1914
The Baths is Opened
On the 3rd of July 1914 the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Sir Daniel Macaulay Stevenson, opened the Govanhill pool in Calder Street, Glasgow.
1930
Depresssion
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1944
Wartime Mortuary
During the war, a huge number of dead after bombings led the Copr tpo ise the pool as a make shift mortuary
1960
Steamie
There was also a wash-house or "steamie" at the rear of the building, which was converted to a launderette in 1971.
1971
Launderette
The washhouse was converted to a launderette in 1971 and became a gym.
1980
Somethins
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2001
Closes
In 2001, Glasgow Council decides that Govanhill doesn't need a pool and washhouse so closes Govanhill Baths
TIMELINE OF EVENTS AND ACTIONS SINCE CLOSURE OF THE BATHS
Closed for 3961 days. Open for 105 days.
November 2000
Rumours in the community that the City Council is to close the baths even though a written commitment had been made not to do so in the report “Sport for All” 1999. Rumours are denied by locally elected councilors and the council.
January 6th 2001
Glasgow City Council through its leader Charlie Gordon, announces closure of the baths in the Glasgow Evening Times and say it will close on 23rd March come what may. Indicates that £750,00 is necessary to keep them open and refurbished which is not economic and because the alleged the baths insufficiently used. Statistics that are subsequently challenged.
January 14th 2001
Parents of the children who were swimmers at the Kingston club Swimming Club meet in the baths to discuss what can be done. A club of some 20 years standing recruiting early learners through to high level performers in competitive swimming. It had somee 230 members when the baths were closed largely from south side and the surrounding area and was a major social outlet for southside children from all social and cultural groups. Only a handful of Govanhill baths members were able to “move” to new facility provision 5 miles away in Castlemilk.
January 28th
Save Our Pool - Southside Against Closure (SAC) Community Action Group formed and begins weekly meetings at Daisy Street Family Centre. (It was built out of a loose amalgam of protesting parents of children and was quickly supported by some 200 other community members. It also represented action to stop the closure of the local library that had also been rumoured. Petition drawn up and circulated at ongoing events locally and across southside of Glasgow – some 30,000 signatures of protest gathered and presented to the local council and the Scottish Government
February 2001
Wide range of community activities and demonstrations including a march around Govanhill with around 1,000 people taking part. Council leader Charlie Gordon and Culture and Sport bosses refuse to discuss any aspect of the closure with the Action Group
Charlie Gordon formally announces in an open letter to pool users that the baths will close on 31st March and that a feasibility study in respect of future use of baths will be completed independently. Still refuses to discuss any aspect of the closure with the action group. Announces that now it estimates that repairs were more than £1M (although no detail or justification for this was offered). Suggests they are “well past their sell by date” and offers them to the baths protesters for £1.00! Figures challenged by Save Our Pool. Council announces baths will close on 23rd March.
Plans prepared to occupy the baths on 23rd March if the action closure continues. Action group set up to arrange this. Save Our Pool Action group publishes its response to the closure in the dossier, Sport for Life for Who? Substantially researched 33 page dossier critiques and challenges the council’s closure of the baths on the bases of wide ranging evidence and political commitments of the government and many professional organizations including sportscotland. Notes that council conducted no social audit in respect of effects of the closure. (See WEB LINK) It demanded that;
9.1. This Campaign demands
•That the doors of Govanhill Pool remain open until a full consultation of the community and a full social audit of the impact of the proposed closure takes place.
•That the Council meet with this Campaign group, for them to put forward their vision for the future of the Govanhill Pool.
Dossier, (delivered by hand) was not acknowledged by Charlie Gordon, the Council Leader or the Head of Culture and Sport. Its evidence and argument presented on behalf of the community were ignored.
