More than 200 years after a group of Glasgow residents tore down a wall that prevented them from walking along the River Clyde, archaeologists have uncovered remains linked to the confrontation.
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archaeologists → tear → confrontation
According to Scottish News, the discovery was made at Harvie’s Dyke in Dalmarnock, in Glasgow's East End, where a wealthy distiller had built walls around his property in the early 1820s.
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distiller → accord → 1820s
The dispute began when Thomas "Lang Tam" Harvie, a wealthy whisky distiller, purchased the Westthorn estate on the eastern edge of Glasgow.
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Harvie → begin → Glasgow
He built two large walls around the property, including one that extended towards the River Clyde and blocked a route that local workers and residents had used for years.
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workers → build → years
According to historical accounts, the larger wall stood approximately 12 feet high and was protected by iron spikes and broken glass.
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wall → accord → spikes
A section of the structure also had a watchtower equipped with small cannons.
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section → have → cannons
The construction angered nearby communities, particularly colliers and other workers who regularly travelled along the riverside path.
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who → anger → path
On Midsummer's Eve in 1823, a large crowd gathered and began pulling down the wall.
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crowd → gather → wall
Authorities sent cavalry to control the disturbance, and dozens of people were arrested.
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dozens → send → people
Some were later imprisoned.
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Some → imprison → ?
Although Harvie rebuilt the walls, the incident led to a legal battle that continued for six years.
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that → rebuild → years
Now, archaeologists investigating the site have found physical evidence connected to the structures at the centre of that dispute.
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archaeologists → investigate → dispute
A 1791 token and remains of old structures
The discoveries were made during the Digging the Dyke project, which brought together Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, Glasgow City Council, Glasgow Life, Archaeology Scotland and historian Professor Chris Whatley of the University of Dundee.
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which → make → Dundee
Researchers examining the location of the demolished eastern wall uncovered several objects, including a rare Glasgow trade token dating to 1791.
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Researchers → examine → 1791
The token carries the city's motto, "Let Glasgow Flourish".
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Glasgow → carry → motto
According to Archaeology magazine, researchers believe the token may have been deliberately buried at the site by protesters.
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token → accord → protesters
However, this remains a possibility rather than a confirmed explanation for how it reached the location.
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it → remain → location
The excavation also revealed mortar, floor surfaces, roofing slate and fragments of plaster.
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excavation → reveal → plaster
Archaeologists believe these materials could have come from a fortified summerhouse that once stood overlooking the riverside pathway.
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that → believe → pathway
Historical illustrations show a structure of this kind forming part of the property's defences.
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structure → show → defences
The newly discovered building materials may therefore help researchers understand what stood at the site during the confrontation.
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what → discover → confrontation
Although much of Harvie's Dyke was demolished, a surviving section of the wall can still be seen at Thorndyke Lane in Glasgow's East End.
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section → demolish → End
The excavation also revealed a rare 1791 trade token bearing the city's motto, "Let Glasgow Flourish".
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Glasgow → reveal → motto
How the dispute reached the House of Lords
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dispute → reach → Lords
The destruction of the wall in 1823 did not immediately restore public access to the river.
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destruction → restore → river
Harvie rebuilt the structures, and the disagreement developed into a prolonged legal dispute over whether residents had the right to continue using the established pathway.
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residents → rebuild → pathway
The case eventually reached the House of Lords, which ruled in 1828 in favour of those defending public access to the riverbank.
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which → reach → riverbank
The ruling recognised what became known as the "liberties of the banks of the Clyde".
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what → recognise → Clyde
The outcome was celebrated across Glasgow.
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outcome → celebrate → Glasgow
Songs, poems and commemorative medals marked the campaign and the success of those who had challenged the landowner.
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who → mark → landowner
Harvie's whisky was also boycotted, while the lengthy legal proceedings reportedly consumed much of his fortune.
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proceedings → boycott → fortune
He eventually became bankrupt and died in poverty around a decade later.
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He → become → poverty
Despite its importance at the time, the confrontation gradually disappeared from popular memory.
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confrontation → disappear → memory
400 plus people take part in project
The recent excavation was accompanied by public activities intended to bring the history of Harvie's Dyke to a wider audience.
More than 400 people visited the excavation or participated in related walks, talks, tours and performances organised as part of the 2026 Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival.
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people → take → Festival
Professor Chris Whatley, who examined the dispute in his 2025 book Harvie's Dyke: The People, their Liberty and the Clyde, has described the confrontation as a victory for ordinary Glasgow residents against a landowner who refused to compromise.
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who → examine → landowner
The Aporia
