Imperial cities, imperial citizens

Abstract

The political architecture of government buildings and official monuments clearly formed an empire-related layer in the built environment of Europe. However, outside of the capitals, port- and industrial cities developed their own attachments to imperialism, mediated through exchanges, offices, or public buildings. In Victorian Glasgow, self-proclaimed ‘Second City of the Empire’, even the new town hall (1877–1889) was to be made part of the city’s imperial vocation. Façades referring to Rome and Venice and sculpture symbolising the British empire turned this municipal office into an imperial palace. However, this project by the civic elite rested on a hierarchic vision of the city and could not prevent doubts about Glasgow’s and Scotland’s position in the empire the from arising.