The first
tolbooth erected on the site at
Glasgow Cross dated back at least to the mid-14th century. After it became ruinous, construction work on a new tolbooth started in 1626. It was designed by the master of the works, John Boyd, in the
Scottish baronial style, built in
ashlar stone and was completed in 1634. The building was used as a prison and courthouse in the 17th and 18th centuries: a total of 22 executions took place at the tolbooth over that period.
Covenanters who were held in the tolbooth in poor conditions in the 17th century included
Donald Cargill and
Robert Ker of Kersland. The tolbooth also incorporated the burgh chambers and a tavern and its steeple was high. After being sold for commercial use, the tolbooth was renovated to a design by
David Hamilton and was used as a drapery warehouse from 1874, before becoming the offices of a firm of auctioneers, John A. Bowman. By the early 20th century the tolbooth was very dilapidated: after the main block had been demolished in 1921, essential repairs and modifications were made to the west face of the steeple, where the tolbooth had previously adjoined it, to a design by Keppie Henderson, in 1923. ==See also==