People's Palace

06/12/2023

The defining arrangement of a single-end had three key features. A fireplace and cooking range in the middle of the room, used for heating the space, heating water and making meals. A sink in the window end of the room for washing utensils, weans and other. And a bed in a recess at the opposite end of the room. Babies would be born in the bed, and often, if the whole family fit the bed, they would all sleep in it. Artist Harry Keir made this pen and ink drawing of a family getting under the covers in 1967.

04/12/2023

As the nights grow longer and winter sets in, the desire to get home and coorie in heightens for many. Until the 1940s, most Glaswegieans lived in tenements, in either one or two-roomed flats. One-roomed flats were called single-ends, and this single space would house whole families, often with 8 to 10 families living in one close.

02/12/2023

You know it's December when lights are sparkling, frozen leaves are crunching underfoot and cheeky little beings get up to mischief. You've heard of the Elf on the Shelf, but here at the People's Palace, we have the Fairy fae the Dairy! The Buttercup Dairy fairies have escaped and have been causing havoc in the museum. Hunt for the six fairy doors hidden around the building and look inside to see what they've been up to!

30/11/2023

Today marks the centenary of the death of John Maclean. He was just 44 at the time. Three days later, people in their thousands silently marched the three-mile route from Eglinton Toll to Eastwood Cemetary, where he was laid to rest. John Maclean had the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life, and this was represented in the followers of his funeral procession. Suffragettes, trade unions, minors, shipyard workers, teachers and those without employment all gathered together to pay respects.
Here at the People's Palace, we have John Maclean's desk displayed in our collection. On the desk are tools for writing, a pencil and rubber, an inkwell and a typewriting ribbon. The things he used for gathering, recording and refining thoughts, for communicating in papers, lectures and speeches. Also gazing up from the desk is the familiar sight of a pair of Wally-Dugs.

29/11/2023

John Maclean was a key figure in the Red Clydeside era and developed as a committed student at the University of Glasgow, studying part-time and graduating with a Master of Arts. His parents and grandparents came to Glasgow after being cleared from the Highlands, and John had an upbringing of hardship. Through his learning, he became a committed socialist and lectured on Marxist theory. His anti-war views led to imprisonment twice, during which time his treatment significantly damaged his health. After release, he continued his activism and formed the Scottish Workers Republican Party.

27/11/2023

Not far from Mary Barbour in the Jimmy Reid: Seventy-Five Years portrait by artist Barry Atherton sits the image of John Maclean on what appears to be a paper/magazine marking the centenary of his birth in 1979. John Maclean was born in Pollockshaws, Glasgow, and was a school teacher, political activist, pioneer of workers' education and anti-war campaigner. Behind him in the painting, James Maxton, a socialist politician and MP for Bridgeton, Glasgow, in 1922, peaks over his right shoulder.

24/11/2023

Happy Birthday Sir Billy Connolly!
The People's Palace proudly displays the most wonderful Banana Boots in the world. They never fail to provide a laugh and are beloved by many. We know this because you tell us, with your words and with your drawings. Appreciation for The Big Yin is everyday discourse here at the palace and we know so many of you will be sending many happy returns!
A while ago, Glasgow schools were asked to draw a caricature of their favourite Glaswegian, and magic was undoubtedly captured!😀

22/11/2023

When scouring through the many faces in the JimmyReid: Seventy-Five Years portrait by Barry Atherton, you can find esteemed activist and local councillor Mary Barbour, placed beside activist and suffragette Helen Crawfurd and trade unionist and political activist William Gallacher.

20/11/2023

Please note the lift is currently out of order. Apologies for any inconvenience. We will update you when this is resolved.

20/11/2023

On the top floor of the People's Palace, we have the magnificent portrait of Jimmy Reid: Seventy-Five Years, a Govan-born man renowned for trade union activism with the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders and later journalism and broadcast. This portrait by Barry Atherton is a visual biography of Jimmy's life and career. It is absolutely chock-a-block with smaller portraits of people of influence and items of importance. It communicates a busy life of committed engagement with the community.

