Provand's Lordship

Provand’s Lordship is a medieval house museum at 3 Castle Street, beside Glasgow Cathedral. Built in 1471 as part of St Nicholas’s Hospital, it is Glasgow’s oldest surviving house and one of only four medieval buildings left in the city. Inside, look for the original stonework and timber, 17th-century Scottish furniture, historic portraits and rooms furnished with period pieces. A short video and information panels explain the house’s past. St Nicholas Garden, behind the house, adds a quiet stop among medicinal herbs and Tontine Heads sculptures.

A medieval house beside Glasgow Cathedral

Provand’s Lordship stands at 3 Castle Street, close to Glasgow Cathedral. Built in 1471, it was part of St Nicholas’s Hospital. The house is among only four medieval buildings still standing in Glasgow and is the city’s oldest surviving house.

Its small scale gives the visit a close-up feel: you can see the stone walls, timber details and rooms that preserve a sense of the building’s age. The displays also help place the house within Glasgow’s medieval past.

Period rooms and collections

The rooms contain 17th-century Scottish furniture, much of it associated with the collection donated by Sir William Burrell. Historic royal portraits and other period objects add detail to the interiors, which span furnishings from the 16th to the 18th centuries.

Start with the video, then take time with the information panels as you move through the rooms. They provide context for the house and for life in Glasgow centuries ago. Staff can also give a brief or more detailed introduction before you explore.