design forward.
Image: The Old Schoolhouse, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin. Image courtesy of Kelvin Properties.
Image: New Steiner, Yorkhill Street, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin.
Looking ahead
As Glasgow celebrates 850 years, its housing tells a story of resilience, creativity, and community. From medieval huts to tenements and conversions, every building type reflects a different chapter in the city’s growth.
Image: G3 Square, Glasgow. Managed by Taylor & Martin.
At Taylor & Martin, we’re proud to play our part in that story – helping to maintain Glasgow’s most iconic homes, supporting communities, and ensuring our city’s housing heritage thrives for centuries to come.