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View Full Version : Archived: Govanhill Baths - Glasgow - June 2009



skin
01-07-2009, 02:29 AM
Visited with Gorecki on a "permision" tour - these baths are normally open only once a year on national open doors day but these kind people let us have a little look at just a little bit more


Govanhill Baths Community Trust
Registered Scottish Charity No: SC 036162
http://www.govanhillbaths.com/index.php?page=home (http://www.govanhillbaths.com/index.php?page=home)


The Baths, designed by A.B. McDonald, were opened in 1917 and consisted of hot baths, 3 swimming pools and a 'steamie' (wash-house). Public baths were built by the Glasgow Corporation to promote health and hygiene.
A.B. McDonald was the city surveyor and designed the baths in Edwardian Baroque style. The most important architectural elements of the Baths are the pools with their arched reinforced concrete roof trusses which let in a large amount of light. The main pool, with it's cast iron railed gallery, gives the Baths their most distinctive feature. The original tiling still exists in several parts of the building.
In 1992 the Baths were listed at Category B.
Govanhill Baths was effectively closed by Glasgow City Council on 29th March 2001, against the wishes of the unconsulted local community. Being effectively replaced by new facilities built in the Gorbals which far from serve the local community that utilised the Govanhill baths.
Govanhill Baths was the only original, substantially unaltered public baths still in use in Glasgow when it closed.
Emotional scenes were prevalent on closure with many of the local community demonstrating to keep them open.



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(by the way this isnt my picture !! just lifted it from old news article)


With persistence of the Govanhill Baths Community Trust planning permission has been granted which could see the swimming pool reinstated with a new build extension to the rear, offering a nursery, cinema, café and community spaces. The community trust is hoping to raise the funding required although so far the council has not offered any assistance.
To help there campaign follow the link above and become a friend of the baths.


the old front entrance way


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the old front desk - after this explore I phoned a close friend from the area whom had been to the baths many times and compared notes - apparantly this area originally was all glass fronted desks - also the prevelant red colour theme was introduced very late in the baths life - my friend was shocked as he hadnt seen the red and still remembers the old blues and greens all round the building.


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the main pool (or the mixed pool as it was known)
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the second pool (the ladies pool) in its latter years this was very popular as it being a ladies only pool with the local asian community - it fitted in with there customs


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the small pool or training pool
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the steamie ( laundrette ) only after I left here did I remember that I had been myself briefly in this part of the building about 15 years ago. All the washing machines and sinks are gone now
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this is the adjoining part to last pic and was part of the steamie - I was asked by my friend did you see the massive porcelein sinks and the huge big mangle in here - looks like they are long gone
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All these cubicles housed individual steel baths - some of them were quite personalised with posters on the walls
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there was loads to see and the natural decay was real nice - heres just some random shots around the place


life guard to the rescue
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should read " kids that have no fun dont..."
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thanks for looking !!