About The Merchants House of Glasgow
The Merchants House of Glasgow is situated at the corner of George Square and West George Street and is home to one of the most ancient and prestigious organisations in the City of Glasgow.
The House is the old Merchant Guild and representative of the Mercantile Community.
The Merchants House is a substantial Glasgow charity, with benevolence available on application from other organisations active in charitable fields in Glasgow and the local West of Scotland area.
The House also makes grants from its funds to various educational institutions and provides bursaries.
The Head of the House is the Lord Dean of Guild, elected annually by the Members of the House. The Lord Dean acts as Chairman of the House, and delegates Convenership of the different committees. The Office of the Dean of Guild ranks next to that of the Lord Provost of the City. Prior to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, the Lord Dean was also the official head and sole judge of the Dean of Guild Court in Glasgow, assisted by four Lyners appointed by the Merchants House and four appointed by the Trades House of Glasgow.
The present membership of the House is almost 1000. Thirty six Directors, elected by the members, carry on the active work of the House, together with the Dean, the Vice Dean, the Immediate Past Dean and the previous 2 ex Deans. Twelve of the 36 Directors retire annually and arrangements are made to encourage the election of a proportion of new Directors each year without losing the advantages of experience in the work of the House.
For more information on the House, please visit Merchants House of Glasgow