THE HISTORY OF THE GLOVER INCORPORATION OF PERTH

Although the skill set of the skinner craft and glove-making within the Incorporation has long since been lost, largely due to the emergence of synthetic materials in the early part of the 20th century, the importance of sustaining the place which the Glovers have held in the civic history of Perth remains.

While the relationship with the Fair Maid of Perth is a fictional one, the Incorporation did own the building known as the Fair Maid’s House, having bought it in 1620. For around 200 years, during perhaps the most productive time for glove making in Perth, the Incorporation held its meetings there. In the mid 1800s the Incorporation moved to George Street, and still meet in the Glover’s Hall there. While most of the artefacts of the Incorporation have been gifted to Perth Museum, and our Minutes to the City Archivist, some limited curios remain. Members meet around an ancient table covered by the Green Cloth dated 1928. It is a tradition that the cloth will be celebrated every one hundred years.

The Fair Maid’s House is now the home of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society.