Mercat Building Glasgow sale, Gallowgate architecture photos, Architect date location & pictures

Mercat Building Glasgow

Historic Merchant City Architecture design by Architect Graham Henderson is sold

post updated 28 + 15 February 2025

This architecturally striking landmark has been sold to developer CatB Works.

The new owner plans to create homes in the 1920s building to form a “great addition to this part of the city centre”.

Terry McFarlane, director at Graham + Sibbald, hailed the sale of the Mercat Building as a “major deal in Glasgow city centre”. The firm acted on behalf of City Property (Glasgow), which provides the management, development and disposal of Glasgow City Council’s non-operational surplus land and property assets.

photo © Thomas Nugent

He said the building at Glasgow Cross was purchased by a local developer for a mixed use residential and commercial development, the project will be a great addition to this part of the city centre.

The building is A-listed and is constructed of steel-framed polished ashlar beneath a slated mansard roof. The upper floors are accessed via a central stairwell and lift lobby accessed from Gallowgate.

It is currently utilised as offices and workshop and studio space with retail accommodation on the ground floor, which has extensive frontage to Gallowgate, London Road and Glasgow Cross.

building photo © Adrian Welch Sep 2006

Lee Marshall, of developer CatB Works, plans to convert the Mercat into high-quality apartments.

The CatB Works Ltd (Address: Baillieston, 69 Rosebank Terrace, Glasgow G69 7SG) design team, comprising Barham Architect and Glen Etive Projects, brings over 30 years of experience in working with listed buildings. Our previous development at Hunter Street was award-nominated, underscoring our commitment to excellence and heritage preservation.

Mercat Building in Glasgow

Date built: 1922 / 1925-28

Design: Graham Henderson, Architect

Address: 26 Gallowgate, Glasgow, G1 5AB, Scotland

Location: southeast corner of the Merchant City, just east of the Tron Kirk.

Mercat Building on Gallowgate

property photograph © Adrian Welch Sep 2006

An old red sandstone building was demolished in the early 1920s and the site used for construction of the Mercat Building (1925-28) and the Mercat Cross (1929). The construction was part of a master plan for the redevelopment of Glasgow Cross.

building facade photograph © Adrian Welch Sep 2006

Its deeply modelled façade fronted by two large Ionic columns provides both dramatic grandeur at this key point of access to and from the East End.

Glasgow Cross – Merchant Building

Glasgow Cross image from Gholami Baines architects

Bell Street

Glasgow Walking Tours

Mercat Cross Glasgow
This modest structure was designed by Edith Burnet Hughes and completed in 1929/30. It was paid for by Dr. William Black and his wife.

The edifice was inaugurated on 24 April 1930 in the presence of the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the City Council. With its proclamation platform and balustrade encircling the column bearing a heraldic unicorn, it replaced the original structure that had been removed in 1659.

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