Opening Lecture: Mediaeval Burgh Life

At the root of ‘civilisation’ lies citizenship and whenever groups of people have gathered together it has been necessary to establish a structured environment to balance their rights and duties. This talk explores the issues faced by mediaeval Scotland and its population in coming to terms with these, and how the past has been the prologue to the future.

A short bibliography for Dr Wyllie’s talk:

The Burgesses and Guild Brethren of Glasgow: James R Anderson

Abridgement of the Annals of Glasgow 1573-1750: James Cleland

A Short Account of the University of Glasgow: James Coutts

A Sketch of the Rise and Progress of the Trades House of Glasgow: George Crawford

The Evolution of Scotland’s Towns: E. Patricia Denison

The Scottish Legal System: Megan Dewart

Street Names of the City of Glasgow: Carol Foreman

The Catholics: Roy Hattersley

A History of the Working Classes in Scotland: Thomas Johnston

The Records of the Trades House of Glasgow: Henry Lumsden

A View of the City of Glasgow: John McUre

Early Glasgow: James D Marwick

Scottish Towns: David Moody

The Story of Scotland’s Towns: Robert Naismith

A History of the Merchants’ House of Glasgow: J. M. Reid

Leges Quatuor Burgorum: Scottish Burgh Records Society

Scottish Legal History: Andrew Simpson & Adelyn Wilson

The Book of Glasgow Cathedral: George Eyre-Todd

Gordon Wyllie FSA Scot, WS is a former Partner in the legal firms Bird Semple and Biggart Baillie. He was born in Newton Mearns and educated at Dunoon Grammar School and Glasgow University. Among his many appointments and associations he has been Deacon Convener of the Trades Of Edinburgh And Clerk to the Trades House of Glasgow; he wrote the Scottish contribution to the International Bar Association’s International Dictionary of Succession Terms; is a founding member of the Mediaeval Glasgow Trust and now its Secretary; he was Chairman in 2020–21 of the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust; he is a board nember of Archaeology Scotland and since 2019 has been the Chairman of the Virtual Hamilton Palace Trust.