23rd March 2001
Occupation of the baths takes place. Occupiers go for a swim on the final night of opening and chain themselves to the changing cubicles and other places. At closing time the staff are told that they should leave the building since this was an official occupation and that they were quite safe but should leave. The manager called the police who arrived accepted that this was a formal occupation and left, leaving the building to the occupiers
Web site launched and first report appears. Ongoing reports of actions and events that were posted over the following 5 months and beyond can be seen at
A Minute Before Midnight The group wait tentatively for the dawn of the next day. Ensuring all arrangements are in place, checking any last minute details. They kiss their families goodnight and goodbye, still disbelieving their council would have such disregard for them, still hoping their council would see the light and vow to keep the pools and recreation facilities of Govanhill open as popular opinion of the masses have demonstrated, but resigned and determined to be part of a protest they would never have before imagined in a civilized western country. Easter - Saturday 2001
500 people attend a street celebration. Arrangements made to close Calder Street at baths where a stage is constructed for a concert involving local and nationally known performers. The Peace Garden provides a barbeque and activities for children.
May 2001
Action group continues protests by temporarily closes Bellahouston swimming pool and Kelvingrove Sports Centre
August 7th 2001.
Sheriff’s Officer’s as instructed by the Council raid the baths at 5-15am removing protesters from inside the building. Crowds of some 1000 local people gather around the baths closing Calder Street and 250 police arrive to ring the front of the building whilst windows are encased with heavy metal shutters. Protests continue throughout the day in spite considerable and disproportionate police presence. Picket outside the baths continues until May 2002 as a gesture. Save Our Pool lodges long list of complaints through its lawyer against the police and Chief constable calls in Perth constabulary to investigate. No action taken against any of the officers present! 13 arrests made and charges brought. All subsequently failed in court bar one. Council accuses Save Our Pool of being infiltrated by “far left” activists, Scotsman accuses it of “rent a mob” tactics. No evidence for these wild untruths.
May 2002
Picket line removed from front of baths but Save Our Pool continues over next two years to meet regularly organizing various social activities and keeping pressure on council regarding its plans for the baths. Insists they should be opened as a public facility run by the council.
Stalemate begins!
May 2004
The council announces that the baths are “surplus to its requirements” and are transferred from Culture and Sport to Development and Regeneration Services for “disposal”. However, works with a local group to convert the baths for use by the elderly. Save Our Pool protests about this – plans scuppered by feasibility study and could not meet the stipulations set down by Historic Scotland given the List B status of the baths.
June 2004
The Council advertises the baths for use by anyone with a particular interest. Save Our Pool immediately expresses that interest and applies to become a Charitable Trust to run the baths as a not for profit organization itself. Receives backing from Historic Scotland and many other groups.
January 2005
Govanhill Baths Charitable Trust is formally constituted and immediately lodges its interest with the council to convert the baths into a Health and Wellbeing Centre and is given dispensation to submit a first Draft Business Plan. With Grant Aid from the Big Lottery, the Architectural Heritage Fund, Scottish Community Foundation and the Royal Institute of British Architects it appoints NORD architects to conduct a feasibility study.
August 2006
First stage business plan submitted. Council calls for final stage Business Plan within a year. Delays created by difficulty in gaining access to the baths created by the council. Key local partners brought on board, including Govanhill Housing Association and Development Trust.
August 2007
Charity shop in Calder Street formally opened. Proves to be enormous success. Rear of shop established as GBCT office. Scottish Community Fund and the Big Lottery provide funding to fit the shop.
Monthly “Soup Song and Swallies” inaugurated on a monthly basis on Sunday’s at Billy McNeil’s pub. Good lunch and good afternoon music provided.
January 2008
Committee formed to prepare Final Stage Business Plan with support and co-operation of Glasgow City Council Development and Regeneration Services Department (who facilitated bi-monthly meetings) and Govanhill Housing Association who facilitated the committee. NORD Architecture central to this process along with EKOS of Glasgow who developed the Plan with the GBCT Board. Funding of some £15,000 secured for this process from the Architectual Heritage Fund and the Big Lottery. £12.5M is the estimated projected cost of the new Centre.
Charity shop appoints a Shop Manager.
September 2008
Over 2000 people tour the baths during Glasgow’s Doors Open Day.
December 2008
Business Plan submitted. £2M requested from both government and council. No replies to date. Contains written support from all locally elected councilors bar one and all local MSP’s.
January 2009
First annual GBCT Burns Night Ceilidh established. Huge success.
