Office of Public Works

• Reference:GB 243 D-OPW
• Dates of Creation:1844 - 1975
• Name of Creator:
  Office of Public Works
• Language of Material:English
• Physical Description:
  45.20 Linear Metres (27 boxes; 389 volumes; 7 bundles; 196 files; 435 items)

• Scope and Content

  Memorandum and information books, containing reports and statistics, c 1840 - 1968; Day book, 1896 - 1900; Letter books, 1844 - 1948 (incomplete); Streets and sewers files, 1922 - 1964; Minutes of the Statute Labour (later Streets, Sewers and Buildings) Committee, 1925 - 1939. Dean of Guild Court Section: Records relating to the building control function, including lists of cases in the Dean of Guild Court, 1863 - 1972, records of court proceedings, 1861 - 1975, registers of linings, 1862 - 1969, statistical abstract of dwelling houses for which application was made to the court, 1862 - 1898, reports on inspections of buildings erected or in a dangerous condition, 1872 - 1938, reports on plans, 1902 - 1912, records of cases discharged by the Master of Works, 1910 - 1927, schedules of works executed by authority of the Dean of Guild Court, 1901 - 1902, lining plans, 1879, list of warehouses, 1900, reports on Govan buildings, 1897 - 1908, and building plans for areas transferred to Glasgow from Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire, 1900 - 1939, 1861 - 1975.Records relating to public streets and footpaths, including registers of public streets, 1847 - 1855, 1908 - 1974, ‘street ledgers’, recording street works and costs, 1856 - 1925, specifications and conditions of contract, 1925 - 1960, traffic census data, 1911 - 1920, and papers relating to roads and bridges in Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, 1877 - 1884, Sauchiehall St improvements, 1889 - 1901, and unemployment relief works (Edinburgh Rd and Great Western Rd), 1925, 1847 - 1974.Sewerage records, including reports on the sewerage and main drainage of Glasgow, 1868, 1911 and 1932, specifications for a sludge boat, 1909, contract records, 1923 - 1955, measurement books and related records, 1904 - 1961, 1868 - 1961.Maps and plans of administrative areas, bridges, railways and public works including sewerage, housing and hospitals, c 1865 - 1956 and undated; Photographs of staff, c 1875 - 1920, refuse tips, ashpits and air pollution, 1912, and various works including roads and bridges, slum properties prior to demolition, housing schemes, etc., 1925 - 1970 and undated, c 1875 - 1970.Miscellanea including a reports on the Harbour Tunnel, 1895, and the tidal weir on the Clyde, 1948; Law papers on cases relating to the functions of the department (mainly streets and sewers), c 1890-1930; General administrative papers, 1899 - 1917 and undated.

  Master of Works D/OPW/1-17

  Dean of Guild Section D/OPW/18-49

  Sewage Section D/OPW/50-72

  General Papers D/OPW/73-75

  Additional Items deposited by SRC D/OPW/76

  Roads Department in April 1991

  Additional Items deposited by SRC D/OPW/77

  Roads Department in April 1989

• Administrative / Biographical History

  The Office of Public Works was responsible for the 'construction, maintenance, improvement and repair of public streets, roads, bridges, sewers and public conveniences.'

• Access Information

  Open

  Access restrictions may apply. Please contact the Archives for further information

• Note

  The records in this section comprise the department of the Master of Works and such part of the Dean of Guild Court Inspectorate as come under his control. Reference should also be made to the records received from the Dean of Guild Court (B4 above).

• Other Finding Aids

  Descriptive list available at Glasgow City Archives (some uncatalogued material).

• Conditions Governing Use

  Application for reproduction should be made to the Archivist

• Appraisal Information

  This material has been appraised in line with standard GB243 procedures.

• Accruals

  No further accruals expected.

• Related Material

  Glasgow City Archives, B4, Glasgow Dean of Guild Court

  Glasgow City Archives, D-TC, Glasgow Town Clerk's Department

  Glasgow City Archives, TD1567, Plans of Libraries and Other Buildings

• Bibliography

  'Glasgow: A Short Account of the Municipal Undertakings…' (Glasgow Corporation, 1938), pp.36-47, 50-56.

• Corporate Names

  Glasgow Corporation; Office of Public Works; 1895-1975