ABSTRACT
In the early nineteenth century Glasgow had many large brothels. The reputation of some, like the notorious ‘Triple Decker’ which occupied three storeys, spread even to London. Recalling the Glasgow of his youth, Chief Constable McCall revealed that the streets had been thronged with ‘prostitutes’. During the day and early evening, they sat in the brothel windows, ‘in a kind of semi-nude state, just to draw the attention of men passing along the street’. 1
It used to be quite a common thing on fine summer afternoons for the keepers of such houses to bring out a squad, as it were, of women who were living in the house with them and parade the principal streets dressed up in their best clothes, and making a circuit around and back to their houses, so as to let it be known where they were to be had. 2
