Trongate

Trongate is one of the oldest streets in the city of Glasgow, Scotland.

Trongate, looking east. The Tron church and clock steeple is visible in the background

Located in the area of the Merchant City commonly known as "Old Glasgow", it is the main route into the central area from the East End. Trongate begins at Glasgow Cross, the original centre of medieval Glasgow, marked by the Tolbooth clock tower - the remains of the city's original City Chambers which was destroyed in 1926 by fire. Heading westward, it becomes Argyle Street, the most southerly stetch of Glasgow's "Golden Z" shopping thoroughfare.

The Tron church (built in the 17th Century) with its distinctive steeple and clock is the street's best known landmark, and was substantially redeveloped in the 1980s as a theatre. Historically, in line with the rest of Glasgow's medieval area, Trongate fell into decline following the Industrial Revolution as the city expanded westwards, and even today there are still many derelict buildings and half-closed shops.

In line with the rest of the Merchant City, the area has undergone a renaissance since the 1990s, with new bars, restuarants and upmarket apartment blocks being built from the old Victorian buildings. The London based retailer Selfridges has acquired a key site on the corner of Trongate and Candleriggs on which to build a new department store which promises to revamp the area significantly, although progress on this has become stalled.