This portrait is also part of our dressing-up trail, complete with a welding mask and big old wooden protractor. ☺️

17/11/2023

Mary Barbour's activism was significant in bringing local women together. On 17th November 1915, many of them joined a march of 10'000 strong to protest against the landlord's increasing rent during WW1. At the time, Glasgow's population of workers was growing to meet job demands in factories and shipyards, and the need for dwellings was high. The march through Glasgow on the 17th of November was an important part of the resistance to rent hikes, and the women found other ways to support each other as well. By December, the Government had passed a Rent Restriction Act.

15/11/2023

What's in a medal?
This medal was given to Mary Barbour by the Glasgow Corporation in 1924 when she became one of the city's first women Bailies and Magistrates. Mary focused her work on improving health and welfare for Glasgow's working classes. Part of that was setting up public washhouses and campaigning against food waste and poverty.

13/11/2023

Mary Barbour became a legend in Glasgow due to the strength of her activism with local women during the 1915 rent increases. Mary moved to Govan with her husband David in 1896. She would become a leader of the South Govan Women's Housing Association in efforts to resist rent hikes and evictions during WW1. In 1920, Mary was elected as one of Glasgow's first women councillors, later, she would open Glasgow's first family planning clinic.

10/11/2023

Nine months after volunteering for military service, 25-year-old Jamie Riley returned to Glasgow to recover in Woodside Hospital after being hit on the firing line. Remarkably, the bullet was stopped by a shaving mirror he kept in his tunic pocket. Jamie treasured this mirror and a German drill book he kept in the same pocket the bullet passed through. Once recovered, Jamie returned to the trenches and later came home to his family in Glasgow after being demobbed.

08/11/2023

Jeannie Riley was one of many women who went to work in factories during WW1. In a letter to her husband James, she wrote, 'I'm sticking in at my work. I will be an engineer before long...we were told that the amount of work we do in 3 weeks would have taken the men 3 years and Jamie the men are getting quite mad at us.''

06/11/2023

The People's Palace collection is centred around the stories of everyday life in Glasgow. As we move towards Remembrance Day, one that comes to mind is that of James Riley and his wife, Jeannie. This young couple lived off the Gallowgate, and the story of how their life changed during WW1 is included in our exhibit.

01/11/2023

Brrrr, how chilly and dreich Glasgow has been today! Soup for dinner, anyone? 🥣

30/10/2023

Dusk at The Peoples's Palace is giving us all the autumn vibes 🧡

28/10/2023

Happy Halloween weekend! Hope everyone going guising over the next few days has a fantastically spooky time!☺️

27/10/2023

All museums will be open usual hours again from Saturday 28 October. We look forward to welcoming you.

Plan your visit on our website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

27/10/2023

Industrial action update – Friday 27 October

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will be closed today (Friday 27 October). All other museums remain open.

Further info on the website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

26/10/2023

Industrial action update – Thursday 26 October.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will be closed today (Thursday 26 October). All other museums remain open.

Further info on the website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

25/10/2023

Industrial action update – Wednesday 25 October.

The Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and Glasgow Museums Resource Centre will be closed today (Wednesday 25 October). All other museums remain open.
Further info on the website: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

23/10/2023

**Update**

People's Palace is open as usual today from 10am-5pm.

Please continue to check our website for updates on individual Glasgow Museums venues: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

20/10/2023

In The People's Palace today and tomorrow, we have placards from the June 2020 Black Lives Matter protest on Glasgow Green. At the end of the protest, these placards of support for the movement were laid out together on the green as a memorial. Local Councillors, MSPs and MPs requested that the placards be brought into Glasgow Museum's care for preservation.
This is a drop-in event, no ticket is required. Witness some of these placards laid out together again for reflection.
Sessions are running 11am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm on both Friday 20th and Saturday 21st of October.

