Merchantile Chambers, Glasgow

Alternative names:

53 Bothwell St.,

Former parish and county:

Parish of Glasgow, County of Lanark

Local authority:

Glasgow city

Ownership:

Mercantile Chambers Co. Ltd.

Opened:

Built 1898

Current status of site:

Remains in use as office accommodation.

Headquarters building of Scottish Oils Ltd, and associated companies. Scottish Oils purchased the majority shareholding of the Merchantile Chambers Co. Ltd, (formed 1897) and all headquarter functions were moved to the building at 53, Bothwell St. Glasgow in about 1924

PROPOSED PURCHASE OF OFFICES IN GLASGOW.

Mr. Fraser explained the difficulties in regard to management arising trom the present office arrangements in Glasgow, whereby the staff of the Company and its subsidiaries is at present housed in tour different buildings, involving a rental ot over £4,000 per annum. He considered it extremely desirable to have the whole staff accommodated in one building and had heard of a suitable building on a good site in Bothwell Street, which he thought the Company should acquire. This building is at present owned by the Mercantile Chambers Company, Ltd., and has been valued at £94,000 by Messrs. Smellie & Fraser, whose report Mr. Fraser submitted. There is a bond of £50,000 on the property. The total rents come to about £7000, and some of the leases run to 1925 but it might be possible to terminate certain of these earlier by offering present tenants in exchange the offices which the Company now occupies. Three floors of the building would accommodate the Company's staff, and the remaining floors could be let at good rentals. The Board authorised Mr. Fraser to acquire the shares ot the Mercantile Chambers Company on the basis of Messrs. Smellie & Prasers' Valuation.

Scottish Oils Ltd, Minutes of Directors Meeting, 4th May 1920.

See full record 100658

Recent images

Merchantile Chambers, 2nd ‎December ‎2019

Archive plans

See full record; 183328

Location map

Detailed maps

1893 25" OS prior to construction of Merchantile Chambers. Courtesy National Library of Scotland

1:2500 OS map c.1950, Courtesy National Library of Scotland

aerial view

Related file records

129071 - Duplicate Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co. Ltd. and Messrs. MacKenzie Roberton and Co. - Duplicate Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. MacKenzie Roberton and Co of office premises on first floor at 53 Bothwell Street, Glasgow dated 1963 and related correspondence dating from 18th January, 1963 to 6th February, 1963.
142792 - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. Wright Johnston and Orr of office premises on the second floor at 53 Bothwell Street, Glasgow - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. Wright Johnston and Orr of office premises on the second floor at 53 Bothwell Street, Glasgow, dated 1963. Includes correspondance referring to the lease and the annual rent and a copy of the Testing Clause.
142794 - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and A and D Fraser Ltd of premises 39 to 49 Bothwell Street - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and A and D Fraser Ltd of premises 39 to 49 Bothwell Street dated 31sr December, 1963 and 15th July? 1964.
142794 - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. McLay McAlister and McGibbon . - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. McLay McAlister and McGibbon of office premises on first floor at 53 Bothwell Street , Glasgow 1963. Estimated date
142795 - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. Fraser Lawson and Laing of premises on second floor of 53 Bothwell Street, Glasgow - Lease between The Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd and Messrs. Fraser Lawson and Laing of premises on second floor of 53 Bothwell Street, Glasgow dated 28th August and 4th September, 1963. Estimated date
142805 - Papers in connection with the formal offer from Scottish Oils to Mercantile Chambers - Papers in connection with the formal offer from Scottish Oils to Mercantile Chambers to purchase Nos. 39/69 Bothwell Street. Includes: Survey report of the property in Bothwell Street by Thomas W. Smellie and Fraser, Suveyors and Valuers dated 26th April, 1920; Certificate for the transfer of shares of The Merchantile Chambers Co. Ltd to J. Andrew and B. Colquhoun.
142806 - Proxy voting letters by William Fraser and Richard Glovre McClully of Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd - Proxy voting letters by William Fraser and Richard Glover McClully of Mercantile Chambers Co Ltd allowing Robert Alexander Murray to vote on their behalf a the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company, dated 10th September, 1920 and 24th August, 1920.