850 years of change – A timeline of Glasgow’s health history from 1175 to 2025

This publication has been produced to mark the 850 years since Glasgow became a burgh, and presents a timeline of key events that have shaped the city’s health from 1175 to 2025. It adopts a broad definition of health, encompassing social determinants such as housing, sanitation, employment, and education, alongside major medical advances that influenced population wellbeing. Designed as an accessible resource for diverse audiences, the timeline synthesises historical research and expert input to illustrate how health outcomes have evolved in response to social, economic, political, and environmental changes. It also highlights the persistent role of inequality, showing how poverty and structural disadvantage have driven health gaps across centuries.

The timeline takes a historical approach to inform present and future public health efforts, and challenges the notion of linear progress by revealing that improvements often stemmed from contested debates, activism, and collective action.

Ultimately, this resource aims to inspire policymakers, practitioners, and communities to learn from the past and apply those lessons to create a healthier, fairer Glasgow today and in the years ahead.