Editing Glasgow City Chambers (section)

==History==
The need for a new city chambers had been apparent since the 18th century, with the old [[Glasgow Tolbooth]] at [[Glasgow Cross]] becoming insufficient for the purposes of civic government in a growing town with greater political responsibilities. In 1814, the tolbooth was sold – with the exception of the steeple, which still remains – and the council chambers moved to the [[Justiciary Buildings, Glasgow|public buildings]] in the [[Saltmarket]], near [[Glasgow Green]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hNgHAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA398|title=Glasghu facies: a view of the city of Glasgow; or, An account of its origin, rise, and progress.|first= J.|last= M'Ure|year=1873|location=Glasgow|publisher= J. Tweed|page=398}}</ref> A subsequent move took the city council to the [[Old Sheriff Court, Glasgow|city and county buildings]] between Wilson Street and Ingram Street in 1844.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5szc9GBZLwwC&pg=PA149 |title=Public Sculpture of Glasgow|author= Ray McKenzie  |year=2002|publisher=University Press |isbn=9780853239376}}</ref><ref>{{cite web  |url= http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=201286  |title= City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House  |publisher= Dictionary of Scottish Architects  |access-date= 15 July 2022  |archive-date= 17 August 2022  |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220817074911/http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=201286  |url-status= dead  }}</ref> In the early 1880s, City Architect John Carrick was asked to identify a suitable site for a purpose-built City Council Chambers. Carrick identified the east side of George Square, which was then bought.<ref name=guide>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=42531&p=0|title=Glasgow City Chambers Guidebook|publisher=Glasgow City Council|access-date=13 April 2020|archive-date=30 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130195949/https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=42531&p=0|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:Glasgow City Chambers Council Chamber.jpg|thumb|The Council Chamber|left]]

Following a design competition, the building was designed by the Scottish architect [[William Young (architect)|William Young]] in the [[Victorian architecture|Victorian style]] and construction started in 1882.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201358|title=William Young|publisher=Dictionary of Scottish Architects|access-date=13 April 2020|archive-date=4 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404212234/http://scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=201358|url-status=dead}}</ref> The building was inaugurated by [[Queen Victoria]] in August 1888 and the first council meeting held within the chambers took place in October 1889.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/CityChambers/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100111144517/http://www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/YourCouncil/Council_Committees/CityChambers/|url-status=dead|title=Glasgow City Chambers|archivedate=11 January 2010}}</ref> An extension connected by pairs of archways across John Street was completed in 1912<ref name=hes/> and Exchange House in George Street was completed in the mid-1980s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://raised-flooring.co.uk/portfolio/exchange-house-george-street-glasgow/|title=Exchange House|publisher=Raised Flooring|access-date=13 April 2020|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027070509/https://raised-flooring.co.uk/portfolio/exchange-house-george-street-glasgow/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The new City Chambers initially housed Glasgow Town Council from 1888 to 1895, when that body was replaced by [[Glasgow Corporation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/582d7fb1-3078-3bf4-b285-0ad16e221467|title=Records of Glasgow Corporation and Glasgow Parish Council|publisher=Archives Hub|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> It remained the corporation's headquarters until it was replaced by [[City of Glasgow (1975–1996)|Glasgow District Council]] under the wider [[Strathclyde Regional Council]] in May 1975.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1973/65/contents|title=Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973|publisher=Legislation.gov.uk|access-date=16 April 2020}}</ref> It then remained the Glasgow District Council headquarters until the abolition of the Strathclyde Region led to the formation of Glasgow City Council in April 1996.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/glasgow-city-council-tour-of-chambers-1-4974135/amp |title=Glasgow City Council: Tour of Chambers|publisher=The Glasgow South and Eastwood Extra|date=31 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731135337/https://www.glasgowsouthandeastwoodextra.co.uk/whats-on/things-to-do/glasgow-city-council-tour-of-chambers-1-4974135/amp|access-date=15 November 2020|archive-date=31 July 2019}}</ref>