Local History Videos

Glasgow, Scotland: Old Photos & Film

Old photo of Saltmarket from Bridgegate, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871

By

Debbie Death

Enjoy a glimpse of history through old images of Glasgow, Scotland.

Glasgow is a fascinating city which changed dramatically over the 20th Century. Luckily, filmmakers and photographers captured daily life and cityscapes so we can now enjoy looking back at local history scenes there through old photos and film.

Old Photos of Glasgow

Old photo of Close No 46, Saltmarket, Glasgow, taken sometime between 1868 and 1871
Old photo of Close No 46, Saltmarket, Glasgow, taken sometime between 1868 and 1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of Trongate from Tron Steeple, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871
Old photo of Trongate from Tron Steeple, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Trongate from Tron Steeple, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871
Closeup of an old photo of Trongate from Tron Steeple, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Trongate, Glasgow, 1868-1871
Closeup of an old photo of Trongate, Glasgow, 1868-1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of Saltmarket from Bridgegate, Glasgow, Scotland, circa 1868-1871
Old photo of Saltmarket from Bridgegate, Glasgow, Scotland, circa 1868-1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of Saltmarket from Bridgegate, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871
Old photo of Saltmarket from Bridgegate, Glasgow, circa 1868-1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Close No 101 High Street, Glasgow, taken between 1868 and 1871
Close No 101 High Street, Glasgow, taken between 1868 and 1871. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of the Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland
Old photo of the Glasgow Necropolis, Scotland. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Glasgow Exhibition of 1888
Glasgow Exhibition of 1888. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of St John's Methodist Church on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Old photo of St John’s Methodist Church on Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: National Library of Ireland/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow
Closeup of an old photo of Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. Image: National Library of Ireland/Flikr.
Old photo of Jamaica Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Old photo of Jamaica Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Jamaica Street, in Glasgow, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of Jamaica Street, in Glasgow, Scotland. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Jamaica Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of Jamaica Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old photo of Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Old photo of Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Argyle Street in Glasgow, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of Argyle Street in Glasgow, Scotland. Image: Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives/Flikr.
Closeup of an old photo of Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: Oregon State University Special Collections & Archives/Flikr.
Old photo of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Old photo of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of traffic in Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Closeup of traffic in Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo of St Enoch's Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s
Old photo of St Enoch’s Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of St Enoch's Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s, focusing on the shops
Closeup of an old photo of St Enoch’s Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s, focusing on the shops. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of St Enoch's Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s
Closeup of an old photo of St Enoch’s Station in Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo of George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s
Old photo of George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s
Closeup of an old photo of George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, in the 1890s. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo of George Square, Glasgow, in the 1890s
Old photo of George Square, Glasgow, in the 1890s. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo of the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Old photo of the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo looking up at the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Old photo looking up at the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Closeup of an old photo of the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland
Closeup of an old photo of the University of Glasgow in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Old photo of Glasgow Cathedral in the 1890s, Scotland
Old photo of Glasgow Cathedral in the 1890s, Scotland. Image: Detroit Publishing Company, Library of Congress.
Vintage postcard of the Glasgow School of Art, circa 1910
Vintage postcard of the Glasgow School of Art, circa 1910. Image: Mark Crombie/Flikr.
Vintage postcard of a corridor inside the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, circa 1910
Vintage postcard of a corridor inside the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, circa 1910. Image: Mark Crombie/Flikr.
Vintage postcard of the interior of Glasgow School of Art circa 1910
Vintage postcard of the interior of Glasgow School of Art circa 1910. Image: Mark Crombie/Flikr.
Vintage postcard of the first floor corridor inside the Glasgow School of Art, circa 1910
Vintage postcard of the first floor corridor inside the Glasgow School of Art, circa 1910. Image: Mark Crombie/Flikr.
Old photo of carts and trams in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow
Old photo of carts and trams in Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow. Image: National Galleries of Scotland/Flikr.
Old picture postcard of St Enoch's Square, Glasgow, Scotland
Old picture postcard of St Enoch’s Square, Glasgow, Scotland. Image: Mark Crombie/Flikr.

Jamaica Street 1901

Filmed in April 1901 by Mr Thomas, this captured Glasgow’s busiest street, Jamaica Street, at a time of horses and carts.

Even the double decker passenger vehicles are pulled by horses!

Given the large number of people and vehicles, it’s surprising how well the traffic flows, and how few women appear.

At the end of the short film, we see a large crowd of employees marching in a parade. 

Further up this page you’ll see an old photo of Jamaica Street along with some closeups.

Jamaica Street, Glasgow (1901) – BFI on YouTube

Edwardian Glasgow

The women’s skirts are above the ankles so this looks to be somewhere around the end of the Great War (World War I). 

The trams now run on electricity and cars are present, but many horses and carts still appear. One man is riding a bicycle in the middle of the road. The pavements are full of people.

Glasgow 1900’s. Archive film 93710 – HuntleyFilmArchives on YouTube

Glasgow’s East End 1932

Templetons factory, Glasgow Green and the Peoples Palace are just some of the locations which appear in this silent black and white film. 

A stroll round Glasgow’s east end, 1932 – National Library of Scotland on YouTube

Glasgow Tenements

By today’s standards, scenes of children playing in rubble and rubbish strewn courtyards looks horrifying. Life was hard, but now people look back with nostalgia.

Old glasgow tenements streets and pictures – on YouTube

The next collection of old photos capture the smiling faces of the children playing outside, and the grinding poverty that awaited them indoors. 

