How documents revealing Glasgow's history ended up lost in France

In 2025, we will celebrate the 850th anniversary of Glasgow becoming a burgh. Much of the story about who we are will be largely in the custody of the City’s own archives, which date from the 12th to the 21st century.

However, the city’s origins and major historic events over centuries have impacted on the survival of some of the city’s early records.

When established in 1175, Glasgow was a Bishop’s Burgh and under the control of the episcopacy.  The functions of church and burgh were closely aligned in early years.  By the 13th century we began to see the separation of functions.

The bishop had officers to help him manage the diocese and barony. From the 12th century they delegated judicial function in Bishop’s Court which was responsible for testaments, intestacy, marriage, divorce, legitimacy and slander. 

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In the 13th century, Burgh Courts were established to regulate land conveyance. And by the 15th century there were increasing signs of a burgh constitution, including, in the 1440s, citizens’ rights over common land.

The offices of Town Clerk and Provost emerged in 1444 and the 1450s, respectively.  The first mention of the Town Council is in 1501, although it may have existed before this.

The Cathedral, Bishop’s Castle and Tolbooth were the places of ecclesiastical and secular authority in Glasgow.

Bishop's Palace (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

The Bishop’s Castle was built immediately west of the Cathedral around 1258. It was the place of the bishop’s secular authority.  It was possibly the location of the first Town Council meeting. There may have been archives for the burgh held there, as it was later that the Burgh  acquired its own municipal building, where the civic archives were stored.

Glasgow had gained certain trading privileges while remaining under the jurisdiction of the bishop.  This led to the provision of a Tolbooth at the Cross from at least 1454, which was where market tolls were collected, and the town’s weights were kept.

At the Reformation in April 1560, Glasgow was no longer safe for Archbishop Beaton (1505-1603).

Archbishop Beaton (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

He took the opportunity of some French troops leaving for the continent, gathered together the church plate, vestments and valuables, the ancient muniments and registers of the diocese, city and university, and departed for France never to return.

These records were deposited in the Scots College Paris and Carthusian College where they remained until the French revolution, when many of the records were packed in barrels and given to an agent at St Omer’s, and largely disappeared.

Only a small amount of the Glasgow records survived.  These included two chartularies, listing  among other things, city charters and documents relating, included Glasgow’s founding charter.

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After the Reformation the Council kept its muniments and money in a wooden “kist”. In 1574, three burgesses were elected to keep the keys of the north, south and ‘hyngand’ locks.

In 1626, a new Tolbooth was built, of which its steeple is the sole survivor. With its five stories and stairs climbing to the first floor, the Glasgow Tolbooth was a symbol of municipal authority and prestige.

Tolbooth (Image: Glasgow City Archives)

It incorporated a closet lined with iron; walls, top, bottom, floor and door made of iron; wherein are kept the evidences and records of the city, thus made to protect from fire.

In the 19th century the Town Council moved four times as successive premises became inadequate.

This included a short stay in Justiciary Buildings (now the Sheriff Court) in Jail Square.  In 1844 new buildings were erected in Ingram Street, but the Town Council stayed only for a short period before moving to the City Chambers in 1889.

There is evidence of serious efforts in all the City’s various municipal chambers to preserve the ever-growing collection of city archives, particularly from fire and damp.

We owe a debt of gratitude to the early Keepers of Archives and Richard Dell, the first City Archivist, that we have so many medieval archives, and have about 500 years of the City’s continuous history from the 16th century.