GWL Women of the Gorbals Heritage Walk
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WOMEN OF THE GORBALS HERITAGE WALK For much of history, the inhabitants of Gorbals faced daily challenges to make ends meet; then as today, women bore a disproportionate share of poverty. But there is another strand to the Gorbals story, that of a sharing economy. As one woman within reminisces, “Everybody helped each other, you know. When times were good you shared with others. When times were bad, others helped you out.” Little of Old Gorbals survives, so you will need to use your imagination! Begin at Victoria Bridge [1] my travels.” By the mid 19thC, (b: 1854). Here the 13thC following the Irish potato wooden bridge at the edge of famine and Highland clearances, Glasgow’s boundary crossed to the masses disembarking at Bridgend, a row of turf cottages Broomielaw were increasingly on sleepy Gorballes Muir. When desperate, and Gorbals acquired the bridge was rebuilt in stone a reputation for overcrowding, in 1345, Lady Marjory Stewart sickness and poverty that of Lochow funded an arch, haunted it into the 20thC. which bore a carving of her Before crossing, glance at the head. By 1771 the village, now mural of women hawkers Gorbals, had grown to 3,000. on Clutha Vaults pub. Many Irish seeking seasonal work Irishwomen in Gorbals worked might find a bed at compatriot as weavers, but some preferred Molly Gillespie’s (1766–1826). self-employment, giving their Her Gorbals lodging house name to Paddy’s Market. This charged thruppence a bed, but grew around Bridgegate in the kept two free for the destitute. early 19thC, convenient for The motley guests included Gorbals hawkers. From 1935 the “beggars, fortune-tellers and better-off rented railway arches. rowly powly gentry”. In 30 Others traded in Shipbank Lane Front Cover Image: Staff at Whitefield’s years, she provided shelter to outside, but when police came, Drapery Warehouse, 1936 (L-R) Rose Sacharin, Sylvia Balkin, Doris Antick © 50,000, and was, wrote Hawkie, they had to grab their “dollops” Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. the itinerant broadsheet seller, (bundles) and run. Despite Main St (now Gorbals St) looking north (1868-71) by Thomas Annan, Glasgow “the most charitable person traders’ protests, the market City Libraries, Information and Learning I have ever met with in all closed in 2009. Cross bridge, turn left into classes at Abbotsford Primary, children formed the bulk of riverside walk to Glasgow ensuring the community’s patients at Glasgow Medical Central Mosque [2] (b: 1984). children would not lose their Mission, which opened its 19thC Gorbals was diverse. mother tongue. Some still teach Oxford St dispensary in 1884. After the Irish came European today at the Central Mosque. It aimed to heal the “sinful, as Jews, fleeing Russian then later Cross Crown St, turn right into well as the merely sick” and Nazi, persecution. Tenements Florence St. its services were required into commonly housed Jewish, the mid-C20th, when the all- Scots and Irish families together, A decade before Scottish female staff included small but and affinities developed. universal health care in 1948, formidable ‘bible-woman’/nurse Christian women lit lamps for Florence St Clinic [3] targeted Celia ‘Goldie’ Goldfein. Funding Jewish neighbours on Shabbat, the health of Gorbals children, for the first Glasgow Samaritan and in return, shoes might be with sun-ray treatment to Hospital for Women (est. 1886) mended or a loaf baked. The prevent rickets. Nearby, where in South Cumberland St was community supported several the Mosque stands now, raised by medical staff who synagogues and institutions, was the area’s first centre perceived a dire need among and a mikveh (women’s ritual of healing, St Ninian’s Leper poor women for gynaecological bath) was provided at Gorbals Hospital. Founded in 1350, services. It later moved to Baths. Last and in smaller year of Glasgow’s Black Death, Govanhill, developing into one numbers came South Asians tradition holds that its patron of the largest such hospitals responding to post-WWII was the aforementioned Lady in Europe. Turn left to cross labour shortages, the men Marjory. In 1900, plague again Ballater St, then first right into later joined by their families. visited Gorbals. The first victim Commercial Rd. Grey skies and dark interiors was fish-hawker Mrs Bogie were a shock, but neighbours from this street (then Rose St). This iron-framed mill, assisted with unfamiliar When funeralgoers became commonly known as Twomax appliances like Hoovers, and infected, the authorities banned Clothing Factory [4] (b: 1816), in turn discovered the delights Irish wakes. 16 died before now houses social work of curry. Many Asian women, quarantine and disinfectant services. The billow from its skilled dressmakers, worked halted the outbreak. Outwith chimney which rotates like a in textile factories. From the such crises, addressing gaps in weathervane is Smokestack 1960s, educated Muslim women health provision for the poor (1994) designed by self-taught taught extracurricular Urdu fell to charities. Women and artist Rita McGurn (1940–2015). 