Merchant City is one of Glasgow’s oldest and best known districts with there being many great cafes, shops and bars to explore in the area within the beautiful old buildings.
The area was first developed from 1750 onwards with the name Merchant City being a new name introduced to the district in the 1980s through urban renewal by the Scottish Development Agency and council with it being coined by historian and writer Charles Oakley in the 1960
If you are looking at a map, Merchant City runs between the corners of Queen Street at Ingram Street and Argyle Street and the corners of High Street at Ingram Street and Trongate.
Here are 14 photographs showing the change face of Merchant City.
The area was first developed from 1750 onwards with the name Merchant City being a new name introduced to the district in the 1980s through urban renewal by the Scottish Development Agency and council with it being coined by historian and writer Charles Oakley in the 1960
![The corner of Bell Street and Albion Street captured in August 1975. The corner is now home to O'Neills.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/09/12/44/download%20%2811%29.png.jpg?crop=3:2&width=600)
5. Bell Street
The corner of Bell Street and Albion Street captured in August 1975. The corner is now home to O'Neills. | Virtual Mitchell
![A view up Miller Street in 1970.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/09/12/37/download%20%287%29.png?crop=3:2&width=600)
6. Miller Street
A view up Miller Street in 1970. | Virtual Mitchell
![A view up Virginia Street in Glasgow's Merchant City in May 1975.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/04/09/12/09/download%20%288%29.png.jpg?trim=158,101,141,98&width=600)
7. Virginia Street
A view up Virginia Street in Glasgow's Merchant City in May 1975. | Virtual Mitchell
![Hutchesons' Hall, or Hospital, on Ingram Street, looking north along Hutcheson Street in 1955. The original Hutchesons' Hospital was demolished in 1795 to make way for the laying out of Hutcheson Street. The building depicted here was designed by David Hamilton and completed in 1805 at the head of the new street. The distinctive octagonal spire is adorned with a clock and dial plate and stands 150 feet tall.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/01/30/12/44/Capture.JPG.jpg?crop=3:2&width=618)
8. Hutchesons' Hall
Hutchesons' Hall, or Hospital, on Ingram Street, looking north along Hutcheson Street in 1955. The original Hutchesons' Hospital was demolished in 1795 to make way for the laying out of Hutcheson Street. The building depicted here was designed by David Hamilton and completed in 1805 at the head of the new street. The distinctive octagonal spire is adorned with a clock and dial plate and stands 150 feet tall. | Glasgow City Archives