Govanhill Baths
99 Calder Street, Govanhill, Glasgow
Govanhill Baths is an Edwardian Baths and Wash-House designed by A. B. McDonald, formally opened on 3rd July 1917. The baths represent a ‘beautiful example of early 20th century civic architecture’ and are ‘the most substantially intact example of a municipal bath house in Glasgow.’ In January 2001, Glasgow City Council announced their closure, in response, the Save Our Pool - Southside Against Closure group was formed. Members of the group occupied the building on 21st March for 140 days. In late 2004 the Govanhill Baths Community Trust was formed to campaign to reopen the Baths. In 2020 the Baths are closed for Phase 1b redevelopment, which will see the reopening the baths as a health & wellbeing centre for all.
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What's on?
Image Gallery - see below Video - see below |
Save Our Pool, Songs From The Govanhill Pool Campaign, Glasgow, The Song Factory
This CD was produced during the occupation of Govanhill Baths from the 21st March - 7th August 2001, it is accompanied by a Song Book. The songs use the tunes of popular songs with lyrics written by members of the Save Our Pool campaign. Every Wednesday evening the songs would be sung on the 24hr picket outside the Baths to show solidarity and keep the spirits up of those inside. Alistair Hulett was key, you can find out more about his life and legacy at https://www.alistairhulett.com/ |
United We Will Swim… Again
Fran Higson, 2015 United We Will Swim… Again tells the incredible story of the community’s fight to save the pool and bring it back to life. It’s one of Glasgow’s famous political stories and is brought to life in this inspiring documentary, with original footage from the protest and interviews with the key activists involved. The film aims to inspire and motivate community engagement and action in the hope that ordinary people will assert their power and challenge short sighted local government decisions. CLICK HERE TO WATCH FILM |
Hung Out To Dry
Donna Rutherford, 2019 Commissioned by Govanhill Baths Community Trust for the Talk of the Steamie project in 2017. Donna Rutherford continued her approach of combining personal story with social history and psychology, to create a short performance 'Hung Out To Dry' – to abandon someone who needs help. The performance took place during the Talk of the Steamie Conference at the Baths. As part of the performance local women discuss their experience of Glasgow's wash-houses; Victorian attitudes to 'poorer brethern'; modern conveniences and modern life; mothers and daughters and the future of dirt! |
Public Health & The Built Environment, Conference, 2017
On the 23rd August 2017, as part of our Centenary Celebrations of the opening of the Baths in 1917, we held a Conference on Public Health & The Built Environment. Invited speakers spoke about the reasons why public baths & wash-houses were developed in the UK, including the cholera pandemic in the 1800’s. CLICK HERE TO WATCH |
Online events during Covid-19
Govanhill Baths had lots of interesting online events from April 2020 during Covid-19. CLICK HERE TO WATCH |