In the heart of the Merchant City sits a towering ivory-white building, held up by imposing columns and a 150ft clock tower with a striking blue face.

Hutcheson’s Hall was built between 1802 and 1805 and served as a hospital, to replace the original which was demolished in 1795. It was made possible by brothers George and Thomas Hutcheson.

George was a well-known public writer and notary in the city, and he had a reputation as an honest man who would never take more than sixteen pennies for writing an ordinary bond.

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He and his brother left money in their wills for the construction of a place which could house the poor, older men of Glasgow, as well as a school for boys.

Glasgow Times:

While the school still operates today, it is now the fee-paying Hutcheson’s Grammar School in the Southside.

Over the years, Hutcheson’s Hall has operated as a hospital, school, public library, bank, and filming location.

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Hollywood stars Glenn Close and Christian Slater were the guests of honour at the landmark in 2016 when they filmed some scenes for the Oscar-nominated film The Wife.

The building fell into disrepair and had been empty for six years until it underwent a £1.4million refurbishment thanks to businessman James Rusk of the Rusk Company.

Glasgow Times:

It re-opened in 2014 as Hutchesons City Grill, a restaurant where Glaswegians dined on steak and seafood in possibly the most opulent setting in the city.

Sadly, the restaurant closed during the pandemic and, with no plans to re-open, it lays empty and out of use. It remains a Category A listed building and is still protected by the National Trust for Scotland.