Shows
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkAfter the Garden Festival, with Lex Lamb, Gordon Barr and Kenny BrophyThe 1988 Garden Festival changed how the world saw Glasgow, and how it saw itself. It lives on only in people’s memories as the buildings, objects and artworks from this temporary event are gone forever – or are they?Urban Prehistorian Kenny Brophy, Project Leader Lex Lamb, and Holder of the Official Garden Festival Umbrella Gordon Barr for a conversation with Niall & Fay in front of a live audience, to learn how they have used crowdsourcing to build an ever-growing digital record of the hundreds of pavilions, sculptures and attractions that made up the Garden Fest...2024-08-291h 13
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkBrutal Glasgow, with Rachel Loughran and Natalie TweedieThis week we explore Glasgow's love-hate relationship with brutalism and discuss our upcoming Brutal Glasgow exhibition with digital curator Rachel Loughran and Glasgow based illustrator Nebo Peklo (Natalie Tweedie), who’s work will be displayed in the interactive, multimedia exhibition.The idea for the exhibition arose from Rachel's admiration of Natalie's drawings on Twitter, and united by their shared interest in brutalism they have come together to create Brutal Glasgow. They also discuss the significance of brutalism in Glasgow, touching on its artistic, social, and political aspects, and the debate over whether to demolish or restore such bu...2024-08-231h 19
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkRestoring the Relationship With the Land, with Luna Amanita from The Wash House GardenIn this episode, Fay meets Luna Amanita, co-director of the Wash House Garden - a groundbreaking community enterprise rejuvenating the land behind the historic Parkhead Wash House. The garden, once a local focal point, continues to prioritise community, seamlessly weaving together the well-being of both people and the environment, cultivating enduring connections through community-based food growing. Luna discusses the importance of community engagement in deepening the connection with the land. She also talks to Fay about beekeeping and its educational value for the Wash House Garden team and their vo...2024-08-1550 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkA Place for Stories with Bash KhanFilmmaker and visual artist, Bash Khan has been working across Glasgow for over 15 years. Growing up in the city he developed a love for the buildings surrounding him, but more importantly he developed a love for the people and communities that used these spaces. In this episode, Bash talks to Niall and Fay about how he came to be interested in photography and his work across Glasgow. A passionate advocate for public gathering spaces, Bash highlights the importance of accessible, communal areas for storytelling and connection. The conversation also touches on the visual and e...2024-08-081h 01
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkVoices of Experience: Women in ArchitectureIf Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk, what would they say about the female architects that have worked in the industry in the city? This is something that Jude Barber, Nicola McLachlan and Suzanne Ewing have been focussing on since establishing Voices of Experience. After noticing how male dominated the industry is they worked to start pairing younger female architects with older female architects, many of whom had retired, to record their conversations about their work and experience in the industry. In this episode, hosted by Fay, and recorded on Inte...2024-08-0153 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkEmpower Women for Change: Navigating Glasgow as New Scots with Layla Sadr Hashemi and Ume ChauhdryIn today's episode, Fay introduces Layla Sadr Hashemi and Ume Chauhdry, who share their experiences with the project Thistles and Dandelions, designed to connect ethnic minority women with Glasgow’s cultural heritage. This initiative by Empower Women for Change has been transformative, fostering a sense of belonging among participants.Layla, originally from Iran, and Ume, from Pakistan, discuss their initial struggles with isolation, language barriers, and cultural differences upon arriving in Glasgow. Discovering EWfC provided them a supportive community and opportunities for personal and professional growth through workshops and training.Thistles and Dandelions, one of EW...2024-07-2545 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkRediscovering Mackintosh: A Decade After the Glasgow School of Art Fire, with Dr Robyne CalvertThis episode promises a heartfelt and insightful exploration of Glasgow’s architectural heritage and the enduring legacy of Charles Rennie Mackintosh as Niall welcomes cultural historian Dr Robyne Calvert, a leading expert on Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Margaret Macdonald. Robyne shares her journey to Glasgow in 2007, inspired by Mackintosh's work which she first encountered two decades ago. Her deep connection to Mackintosh’s architecture, particularly the Glasgow School of Art, is a central theme as she discusses her new book, "The Mack: Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Art," which was released in April by Ya...2024-07-1856 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkThe Tenementals: A History of Glasgow In Song with Professor David ArchibaldCan a band tell the history of a city? And if so, what would that look and sound like? That’s what Professor David Archibald and his band, The Tenementals, are setting out to do. In this episode David, a Professor of Film & TV at the University of Glasgow, discusses with Niall and Fay the innovative project which aims to make and tell history through music rather than traditional academic means. The conversation explores how the band, composed of