The 1970s proved to be a transformative decade for Glasgow, defined by sweeping social change.
Thousands of residents moved out of ageing inner-city tenements and into newly built housing estates on the city’s outskirts, reshaping Glasgow’s landscape and communities.
On the world stage, the decade was marked by major political and cultural moments. Richard Nixon became the first U.S. president to resign in the wake of the Watergate scandal, blockbuster films like The Godfather, Star Wars, and Grease dominated cinema, Billy Connolly rose to national fame, and the UK experienced political upheaval that culminated in Margaret Thatcher’s election as prime minister in 1979.
Meanwhile in Glasgow, the live music scene flourished. Big-name performers took to the stage at Green’s Playhouse — renamed The Apollo in September 1973 — and Hampden Park once again hosted a European Cup Final, with Bayern Munich facing Saint-Étienne in 1976.
Here are 70 atmospheric pictures that capture a fascinating glimpse of Glasgow in the 1970s.
65. Gordon Street
A view down Gordon Street in Glasgow city centre in 1974. | Virtual Mitchell
66. The Ramshorn
St Paul's and St David's Ramshorn Church pictured from Candleriggs in April 1975. | Virtual Mitchell
67. Clarkston Toll (1971)
A section of the road at Clarkston Toll in Glasgow, after a faulty gas main exploded killing 20 shoppers and injuring hundreds in October 1971. Photo: Allan Milligan & Stan Warburton
68. Bell Street (1975)
The corner of Bell Street and Albion Street captured in August 1975. The corner is now home to O'Neills. | Virtual Mitchell