Records of the Burgh of Pollokshaws

The collection includes: Minutes of the Magistrates and Commissioners, 1813 - 1912 (H-SHA2/1-4); Minutes of the Sanitary Authority 1890 - 1900 (H-SHA2/5); Committee Minutes 1882 - 1900 (H-SHA2/7); Licensing Court Minutes 1904 - 1908 (H-SHA2/8); Minutes of the Joint Hospital 1894 - 1901 (H-SHA2/10); Town Clerk’s letter books, 1871 - 1912 (H-SHA3/1); incoming correspondence 1902 - 1912 (H-SHA3/2); rolls of members of the Town Council and Committees 1894 - 1906 (H-SHA4); Abstracts of account and other financial records, 1846 - 1912 (H-SHA5); papers including reports of burgh officials 1843 - 1912 (H-SHA6); papers relating to Technical Education Grants 1904 - 1909 (H-SHA6/81); licensing records 1893 - 1912 (H-SHA7); electoral records 1857 - 1911 (H-SHA8); Electoral registers, 1893 - 1911 (H-SHA8/1); and Dean of Guild Court records including a register of plans and individual applications, 1893 - 1912 (H-SHA9).

Pollokshaws was a small village before the Industrial Revolution, but by the time of the census of 1831 it had become a busy manufacturing town with a population of over 4500. It was well positioned only 3 miles south-west of Glasgow beside the White Cart Water and the Auldhouse Burn, with water and local coal providing steam power for the newly mechanised mills. The cotton trade provided varied employment. In addition to spinning yarn and weaving textiles with power-looms, many of the inhabitants were employed in bleachfields and dye-works.

Pollokshaws achieved the status of an independent burgh in October 1812 with Sir John Maxwell of Pollok, 7th Baronet, being the first provost. It became a Burgh of Barony in 1818, receiving a charter of incorporation with a council comprising of a Provost, Bailie, Treasurer and six councillors. The town-clerk was appointed by the council to administer the affairs of the burgh. The Burgh Charter empowered the council to hold courts for the trial both of civil actions and criminal offences and a jail was built in 1845. Pollokshaws remained an independent burgh until 1912 when it was annexed to the City of Glasgow.

Pollokshaws Burgh Hall, which opened in 1898, was provided for the people of Pollokshaws by Sir John Stirling Maxwell, who contributed towards its upkeep until annexation. The hall was designed by noted Edinburgh architect, Robert Rowand Anderson.

[Source: http://www.scotcities.com/cathcart/pollokshaws_auldhouse.htm]

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Pollokshaws was erected into a Burgh of Barony in 1812 when a charter under the Great Seal was granted to Sir John Maxwell. This meant it was a free burgh governed by a provost, a Bailie and six councillors. It became a Police Burgh in 1858 and under the Burgh Police Acts of 1892 it adopted a common seal.

Descriptive list available at Glasgow City Archives.

Application for reproduction should be made to the Archivist

National Records of Scotland, DD5/1364, Public Parks, Seashore and Esplanades, etc. Byelaws: Pollokshaws Burgh