Provanhall may be the oldest house in Glasgow. It was built in the mid 15th Century, around the same time as Provand’s Lordship. Many people believe Provanhall to be the earliest – what do you think?

Bishop William Turnbull was the founder of Glasgow University. Provanhall House may have been built for him.

At that time, Glasgow was divided up into 32 prebends, or areas, by the Church. Prebends were given to Canons of Glasgow Cathedral for their upkeep. The prebend of Barlanark was the only one without a church building, so it had to find other ways of making money. The estate, which ran from Springburn to Bishop Loch and from Shettleston to Garthamlock, was 5000 acres. Funds were raised from the estate, as people came from all over to hunt and fish on the best lands in Central Scotland.

Who Lived at Provanhall?

King James IV

After the death of James IV, the prebend of Provan passed to the Baillie families. Ballieston is probably named after them.

One of the Baillie’s Sir William, was a close friend of Mary Queen of Scot’s. She visited Provanhall House while her husband, Lord Darnley was ill in St Nicholas’ Hospital in Provand’s Lordship.

In 1593 the lands passed to Elizabeth Baillie, who married into the Hamilton family. In 1644, Robert Hamilton became the owner, and it is his initials you can see above the courtyard gate.

Robert was a Royalist, and suffered for his cause as, over the years, he struggled to keep the house. In 1667, he had to sell Provanhall to Glasgow Town Council.

In 1760, the estate came to Dr John Buchanan, a ship’s surgeon related to James Buchanan, the 10th President of the USA. Through marriage, it was passed to brothers Reston and William Mather, who were known for their beautiful gardens and wild parties! They both died in 1934 with no relatives to leave the house.

Provanhall was put up for sale, and was eventually bought and renovated by a group of local people. They donated the house to the National Trust for Scotland.

Glasgow City Council now maintains the buildings and grounds.