Over two decades ago, the residents of Govanhill united to save their historic public baths, which were a cherished community hub.
What started as a fight to save a local pool and social centre in Glasgow’s South Side evolved into a powerful movement for social justice, uniting the community and creating a lasting legacy with the longest occupation of a civic building in British history.
From this fight, the Govanhill Baths Community Trust was born. This grassroots organisation now runs a wide range of programs for residents.
After years of tireless campaigning and restoration efforts, the baths are set to be fully reopened next year, just in time to mark the 25th anniversary of the iconic occupation that saved them.
A milestone symbolising the power of collective action to create lasting change.
Govanhill: A history of diversity and industry
Designed by Glasgow city architect A. B. McDonald, the Govanhill Baths opened on 28 February 1917. They provided essential washing and bathing facilities for tenement residents who lacked such amenities.
Located on Calder Street, the building featured three swimming pools, a 400-seat gallery, Turkish baths, individual (slipper) baths, and 81 stalls in the washhouse, known as the steamie.
Beyond practicality, the baths served as a social hub, especially for women, with a dedicated women-only pool.
At the time, Glasgow had more washhouses per capita than any other UK city, reflecting its industrial prominence as the second city of the British Empire.
Govanhill was no different; the area was known for its iron works, called Dixon’s Blazes. Founded by William Dixon in the mid-1800s. It was this industry that drove migration to the area, with most of the tenement housing being built from the 1890s onwards.
As Glasgow’s and Govanhill’s industry grew, so did the area’s population. People settled in there from all over the UK and the world, shaping the place it has become today.
In its earliest days, Highland and Lowland Scots moved to the area, followed by the Irish, particularly those from Donegal. As the area grew, more migrants settled there: Belgians, Italians, and Jews fleeing persecution in Europe.
In the 1950s, people from the Punjab and other parts of the Indian subcontinent settled in Govanhill. In later years, the area also became home to refugees and asylum seekers.
Today Govanhill is Scotland’s most ethnically diverse neighbourhood, with about 40% of its residents from such backgrounds, with over 30 languages spoken and people from over 50 nationalities living within just 13 tenement blocks.
Paula Larkin, the archivist at Govanhill Baths Community Trust, shared insights into the significance of the baths for the local community.
Paula, a resident during the time of the occupation, was not officially involved in the campaign but supported the fight to save the baths. She recalls the widespread outrage among the community when the closure was announced.
She said the baths were important, acting as a safe and welcoming social space, particularly for South Asian women. The women-only facilities were among the few in the area, providing a vital refuge for those navigating challenging domestic circumstances.
Paula also stressed that the baths were essential for the entire community, hosting youth and disability support group services that were scarce in Govanhill, a historically disadvantaged area.
Govanhill was and still is one of the most densely populated areas in Glasgow, known for some of the highest rates of deprivation and child poverty in the UK and Scotland. With life expectancy below the Scottish average.
For many, the baths were more than a facility; they were a cornerstone of daily life.
At the time of the announcement of the baths closure, many pointed to the new Gorbals pool as a suitable alternative, but there were plenty of reasons why this would not have worked.
The Gorbals pool offered only mixed swimming facilities, which would mean many from minority religious groups wouldn’t be able to swim due to cultural reasons.
The Govanhill Baths ran Muslim women’s swimming sessions, Orthodox Jewish men’s nights, parent-toddler groups, as well as groups for other demographics. All of which would be lacking when compared to the Gorbals.
140 days of occupation
At the turn of the millennium, rumours spread about the potential closure of the baths, though the local council denied them.
In January 2001, swimming clubs using the facility, such as the Kingston Amateur Swimming Club, were abruptly informed they needed to find new venues.
On the 6th, council leader Charlie Gordon announced via the Glasgow Evening Times that the baths would close on 31 March that year, citing the speculated £750,000 refurbishment cost as unaffordable due to low visitor numbers.
Campaigners challenged this claim and argued the decision was made without community consultation; they hoped that if they could speak to the council and demonstrate how important the baths were to the community, they could be saved.
Outrage over the closure led to the formation of Save Our Pool – Southside Against Closure (SAC).
Weekly meetings were held at the Daisy Street Family Centre to oppose not only the baths’ closure but also the recent closure of other essential community services such as the Breast Screening Unit, the Social Work Department, and the rumoured closure of the local library.
The group launched a website, letter-writing campaigns, contacted councillors and media outlets, and organised protests.
