THE GLOVER INCORPORATION OF PERTH

The Glover Incorporation of Perth has had a presence in Perth, Scotland, since at least 1210, although the origins of glove making in the City will certainly pre-date this.

Over the centuries the ‘Glovers’, alongside other traders and merchants organised themselves in to guilds and trades to protect their interests. By the middle of the 16th Century, a royal charter established the position of trade organisations in the management of town affairs. The ‘Dyken’ was a member of the Town Council, until 1833, and also performed the duties of ‘magistrate’ with an overview of social and religious welfare, imposing punishments where determined to be appropriate.

The Glovers achieved world-wide fame with the publication of Sir Walter Scott’s novel ‘The Fair Maid of Perth’, creating the character Simon Glover, and featuring the Fair Maid’s House in the storyline.

While literary fiction brought public recognition of the Incorporation, it was the careful management of the affairs of the Trade that created the prosperity from which we have been able to sustain ourselves into the 21st Century. Shrewd land investment has provided funds which allowed the Incorporation to continue its contribution to the historical life of Perth long after glove making ceased. While our property ownership is now restricted to the Glovers Hall in George Street, our members continue to meet to discuss how best to maintain our history, and to provide financial support to individuals and organisations for that purpose.