academics, artists, musicians, and filmmakers, challenges conventional historical narratives.Despite the challenging lan...2024-07-1155 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkGlasgow’s Gaelic Place-names with Dr Alasdair WhyteIn episode two, Dr Alasdair Whyte, a Gaelic singer, writer, and Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow, joins Fay to explore the medieval Gaelic roots of Glasgow through its place-names.Alasdair's research takes us into parts of Glasgow where Gaelic was spoken a thousand years ago. In this green landscape where cattle grazed, we even catch a shadowy glimpse of the farmer's daughter who owned Shettleston. Yes, Shettleston! When you know where and how to look, place-names are full of human history. In this conversation Alasdair draws on the evidence in his recently published b...2024-07-0459 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkHidden Stories of Glasgow Central Station with Jackie OgilvieHow often do you rush through Glasgow Central Station without a second glance? Never again! Join us on a live, on-location tour with guide Jackie Ogilvie. Discover the station's fascinating history, hidden architectural details and a behind-the-scenes look at the successful Glasgow Central Station tours. Plus, learn about Jackie's exciting museum project in the works.Highlights:Live tour experience with guide Jackie OgilvieUnveiling the hidden history and architecture of Glasgow Central StationExploring the popular Glasgow Central Station toursExclusive scoop on Jackie's upcoming museum projectKey Moments:00:00:01 — The stories underneath00:32:00 — Welcome to the...2024-06-271h 18
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkIf Glasgow's Walls Could Talk Series 3 teaserGet Ready to Hear Glasgow's Secrets! Series 3 of If Glasgow's Walls Could Talk Arrives 27th June!We're thrilled to announce the return of If Glasgow's Walls Could Talk for a brand new series, premiering on 27th June, 2024.This series digs deeper, unearthing the wealth of human history built into the city, often giving voice to people whose story has not been told before.Stay Tuned!Visit our website for updates: https://www.glasgowheritage.org.uk/Follow us on social media: @GlasgowHeritageJoin the conversation: #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalkProduction & SponsorsProduced by Inner...2024-06-2400 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkA Natter with Niall (with Norry Wilson, Lost Glasgow)Have you wondered what Niall's favourite building in Glasgow is? Well this week you can find out! The tables are turned on Niall as his good friend Norry finds out about how he ended up at GCHT and any lessons he's learned from the podcast.Norry Wilson is a well known figure in Glasgow, having set up Lost Glasgow in 2012. Norry is a journalist and social historian with a lifelong fascination with his home city, Glasgow. His Lost Glasgow Facebook page and Twitter accounts, with their mix of archive images and stories relating to Glasgow’s history, hav...2023-05-191h 25
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkDear Green Place with Fiona SinclairIn our penultimate episode of the Series Niall and conservation architect Fiona Sinclair take a metaphorical walk through Glasgow's many parks and green spaces. They talk about the Victorians who planned these spaces for citizens to enjoy more than a hundred and fifty years ago, how they have changed over time, and how they've been used, with a stop at some of the well known glasshouses along the way. This conversation was recorded on 9th February 2023. Keep an eye on our website glasgowheritage.org.uk, join us on social media @GlasgowHeritage and follow #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk...2023-05-1256 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkWomen Make History with Gabrielle Macbeth and Anabel Marsh (Glasgow Women's Library)We're joined by Gabrielle Macbeth, Volunteer Coordinator at Glasgow Women's Library and Anabel Marsh, one of the Library's longest serving volunteers who tell Niall about their pioneering walking tours which started in 2007. We hear how the staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to highlight women's diverse but often unrecognised impact on the city of Glasgow. This conversation was recorded on 2 March 2023. Keep an eye on our website glasgowheritage.org.uk, join us on social media @GlasgowHeritage and follow #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalkThis podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage...2023-05-0548 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkHospitals, Health & Heritage with Dr Hilary Wilson and Dr Kate Stevens (Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary)In our first ever live podcast recording we’re joined by Dr Hilary Wilson and Dr Kate Stevens from Friends of Glasgow Royal Infirmary to hear about the history of the development of Glasgow Royal Infirmary, the many pioneering healthcare providers that worked at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and their experiences setting up the recently opened museum in the Royal Infirmary. This conversation was recorded in front of a live audience in the museum at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on 24th August 2022.Keep an eye on our website glasgowheritage.org.uk, join us on social media @GlasgowHeritage an...2023-04-281h 09
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkHousing Is A Human Right: Glasgow's Housing Struggle with Joey Simons (Glasgow Housing Struggle Archive)Joey and Niall discuss the newly formed Glasgow Housing Struggle Archive and how it informs and is informed by Glasgow's strong connection to housing struggles and movements throughout history. Joey tells us about the Archive, what its aims are and how he envisions it evolving. He also chats with Niall about the tradition of rent strikes, occupations and protest that continues up to today.Joey is a writer and artist from Glasgow. He is co-founder of the Glasgow Housing Struggle Archive, a member of the National Committee of Living Rent – Scotland’s tenants’ union. He is c...2023-04-211h 30
