We take a stroll down to the Trongate in Glasgow’s East End, one of the oldest established areas in the city.
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00:00Did you know the Trongate is one of the oldest streets in Glasgow? The East End
00:06area dates back to the 1500s and was one of the original eight streets before the
00:10city underwent a major expansion in the 18th century. So it begins at Glasgow
00:15Cross where the steeple of the old Glasgow Tollbooth stands at the bottom
00:19of High Street and then moves westward until it turns into Argyll Street.
00:23Historically it is where Glasgow merchants had their commercial
00:27headquarters. The Glasgow Tollbooth was largely demolished in the early 1900s
00:32with only the steeple saved. It was in this church that goods were weighed on
00:37their journey to merchants warehouses. It was a fashionable and affluent area for
00:41a long time. Though previously known as St. Thenews Gate, the name Trongate
00:46started being used mid-16th century, inspired by the beam that weighed goods
00:51for duty reasons, playing a role in early shipping on the Clyde. Tron is the
00:58Scots word for weighing scales and gate means the way to. So Trongate means the
01:02way to the weighing scales. And while it played a significant role in Glasgow's
01:07Industrial Revolution, today it's still a busy part of the city and a hub for
01:12independent businesses. Lined with shops, restaurants and pubs, the area is also a
01:17gateway for those traveling down to see a gig at the Battleland Ballroom.