In February 2001, they held a children’s pavement protest outside the baths and a march along Victoria Road. The Save Our Pool petition garnered over 30,000 signatures, but the council rejected it outright, refusing to discuss the matter.
Undeterred, campaigners published a dossier titled ‘Sport for Life Who?’, which cited government policies and professional evidence opposing the closure.
They demanded public consultation and led a 600-strong march from Queen’s Park to Govanhill Park, attended by prominent figures such as former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and former MSP Tommy Sheridan.
When all efforts failed, campaigners turned to more radical action. Inspired by the 30th anniversary of the 1971 Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in and the more recent 1996 Kinning Park sit-in, they planned occupation of the historic site.
On 21 March 2001, ten days before the proposed closure, a dozen campaigners chained themselves to cubicles after the last swim of the day.
This marked the start of a 140-day occupation, the longest sit-in of a civic building in British history.
A 24/7 picket was immediately set up outside the baths to protect the occupation, with a rota created ensuring there was always a group outside the baths. They had walkie-talkies to allow communication with those inside the baths.
Residents not part of the campaign also helped, with local restaurant and shop owners donating food to picketers and occupiers.
Every Wednesday, for the entire occupation, those on the picket and other residents gathered outside the baths to sing protest songs written by the campaigners.
The songs made were based on well-known tunes matched with new words written for the Save Our Pool campaign, with a CD and songbook produced.
The occupation also expanded to other sites, including Bellahouston and Scotstoun leisure centres.
The breadth of community action taking place was well organised, creative, and represented every part of Govanhill’s diverse community.
Academics, teachers, those who worked in healthcare, students, the unemployed, retirees, and those from Irish and South Asian backgrounds were all represented on the picket line.
On some days, up to 100 people would be outside the baths showing their support, with daily news reports from the Herald and Glasgow Times, along with keen interest across Scotland.
Despite the council’s refusal to negotiate, shutting off the heating and water, and obtaining a court order for eviction, the campaigners stood firm.
The battle of Calder street
At 4:30 am, on 7 August 2001, sheriff officers and hundreds of police forcibly evicted the occupiers in what became known as the Battle of Calder Street. Mounted officers and helicopters were deployed, and the eviction lasted 17 hours.
Paula Larkin and the campaigners at the time believed that the police used excessive force to evict the occupiers, describing it as “extremely violent,” with numerous complaints lodged from the public over Strathclyde Police force’s handling of the eviction.
With a group of MSPs calling for an independent inquiry regarding the policies’ handling of the event.
The fight continued even after eviction. The picket line remained for six months, and campaigners kept pressure on the council through various activities.
The birth of the Glasgow Baths Community Trust
In 2004, the Save Our Pool campaign applied to run the baths as a charitable trust. By 2005, the Govanhill Baths Charitable Trust (GBCT) was established and proposed transforming the site into a health and wellbeing centre, which the council accepted.
Over the years, the baths have hosted community art projects, workshops, pop-up kitchens, and much more run by the GBCT.
One project, focused on improving attendees upcycling skills while teaching them skills to help make them more employable, called Rags to Riches, was presented with the Scottish Government’s Greener Together award by then First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2015.
The GBCT also works to preserve the diversity of cultures in the area, running groups such as the Irish History Group, which works to help residents keep their Irish ancestry alive.
In 2015 a documentary film was made about the occupation of Govanhill Baths and the fight to keep them open. Then in 2021 the GBCT organised 6 months of events celebrating 20 years since the occupation.
The front suite of the baths was formally opened in 2012, with over 200 people in attendance, including actor Peter Mullan and Nicola Sturgeon.
The GBCT used the suite as their base of operation and as a community centre until 2019 to allow for further repairs.
By 2023, external refurbishments, including roof and structural repairs, were completed.
Paula Larkin said another £4.5 million is needed to bring the site into full working order as a health and wellbeing centre, costs that have increased due to recent economic impacts.
She said that they have already spent £15 million on repairs, explaining that the huge cost of repair compared to the originally estimated £750,000 was because the site had been neglected by the council for so long and left to be degraded by the elements.
Despite this they are hopeful that they will be able to raise the funds and to have the baths open for full use in 2026.
Govanhill’s story is a testament to the power of community activism and resilience, ensuring the baths remain a symbol of unity and hope for generations to come.
Link to GBCT website – https://www.govanhillbaths.com/