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkGhosts of Glasgow with Jan Murdoch-Richards (Lanarkshire Paranormal)Whilst Glasgow may not be as famous as Edinburgh for it’s ghosts and ghouls, there are still stories of many spooky goings on around the city. Join Jan Murdoch Richards from Lanarkshire Paranormal to hear about their investigations in and around Glasgow. This conversation was recorded on 11th August 2022.Keep an eye on our website glasgowheritage.org.uk, join us on social media @GlasgowHeritage and follow #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalkThis podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust. It is kindly sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and...2023-04-1431 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkDrawing Community with Dr Mitch MillerGlasgow is home to the largest concentration of showpeople in Europe, but they go largely unnoticed in the city until planning issues come to light. In this episode Niall and Dr Mitch Miller discuss the long history of showpeople and their yards in Glasgow, how they have changed and developed over the years, and the current threats to their spaces.Dr Miller is a social researcher, artist, and cultural activist who comes from a showpeople family. Over the last couple of decades Mitch has become a pioneering presence in Glasgow through his activism. He...2023-04-0752 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkAlasdair Gray's Glasgow with Sorcha Dallas (The Alasdair Gray Archive)Alasdair Gray’s iconic work is dotted around the city of Glasgow, but how did the city impact his life and work? This week we’re joined by Sorcha Dallas, Custodian of The Alasdair Gray Archive to discuss all things Alasdair Gray. Sorcha met Gray in 2007 and became Custodian of the archive following his death in 2019. The archive holds a large collection of of Gray's work which includes sketches, drawings and original prints, as well as a a re-staging of his working studio set up.This conversation was recorded on 2nd February 2023.Keep...2023-03-3155 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkA Snapshot of Glasgow with Chris LeslieThis week we’re joined by photographer Chris Leslie, who began his career in the Balkans in the 1990s. His 2017 book and multimedia project ‘Disappearing Glasgow’ featured photographs, essays and interviews with people from areas in Glasgow which have dramatically changed in the last ten years including Dalmarnock and the Red Road flats. Niall and Chris discuss the changes that they have seen across the city and the impact this has had on the people that live there. Find out more about Chris’ new book ‘Balkan Journey’ here: https://www.balkanjourney.com/the-book/ This conver...2023-03-241h 06
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkGlasgow on Film with Dr Emily Munro (National Library of Scotland's Moving Image Archive)In our first episode of Series 2 we welcome Dr Emily Munro, Curator and Learning Officer at the National Library of Scotland’s Moving Imagine Archive for an enlightening discussion about Glasgow on film. The Moving Image Archive is Scotland's national collection of moving image and is based in Kelvin Hall in the West End of Glasgow, where they care for 46,000 items. Dr Munro and Niall discuss film makers in and around Glasgow, and the great change that the city has seen over the last 100 years - but also some of the continuities. They also cha...2023-03-1659 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkEntertainment makes Glasgow, with Judith Bowers, Britannia Panopticon and Gary Painter, Scottish Cinemas Project.Across the 19th and 20th centuries, Glasgow was home to a huge number of music halls, theatres, and cinemas, which served and entertained the population. These spaces occupied a significant role in the social and architectural life of the city and in people’s memories, and many still do.Join us for a double guest episode about the entertainment industry of the past, with a focus on historic music halls, theatres, and historic cinemas with Judith Bowers, Founder and Director of the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall campaign and Gary Painter, co-founder of the Scottish Ci...2021-12-2250 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkMuch more than just football - historic stadiums and Football Memories, with Robert Harvey, Football Memories ScotlandPeople and social interactions are at the heart of football, just like stadiums and other venues linked to a specific sport, such as pubs and clubs.Football Memories Scotland is a project which provides opportunities for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia to reminisce through discussion of archive football images. The Scottish football archive at the Scottish Football Museum holds thousands of images covering the history of the game in Scotland. These images are used as memory triggers for participants and can assist with short term memory recall.Th...2021-12-1629 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkThere's nothing more beautiful than potential, community ownership and historic school buildings, with Martin Avila, Kinning Park ComplexHave you ever wondered why there are so many historic school buildings in our city?The high number of old schools in Glasgow relates to the Education Scotland Act of 1872, which made elementary education compulsory and free for all children between the ages of 5 and 13. In Glasgow alone, 75 new schools were built between 1873 and 1918.The cost, upkeep and preservation of these massive Victorian and Edwardian School Board buildings has been a constant challenge for the council, the pupils and teachers and the larger school communities.2021-12-091h 05
