Glasgow, Trongate, Hutchesons' Hospital

George Hutcheson of Lambhill in December 1639 mortified and disposed a tenement of land with yard and pertinents to the west of the West Port for the building of a hospital. Further revenues were set aside for the upkeep of the hospital fabric and maintenance of as many old men as the revenues permitted. George Hutcheson died before this was completed, but his brother and heir, Thomas, in June 1640 ratified his brother's agreement and further disponed a barn and barn-yard it the east end of the original tenement. In 1641 the building was commenced and stood on the north side of Trongate at the foot of present Hutcheson Street. 1 In 1736 McUre described the hospital as 'a very handsome building of ashlar work .... not very high but beautiful ... (with a) pretty steeple one hundred feet high bearing a proportion to the building of the house, which is covered with lead with a clock and bell ... and north of the hospital, there are pleasant and delectable gardens that are well kept.' 2 The building was demolished to make way for Hutcheson street. Its successor is still extant in Ingram Street and houses 17th century statues of the founders.

Notes

1. J MacGregor, History of Glasgow (Glasgow, 1881)

213-14.

2. J McUre, A View of Glasgow, 68.

Information from ‘Historic Glasgow: The Archaeological Implications of Development’, (1990).