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
Closure
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