Can 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 landscape of the music industry The Tenementals have resonated with audiences, particularly young people, and have so far received an enthusiastic response - they’ll be releasing their first album later this year.

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Highlights:

• ‘Liberated from books’: How The Tenementals’ history is told and made in song
• Why one song, Peat Bog Soldiers, has already made history
• Hear a little of The Tenementals live in Glasgow

Key Moments:

• 00:00:00 — Can a rock band make history?
• 00:01:15 — The Tenementals, a wild research project
• 00:02:00 — Constructing a transmedia history of a city
• 00:18:37 — Songwriting process
• 00:33:01 — Hope and Revolutionary Histories

Learn more:

• You can follow The Tenementals on Facebook @TheTenementals and on Instagram @Tenementals
• Follow Glasgow City Heritage Trust on social media: @GlasgowHeritage #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk
• Produced by Inner Ear (innerear.co.uk) for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
• Sponsored by Tunnock's (tunnock.co.uk)

In 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 book Glasgow’s Gaelic Place-names, co-authored with Katherine Forsyth and Simon Taylor. It caused quite a stir and we are about to find out why.

Highlights:

• Uncover the Gaelic origins of Glasgow's place-names with Dr. Alasdair Whyte.
• Hear stories behind names, like the medieval farmer’s daughter of Shettleston.
• Explore findings from "Glasgow’s Gaelic Place-names," co-authored by Alasdair Whyte.
• See how Gaelic names reflect Glasgow's landscape and features.
• Understand the importance of preserving Gaelic place-names.

Key Moments:

• 00:00:10 — The significance of Gaelic place names in Glasgow
• 00:19:41 — The origins and meanings of Gaelic place names in Glasgow
• 00:38:10 — Gaelic place names reflect the natural landscape and features of the area
• 00:41:05 — The evolution of place names and their adaptation over time
• 00:51:08 — Preserving Gaelic place names and promoting cultural heritage awareness

Learn more:

• You can buy Alasdair’s book here
• Follow Glasgow City Heritage Trust on social media: @GlasgowHeritage #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk
• Produced by Inner Ear (innerear.co.uk) for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
• Sponsored by Tunnock's (tunnock.co.uk)

How 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 Ogilvie
• Unveiling the hidden history and architecture of Glasgow Central Station
• Exploring the popular Glasgow Central Station tours
• Exclusive scoop on Jackie's upcoming museum project

Key Moments:

• 00:00:01 — The stories underneath
• 00:32:00 — Welcome to the Museum
• 00:53:00 — WWI Memorial Art Installation
• 01:05:00 — The Victorian Platform
• 01:15:00 — Central Station’s evolution

Learn more:

• Visit ​​https://www.glasgowcentraltours.co.uk/index.aspx for more information on Glasgow Central Station tours.
• Follow Glasgow City Heritage Trust on social media: @GlasgowHeritage #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk
• Produced by Inner Ear (innerear.co.uk) for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
• Sponsored by Tunnock's (tunnock.co.uk)

Get 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: @GlasgowHeritage
• Join the conversation: #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk

Production & Sponsors

• Produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust
• Kindly sponsored by Tunnock's

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, have amassed a huge following over the years.

This conversation was recorded on 16th March 2023.

Keep an eye on our website glasgowheritage.org.uk, join us on social media @GlasgowHeritage and follow #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk

This podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust. It is kindly sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and supported by Tunnock’s.

In 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

This podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust. It is kindly sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and supported by Tunnock’s.

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 #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk

This podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust. It is kindly sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and supported by Tunnock’s.

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 and follow #IfGlasgowsWallsCouldTalk

This podcast was produced by Inner Ear for Glasgow City Heritage Trust. It is kindly sponsored by the National Trust for Scotland and supported by Tunnock’s.