19/10/2023

We’re anticipating disruption, including potential closures, across our museums from Mon-Fri, 23-27 Oct due to strike action by Unison. We will post further updates here & on our website. Our museums will open as normal on Sat 28 Oct. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/peoples-palace

18/10/2023

Just a little over 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela spoke in Glasgow City Chambers after receiving the Freedom of the City.
In his speech on the 9th of October 1993, he said,
“While we were physically denied our freedom in the country of our birth, a city 6,000 miles away, and as renowned as Glasgow, refused to accept the legitimacy of the apartheid system, and declared us to be free…we respect, admire, and above all, love you all.”
Glasgow was the first city in the world to award Mandela the Freedom of the City in 1981 and renamed St George's Place, the location of the Glasgow South African Consulate, as Nelson Mandela Place in 1986.

16/10/2023

This Glasgow air is fairly crisping up, and the leaves outside The People's Palace are dropping in beautiful autumnal shades. The crows are loving it and have been gathering on The Green for a good blether. ☺️

14/10/2023

Looking for things to do this October week? We've recently added a Dress Up Trail to our museum activities. It's been great to see everyone who's taken part!

09/10/2023

For the next 2 Saturdays, join us at the Peoples Palace, for a walking tour that explores how the Palace, it’s collection and its surrounding setting of Glasgow Green have been shaped and impacted by the histories and legacies of slavery and empire.

Saturday the 21st of October is already fully booked , but you can still get tickets for the 14th of October.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/empire-the-clyde-and-glasgow-a-peoples-palace-walking-tour-tickets-728701394487?aff=oddtdtcreator&utm_campaign=post_publish&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_content=shortLinkNewEmail

07/10/2023

Glasgow museums are holding some events for Black History Month. We have a few happening here at The People's Palace. You can see the listings and book your free ticket on Eventbrite.

A collection of events held in museums across Glasgow or online that are hosted by Glasgow Museums for Black History Month. All events are free. These events are part of Black History Month Scotland - https://www.blackhistorymonthscotland.org/

06/10/2023

It's World Smiles Day today, and you've been letting us know in our Draw Your Favourite Object activity just how you feel about our beloved Mr Happy! This 1980s toy continues bringing joy. Glasgow Smiles Better!

04/10/2023

Wishing all our creature friends a Happy World Animal Day! You can always find our water bowl by The People's Palace steps for your thirsty times of need when walking in Glasgow Green.
While pets must remain outside, in our collection, we have this remarkable sculpture by Shona Kinloch of a Glasgow Dog balancing a fish on its nose, holding our animal companions ever-present in conversation.
This sculpture, 'Nae Meat' was part of Seven Glasgow Dogs displayed in the 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival. Was anyone lucky enough to see it at the festival?

28/09/2023

Who used to have a Television that looked like this, and how many channels could you view then?

23/09/2023

Hope everybody is enjoying the September weekend.
The People's Palace and Cafe is here for you during our regular opening times.
We have fun museum trails to engage with, and you can draw your favourite object for our gallery.

22/09/2023

We are pleased to have a visit from the RSPB today. Linden is here till 4.30 pm to answer all your questions about wildlife conservation, and he has brought lots of lovely badges too.

22/09/2023

Did you know that The People's Palace has been dedicated to Glasgow's Social History and telling stories of life in Glasgow from 1750 onwards since the 1940's?

15/09/2023

One of our talking points displays that has started many a conversation.
Who can still recite the Glasgow Coat of Arms poem?

13/09/2023

Are you taking a stroll through Glasgow Green today? Then why not visit The Peoples Palace Museum and enjoy our tales and displays of the city or perhaps you would like to unwind in our cafe where a range of coffee, tea, sandwiches and cakes are readily available.

18/08/2023

🎉 The issue with the water supply has been resolved so we are open as usual. We look forward to seeing you soon!