Springburn Virtual Museum

Community life

Interior of drysalter's shop, c 1930s

In the late nineteenth century, shopkeepers worked longer hours than most workers, as shops opened late every night - an important part of community life. Long working hours were only reduced by a workers' struggle. In Springburn in 1904 there was a demonstration by shop assistants, demanding a weekly half-day holiday. This was eventually granted, and for many years small shops in Glasgow would close on a Tuesday afternoon.

Since the demolition of most of the old Springburn Road for the building of the bypass, very few local shops remain, having been largely replaced by a shopping centre with a supermarket.

As well as household requisites such as wallpaper paste, bleach, soap, paint and varnish, a drysalter's shop sold unpackaged chemical goods. In this picture dyes, glycerine, gum arabic, saltpetre, 'sugar of lead', French chalk and raw soap are on sale.

Source: Glasgow City Archives