Old Photographs Gorbals Glasgow Scotland – on YouTube

The Empire Exhibition of 1938

The Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was unofficially known as the British Empire Exhibition, Glasgow.

Held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938, it marked fifty years since Glasgow’s first great exhibition, the International Exhibition of 1888, held at Kelvingrove Park. 

Kings, queens, international stars were amongst the 13.5 million visitors – three times the number who came to see the Garden Festival in 1988!

Old Pictures of Glasgow’s 1938 Empire Exhibition

Old cigarette card of the Amusement Park Restaurant at the Empire Exhibition 1938 in Glasgow, Scotland
Old cigarette card of the Amusement Park Restaurant at the Empire Exhibition 1938 in Glasgow, Scotland. Image: George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library.
Old cigarette card of the Concert Hall in Glasgow at the 1938 Empire Exhibition
Old cigarette card of the Concert Hall in Glasgow at the 1938 Empire Exhibition. Image: George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library.
Old cigarette card of the Mosspark entrance to the Empire Exhibition of 1938, held in Glasgow, Scotland
Old cigarette card of the Mosspark entrance to the Empire Exhibition of 1938, held in Glasgow, Scotland. Image: George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library.
Old cigarette card of the City of Glasgow Pavilion 1938
Old cigarette card of the City of Glasgow Pavilion at the Empire Exhibition of 1938, held in Glasgow, Scotland. Image: George Arents Collection, The New York Public Library.

Video of the 1938 Empire Exhibition

This video (which appears to be from the 1990s) starts with the Exhibition. It then moves through the following decades, as architects in offices decided the best way to deal with historic buildings was to knock them down and replace them with giant roads.

1938 Glasgow Empire Exhibition in Bellahouston Park – on YouTube

Glasgow’s Home Guard in 1940

Mr Ernest Brown, Secretary of State for Scotland, inspects home guardsmen drawn up on parade ground.

It’s amusing to see a glimpse of the policeman trying to shuffle back the young children.

Glasgow’s Home Guard (1940) – British Pathé (YouTube)

1940s Polling Day In Glasgow

Outside the Polling Station, possibly for the 1945 General Election as two men on screen are wearing uniforms.

As the day wears on the number of children hanging around increases.

Some very interesting characters on screen, but it’s clear the camera man liked the pretty nurses!

Polling Day In Glasgow (1940-1949) – British Pathé (YouTube)

City Streets of the 1940s

Silent, black and white footage. Hundreds of pedestrians, with many horses still in amongst the traffic.

Life in Glasgow in the 1940s – Film 1017847 – HuntleyFilmArchives on YouTube

1940s Motor Vehicles

Elegant old cars driving or towed into the smoggy streets.

Glasgow Motors, 1940s – Film37519 – on YouTube

A 1950s Tale of Two Cities

Almost a tale of two cities. The ‘smart’ city of elegant buildings and leafy open spaces. Over the bridge, tenements and groups of small children.

Tour of Glasgow, 1950s – Film 1035346 – on YouTube

20th Century Glasgow Housing

The next video shows a series of old photos showing different streets and locations, each clearly labelled so you always know the location and date of the photograph.

glasgow housing 1930’s – 1960’s – on YouTube

1960s Children Playing

Silent 35mm film clips from the 1960s.

1960s Glasgow Slums, Children Playing, Scotland from 35mm – on YouTube

Glasgow Hurricane 1968

On 15 January 1968 a hurricane ripped through Central Scotland.  Three hundred Glaswegian homes were destroyed, and a further 70,000 damaged. 

Half of the city’s council housing stock received damage and residents fled from the swaying tower blocks.

The film mentions the death of at least 18 people. Records suggest 18 people died repairing their homes that night.

Shipyard cranes, cars, trees and streets were all badly affected.

Gales In Glasgow Aka Hurricane Rips Through Glasgow (1968) – on YouTube

Slums On Clydeside 1974

Silent colour footage from British Pathé.

Slums On Clydeside – British Pathé on YouTube

The 1980s

⏯ “60 Amazing Photos Showing Life in Glasgow, Scotland in 1980”

It’s quite right to give these photos the title ‘amazing’. They are.  

It’s a link through to YouTube, because restrictions don’t allow the thumbnail image to be shown on this page.

French photographer, photojournalist and documentary filmmaker Raymond Depardon won the César Award for Best Documentary, César Award for Best Short Film – Documentary, Louis Delluc Prize for Best Film and nominated for the San Marco Prize, Upstream Prize – Special Mention, and Upstream – Special Jury Award.

Glasgow in 1987

The narrator introduces this as a film of his 1987 holiday to his hometown. Lots of locations with commentary, and interviews.

Nice to see the market scenes, a look at everyday life.

Glasgow 1987 – on YouTube

Glasgow Garden Festival 1988

A visitor to the Garden Festival in 1988 made a home video on super 8 cine film.

8mm Cine Film Glasgow garden festival 1988 – Dave Eldergill on YouTube

Glasgow City Centre in 1990

Buses and pedestrians going about their daily business.

1990 Glasgow City Centre Street Scenes, Archive Footage – on YouTube

Glasgow in 1994

A home video with commentary made for a penpal.

A Look Back At Glasgow From 1994 – on YouTube

More about Scotland

About the author

Hi, I’m Debbie. I’ve enjoyed books, films, and documentaries about history for more than 30 years. My favourite trips with friends and family are to museums, historic houses, archaeological sites, and I love unearthing old photos and archive film bringing history to life.