In 2025, Glasgow celebrates its 850th birthday, and the council have planned an exciting year of events to mark the occasion. The Merchants House are delighted to announce that we will be participating in the Glasgow850 programme as part of the Port Stones project, alongside Glasgow City Council and the Trades House. The project will see stones set into footpaths to mark the location of the four historic ‘Ports’ or gateways into the city, leaving a lasting legacy of our past for future generations. 

Glasgow City Chambers

Three historic citizens

The project will be undertaken by the three historic citizens of the city, each representing one of the institutions taking part; The Lord Provost, the Deacon Convenor and our own Lord Dean of Guild. 

As part of their roles, these representatives have the honour of welcoming many visitors to the city, both local and international, as well as engaging with citizens of Glasgow. For this project, they will be partnering with local apprentices working on a trade that contributes to our historic environment. City of Glasgow College will be assisting with the delivery of the project, through the provision of staff time and expertise, and through student participation. 

The Ports

Around 1500 years ago, Mungo arrived in Glasgow and established a religious settlement near where the Cathedral stands today. Following this, a town settlement developed around the point where the Clyde could be crossed. For the next few centuries Glasgow developed as two connected settlements, one centred on the Cathedral and the other at Glasgow Cross, extending down to the Clyde. 

As the city developed, entrances, or ‘Ports’ were created. Similar to city gates found in other places, their purpose was part defensive and part administrative. 

Glasgow Cathedral

The project

In or around 1175 Glasgow was granted burgh status and in 2025 the city will be celebrating the 850 years which have passed since then. It is intended that a stone will be set in the footpath at the approximate location of each of the former North, South, East and West ports of the city. Staff and students of the City of Glasgow College with heritage masonry skills will be tasked with the design and production of the stones required. The project will also see the Medieval City Map produced in 2006 updated to include reference to the Port Stones. 

Help Shape Glasgow’s Legacy

W’re calling on Glasgow businesses to assist in the development and delivery of this project. If you think your business has something to offer, or you’d simply like to find out more, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Lord Dean: info@merchantshouse.org.uk 

The college will also require support in the form of materials, tools and study time to enable them to create the stones. If you think you can help with this, please contact them directly: Andy.Pollock@cityofglasgowcollege.ac.uk 

It is hoped that an event will take place in 2025 to celebrate the placement of the Port Stones, with the intention that all support will be appropriately recognised then. 

Be part of Glasgow’s story. Get involved today!