The history of Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street stretches all the way back to the 18th century - we wanted to explore the story of the city centre street today
Sauchiehall Street - every Glaswegian will have fond memories of being dragged along the thoroughfare with their granny as a child, or of later messy nights out as an adolescent, the street holds a special place in our hearts.
The crown of Glasgow City Council’s ‘golden Z’ - the street has saw some major albeit steady decline in the last few decades - but what can we attribute this to? Just how far has Sauchiehall Street fallen? How great was it in the first place?
These are the questions we want to answer today in this article, from the inception of the street in 1810’s right up until the modern era of 2023 - and even looking forward to the future of the street with current plans.
Here’s the 200-year-old history of Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street in 15 pictures.
These are the questions we want to answer today in this article, from the inception of the street in 1810’s right up until the modern era of 2023 - and even looking forward to the future of the street with current plans.
13. The former BHS
Following the fall of British Home Stores (BHS) in 2016 - no other retailer took up its spot, and it lays derelict to this day. An indication of how little valued retail space is on Sauchiehall Street compared to its earlier years as one of the main shopping thoroughfares of Glasgow. Photo: Bloomberg
14. Sauchiehall Street mid-lockdown
Many Glaswegians will tell you that the final nail in the coffin for Sauchiehall Street was the pandemic lockdowns - as in the modern era the street is much better known for its nightlife than for retail opportunities. Several clubs and pubs were forced to make the decision to shut down - and one of the only new clubs to open on the street post-pandemic, Symbol, shut its doors within a year of opening.
15. Sauchiehall Street in the future
This picture shows the new plans for the former Marks & Spencers on Sauchiehall Street which opened in 1935 and shut last year in 2022. Narly 100 years it was open and was an architectural jewel of the city centre. It was assumed by many that much like the Egyptian Halls, it would lie derelict. However, there are plans to transform the building into student flats, and also a new indoor arcade for retail space - which could be just the thing Sauchiehall Street needs for a comeback. Couple this with the new avenues project set to demolish the Buchanan Galleries and St Enoch Centre - could this be a new beginning for Sauchiehall Street? Only time will tell.
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