Wooden House, Saltmarket, Glasgow watercolour by Thomas Fairbairn (1820-1884), 1849.
Most of Glasgow's old timber-fronted houses were destroyed in fires in the 17th century and very few survived into the Victorian period. These buildings stood at 77 Saltmarket. They consisted of a substantial masonry-built ground floor with a wooden clapperboard structure added above. The houses were draughty and uncomfortable, lacking in even the most basic hygiene facilities and were occupied by the very poor. They were demolished by the City Improvement Trust during the late 19th century.
Reference: 765.89.239 / 645.o
Reproduced with the permission of Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Museums
Keywords:
artists, barrels, benches, carts, City Improvement Trust, dogs, fires, gossiping, timber houses, watercolours, wooden clapperboard