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkSplashes of colours around the city, with John Foster, City Centre Mural Trail and Ali Smith, Art PistolDuring the last decade, mural painting has flourished in Glasgow, and they can be found all over the city, covering a huge range of topics from saints’ lives to flying taxis, pelicans, swimmers and poems.The Glasgow City Council’s Mural Fund is a scheme which offers support towards the costs involved in creating and delivering new murals in the city centre.In this episode we discuss how Glasgow’s murals enrich the urban landscape and the process behind their creation with John Foster, Project Lead for the City Centre...2021-12-0256 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkAccessibility and Heritage, with accessibility consultant Emily Rose YatesGlasgow is famous for its stunning historic buildings dating from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, when the city was known as the Second City of the Empire.Unfortunately, a lot of these heritage spaces are inaccessible to many people living, working and visiting Glasgow. Barriers are at the root of disabled people’s exclusion and are an obstacle to their enjoyment and appreciation of heritage, culture and art.In Scotland, one in five people are disabled. Only 8% of Scottish people with disabilities are wheelchair users, and 70% have di...2021-11-2545 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkA multiplicity of voices, slavery and Glasgow - with Katie Bruce, curator at Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA), Glasgow LifeFrom the 1700s until the UK abolished slavery in 1833, many Glasgow merchants made their fortune from trading tobacco, sugar, rum and cotton produced by enslaved people on plantations or in factories.Historians have recorded 19 slave voyages leaving Greenock and Port Glasgow in the six decades between 1706 and 1766, carrying roughly 3000 people into slavery. Many historic buildings and areas in Glasgow are linked with these trades.In this episode we talk to Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) Curator Katie Bruce about the different ways in which this aspect of Gl...2021-11-1749 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkTenement life, with Ana Sanchez De la Vega, Tenement House and Allistair Burt, Camphill Gate.This double guest episode is about the history of tenements in Glasgow and what it is like to live in a tenement now compared to living in one at the start of the 20th Century.Living in a tenement is extremely common in Glasgow, as stone tenements have been part of the fabric of our city since the 19th century. According to recent research, around 73% of Glaswegians live in a tenement of some sort!Tenements were first built during the industrial revolution to accommodate large numbers of people moving...2021-11-1142 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkMapping Queer Scotland, with Dr Jeffrey Meek, Glasgow University.In this episode we talk about Scottish LGBTQ+ history and places, and how queer stories are researched and interpreted.Today, LGBTQ+ people in Scotland can marry, adopt children and pursue wonderful careers. Political leaders and public figures can openly identify as gay or bisexual, and Scotland recently topped two European league tables measuring legal protections offered to LGBTQ+ people. But this is all very recent, and Scotland only decriminalised gay sex between consenting men in 1980.Queer spaces such as bars, pubs, bookshops, squares and parks therefore play a very...2021-11-0453 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkDisappeared Glasgow, with Reverend John Harvey, former member of Gorbals Group Ministry and Stuart Baird, Glasgow Motorway ArchiveThis episode features two great guests discussing the architectural, structural and social transformations that Glasgow went through in the 20th century, and what they meant for the communities who were affected by the changes. After the Second World War, the majority of the houses built during the Victorian period were considered a “housing problem” due to their high density, poor sanitation and structural deficiencies. In the second half of the 20th century, the most common solution to solving this “housing crisis” was to demolish the old tenements and re-house the population.Our guests are Reverend Dr. John...2021-10-2853 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could TalkAre you dancing? Yes, we are asking, with Norry Wilson, Lost Glasgow.In this episode we talk about historic music venues and ballrooms, such as the Barrowland Ballroom and the Apollo, and their role as spaces of interaction and connection within the city. Do you have special memories linked to a music venue? How important are places like this for our collective memory?Few know more about Glasgow’s memories than Norry Wilson of Lost Glasgow, who joined us as our guest for this episode. Norry is a journalist and social historian with a lifelong fascination with his home city, Glasgow. His Lost Glasgow Facebook page and Twitter accounts, wit...2021-10-2643 min
If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk“If Glasgow’s Walls Could Talk” TeaserAre you interested in Glasgow, and its historic buildings and want to know more about the stories that make this city so special? Every week we will be exploring a variety of heritage topics and historic buildings in Glasgow together with a bunch of amazing guests and host Niall Murphy, GCHT deputy director. Apart from great interviews and interesting discussions, we firmly believe that the best part of the "If Glasgow's Walls Could Talk" podcast is that you can help us make it even more special. We are planning to include in every episode a voice message fr...2021-09-1303 min