3 1 2 Molly's History (1826), Broadsheets Collection, Glasgow Room, Mitchell Library; Two women outside Links’ drapery shop, Main St (1907) © Scottish Jewish Archives Centre; Shafiqa Hassan teaching weekend Urdu School, Abbotsford Primary, 1973 courtesy of Parveen Ibrahim; Samaritan Hospital for Women (1886), Glasgow Caledonian University Archives (Heatherbank PL6060). Route length: 4km / 2.5 miles Terrain is flat pavements and paths, except grassed approach to Stop 10, which is uneven underfoot. 3 5 Staff of Glasgow Medical Mission (L-R) Dr Mae Oastler, Mrs Steel, Miss Celia Goldfein, Mrs Smith, gorbalschristian.homestead. com; Smokestack © Steve Hosey/Glasgow City Council; Children in the Gorbals © Newsquest (Herald & Times); Detail of Orchard Plan (2004) © Amanda Currie, 4 Weaving mills like this were of anthrax in 1878, resulting in (b:1965) designed by Sir Basil the site for bitter industrial three women’s deaths. Turn Spence. Campaigning by disputes in Glasgow from the right into Old Rutherglen Rd to Gorbals Labour MP Alice Cullen 1820s. Operating spinning enter Rose Garden [5]. (1891–1969) was rewarded mules (machines) had long by Glasgow Corporation’s been a male preserve, but when “The Rosie”, a former burial ambitious programme of slum factory owners introduced first ground, was a precious green clearance and building. When lighter, then “self-acting” mules, playground for children living the Queen visited the site, women could be employed in cramped “single-end” (one Cullen insisted she view an as operatives. Unemployed room) tenements. Today it old single-end, wherein Her male spinners organised to contains two works by women Majesty enquired, “Is this all?” terrorise female workers. The artists. To the north is the Delighted with their new sky- intimidation and violence bronze Rose War Memorial high kitchenettes and indoor included beatings, vitriol- (2005) by Liz Peden, specifically bathrooms, some women throwing and shootings, and dedicated to Victoria Cross nevertheless missed the one worker’s mother was winner Private James Stokes tenement camaraderie. Spence murdered. A parliamentary (1915–1945), but serving as a enthused that on washing report described how one tribute to all from Gorbals who day, the flats would resemble factory owner “found it gave their lives during conflict. “a great ship in full sail”, and necessary to dismiss all female By the east wall is Gorbals suggested tenants could grow spinners from their works, and Orchard (2004) by Amanda peaches on the balconies. In to employ only male spinners, Currie. Free for all to harvest, practice, elevators broke down, most probably the very men it serves a practical as well as and people were blown off their who had attempted their ruin.” artistic function in an area that feet by gusts round the base. Elsewhere, Gorbals women historically suffered poverty and Plagued by damp, the flats were were employed in the Adelphi malnutrition. Leave via south demolished in 1993. During Hair Factory in Ballater St, gate, go left then take second the explosion, bystander Helen which spun horsehair like wool. right into Queen Elizabeth Tinney, 61, lost her life. More The factory’s shape earned it Gardens [6]. flats fell in 2016 to make way the nickname “coffin works” but for housing on a more human working conditions could also On this site once stood the scale by New Gorbals Housing be deadly. Russian horse manes notorious high-rise flats of Association. Turn left into were the source of an outbreak Queen Elizabeth Square Cumberland St. 6 9 Alice Cullen and Queen viewing model of high rises, 1961 © Newsquest (Herald & Times); Lilias Graham and children at Braendam House, by permission Lilias Graham Trust; Heroine of Matagorda illus. Swain (1873) commons.wikimedia.org; Helen Crawfurd (1920s) © Gallacher Memorial Library, 8 11 Gorbals Boys [7] (2008) and respite centre. She later Magdalene Smith, her husband, recreates Oscar Marzaroli’s gifted the house to the Lilias and housekeeper Mary iconic 1963 photograph in Graham Trust which continues McNaughton. The women bronze. Sculptor Liz Peden her legacy, assisting families died in 1933 when, shielded says, “The Gorbals always had affected by social exclusion and by their umbrella, they walked this reputation of the men with poverty. Follow Cumberland under a tramcar. Local children the big rough and tough image, St to cross Caledonia Rd and know this monument as the and this cut right through that.” enter the Necropolis. White Lady, and believe her Walk on to St Francis Centre [8]. gaze turns you to stone. Exit At the northeast corner of the by main gate, turning left St Francis Church (b: 1881), Southern Necropolis (b: 1840) along Cumberland St to cross now a community centre, lies the Heroine of Matagorda, at lights. Enter second metal serves as a backdrop to discuss Agnes Reston, nee Harkness archway on your right, then the contribution of one Gorbals [9] (1771–1856).