Provand's Lordship
Provand's Lordship is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Glasgow audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~45 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Glasgow Glasgow guide
About Provand's Lordship
Built in 1471, Provand's Lordship is the oldest house in Glasgow and one of the few surviving medieval buildings in the city, visited by Mary Queen of Scots in 1567 and now a museum of medieval and 17th-century life.
Provand's Lordship is the oldest surviving house in Glasgow, built in 1471 by Bishop Andrew Muirhead as the manse for the chaplain of St Nicholas Hospital, which formerly stood next to Glasgow Cathedral. It is one of only a handful of medieval buildings still standing in Glasgow, alongside the Cathedral itself and Provan Hall. The house takes its name from the Prebendary of Barlanark, known as the 'Lord of Provand,' who was one of its early occupants. Mary Queen of Scots is recorded as having visited the building in 1567 during a journey to see her husband Lord Darnley, who was ill. Today it is managed by Glasgow Life and serves as a fascinating museum, its rooms furnished in the style of different periods from the 15th to 17th centuries. The adjacent St Nicholas Garden re-creates a medieval physic garden. Admission is free.
Did you know? Provand's Lordship is the oldest house in Glasgow and one of only a handful of medieval buildings to survive in the city, alongside the Cathedral and Provan Hall.
How long should you spend at Provand's Lordship?
Plan about ~45 min at Provand's Lordship. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Provand's Lordship worth visiting?
Provand's Lordship is one of the 22 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Glasgow, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Glasgow
Hear the story of Provand's Lordship
Preview the Glasgow tour free in the Gingerguide app.