A walking tour in the Merchant City in Glasgow, noting repurposing of its textile and fruit warehouses, printworks and a post office to new uses. Has the re-use of embodied energy in those buildings reduced carbon emissions, or would it be better if all were instead demolished and replaced to modern standards? Also touching on trans-Atlantic sources of the money that built the Merchant city, its reinvention and labelling in the 1970s, facadism, its inverse, and the Townscape Heritage Initiative of the noughties, with commentary from Historic Environment Scotland and Glasgow City Council.

Accessibility and risk: some crossings of streets, so please take care and use pedestrian crossings where appropriate. There will be kerbs but the only flights of stairs is within Tobacco Merchant’s House. Face coverings are optional outdoors, compulsory indoors, and numbers are limited to those who booked with SPAB, to promote social distancing.

We will finish back at the Scottish Civic Trust and the opportunity to enter the former Tobacco Merchant's House, where SPAB in Scotland will have a temporary office. 

This event supports the IHBC Helpdesk+, an online forum open every day from Oct 31st - Nov 12th, 3-8pm.  Historic Environment Scotland, IHBC (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) and SPAB (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings) will have special feature events throughout the fortnight, so please visit us virtually! This event is put on jointly by SPAB and IHBC.

Photo taken by tour leader Mark Watson. Alternative text for image: stone buildings with additions at roof level.

COP26 and HES | Historic Environment Scotland | HES