June 2009
Planning permission for new Wellbeing Centre approved thanks to NORD architecture – cost of £11,000 to Trust.
August 2009
Successful application for grant from governments Third Sector Enterprise Fund to establish Centre for Community Practice (CCP) in refurbished premises opposite the baths. Funds for the appointment of a manager for research and community practice and administration costs in converted shop premises opposite the baths in Calder Street.
September 2009
Centre for Community Practice and Trust Offices open
Again over 2000 people tour the baths during Doors Open Day. Govanhill Baths Art and Regeneration Committee organizes an art Exhibition at the same time. 28 artists locally and nationally present their work. Culture and Sport Award an arts grant to support an artists in residence for the event.
November 2009
The Scottish Governement Third Sector Enterprise Fund awards the Trust 60K+. Centre for Community Practice and Trust Offices open formally launched by Director of Community Health and Care Partnership (SE), Cathy Cowan. A part time Administration office is apoointed.
January 2010
Manager of CCP takes up post.
Second Burns Night Ceilidh held – sold our before the event, another success
May/June 2010
A local arts festival (funded by Culture and Sport Glasgow) art/culture organized (called Streetland) over May holiday week-end. Huge success involves many parts of the “diverse” community. Some 400 visitors.
Festival of “welcome” held. Refugee Council funds GBCT to run “Govanhill Refugee Week – All Our Futures”. 300 local people pack on and around the Peace Garden by the baths in a celebration of welcoming refugees and others to Govanhill. Music, drums, singing choirs, children’s activities and free lunch for all!
July 2010
Plans developed to establish a Medium Term Project that will enable community access to suite of rooms and facilities at the front of the baths and the Steamie to the rear. In association with Govanhill Community Action (GoCA) group (a coalition of some 25 local voluntary groups), £100,000 sought from “Equally Well” local government funding for Community Health towards this Project.
The Project developed in the light of local, charitable and government funding cuts that make raising £12.5M a longer-term project. Whilst the Medium Plan Project develops funding for the main project continues.
Charity Shop moves to premises 5 times present size owing to huge demand and generosity of donations from local people.
Day 1 Wednesday March 21st Just before the occupation children and adults happily swam in the main pool. This is just one of three pools. Others used the sauna and gym. Our group of adults had their final use of the facility enjoying the normality of the day but knowing that this was no ordinary day in Govanhill pool. They knew that today they would not simply be ending their activity and walking off home. They'd be staying there untill the council agreed not to close the facilities.
A Minute Before Midnight The group wait tentatively for the dawn of the next day. Ensuring all arrangements are in place, checking any last minute details. They kiss their families goodnight and goodbye, still disbelieving their council would have such disregard for them, still hoping their council would see the light and vow to keep the pools and recreation facilities of Govanhill open as popular opinion of the masses have demonstrated, but resigned and determined to be part of a protest they would never have before imagined in a civilised western country.
Day 142 Thursday August 9th. Day 141 completed. Hurray!! A general discussion today of looking to the future and remaining positive and peaceful. We had a march to the town today to hand in a letter to Cllr Gordon urging a vote of no confidence. Hopefully we can finally engage in some discussion to tackling the problems in Govanhill and surrounding areas and focusing on having our pool as a starting point to change for the better. Day 141 Wednesday August 8th. Day 140 completed. Hurray!! A crowd of supporters gather round the pool today whilst traffic went by hooting their horns in support. Peacefully defiant, the picket goes on. Security guards and council workers go in and out of the building whilst police protect the doorways.
Day 140 Tuesday August 7th. Day 139 completed. Hurray!! They attacked us in a Dawn Raid this morning! We tried to cooperate yesterday with hope for the future of council run pool facilities in the building and lots of positive discussion with these consultants and what do the council do? Order in sheriff officers in a stealthy, shameful raid. Is this what happens when you try to cooperate with Glasgow City Council? They bully you and smirk at the television cameras saying there will never be a pool in Govanhill run by the council and refer to the community objecting to this disgraceful error of judgment by the council as 'these people' and that they are being negative to Govanhill. Well, the people of Govanhill are not the ones who are asset stripping the whole place.