Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow

12 Nelson Mandela Place G2 1BT

Charles Wilson, 1856

Category A Listed

Explore this Italianate, “palazzo” style building with finely sculpted masks of historical legal figures, a richly decorated interior and access to the main library described as “one of the most exquisite halls in the West of Scotland” Glasgow Herald (1857)

The Faculty of Procurators (or lawyers) in Glasgow has been in existence since before 1668. The building, into which the Faculty and its library moved in 1857, is a two-storeyed building with three façades designed by the architect Charles Wilson (1810-1863) in the style of a Venetian Palazzo. Wilson is also responsible for some of Glasgow’s finest Italianate buildings.

The keystones to the arches, depicting the faces of eminent lawyers, were modelled by Alexander Handyside Ritchie and carved by James Shanks.

There are a number of different rooms within the building including –

the Faculty Hall which has been used for a variety of purposes over the years, including auctions and Royal Faculty lunches.

the Small Library with its “bicentenary window” commissioned from John K. Clark for the Royal Faculty’s bicentenary in 1996 and mortification boards around the balcony commemorating bequests to the Royal Faculty’s charitable funds.

The Main Library which was described in the Glasgow Herald of 12 June 1857 as one of the most exquisite halls in the West of Scotland. Nine busts of former members of the Faculty and other notables add character to the library.

The building houses an extremely important collection of legal texts and is still used as a working space by solicitors and advocates. Consequently it is usually only open to members.

Number in Brochure: 28