Introduction to the Merchant City's History

 

The Merchant City is one of the oldest quarters of Glasgow and has been the home for monks, merchants and merry makers for centuries. In medieval times orangeries and rose gardens once scented the air, but as the city developed in mercantile wealth and notoriety, this pretty little area is where the dog and bird markets, bowling greens and places of entertainment could be found. The likes of Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde and Paganini (the demon fiddler) have entertained here, the suffragette, Harriet Beecher Stowe demonstrated and Temperance activist Carrie Nation campaigned here.



Today the Merchant City has seen a remarkable rebirth and in amongst the bars, boutique hotels, luxury apartments, restaurants, shops and artists galleries there still survive a few hidden gems, such as the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall where Stan Laurel made his debut or the architectural splendour of the magnificent 18th century St. Andrew’s in the Square or the sublime City Halls and Old Fruitmarket.

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