Glasgow tenement residents urged to hunt down old wallpaper scraps for National Trust Scotland archive

Glasgow residents are being asked to hunt down old wallpaper scraps in their tenement homes so that National Trust Scotland can create an archive.

Tenements have been a familiar part of Glasgow’s cityscape since the 1800s, but little is known about their interiors.

It is hoped the appeal will help shape a picture of what it was like to live in a tenement in years gone by and give the charity an idea of how people chose to decorate their homes.

Emma Inglis, National Trust for Scotland curator for Glasgow and the West, said that while many photos exist, they are often in black and white.

“The is our attempt to plug a gap in that isn’t represented in other collections in any significant way, nor is it represented in written history books either,” she said.

The trust is looking for any wallpaper that might date between the 1800s to 1950. They are hoping residents may come across them when redecorating.

They are also asking for receipts for wallpaper purchased before 1950 or any information about how tenements used to be decorated.

“I think it’s important that we retain knowledge of these wallpapers for two reasons,” said Ms Inglis.

“Firstly, it’s part of the design history of Scotland and it’s about how people lived and I hope it can maybe challenge some assumptions about what living in a tenement was like and how colourful it was.”

If they receive enough submissions, National Trust Scotland plan to put on an exhibition at their site, which is located at the Tenement House in Garnethill.