This year's Trades House Lecture was hosted by the University of Strathclyde on 27 June 2011

Professor John R Hume OBE, Honorary Professor at both the University of St Andrews and University of Glasgow, delivered this year’s Trades House lecture organised in association with the University of Strathclyde.

His inspiring lecture, Dignity, Durability and Delight: remembering Glasgow’s industries through their buildings covered the legacy of industrial design during the heyday of Glasgow’s industrial past. By the late 19th century, Glasgow was rightly known as the ‘Workshop of the British Empire’. He spoke of how the city was unique in the range, scale and sophistication of its industries, which were closely linked to its emergence as a model municipality.

Professor Hume’s lecture highlighted the quality of the buildings constructed to house many of these industries, the way in which survivors are of continuing relevance to the city’s character, and ways in which we might more adequately recognise the important contribution of industry to Glasgow’s development and reputation.

Professor Hume is also Chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. For 20 years, he was a lecturer in Economic and Industrial History at the University of Strathclyde, and was for 15 years first a Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments, then of Historic Buildings with Historic Scotland, retiring as Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings in 1999. He has published a wide range of books and articles on the industrial archaeology and historic buildings of Scotland. Professor Hume is also currently Convener of the Committee on Church Art and Architecture of the Church of Scotland and an advisory member of the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland