Baths attendant in Calton Glasgow?? Steamies?

[greenvalley]

James Harris was a Baths attendant in Glasgow in 1917. He lived in Calton district, Graeme Street, close to the Saltmarket, so I assume that the Baths were nearby.

For a while I kind of imagined a public swimming pool, but today I realised that this is probably all wrong. Does anybody know where the baths may have been and what his job would have been and would there have been a steamie at this location?

Any help much appreciated

Greenvalley

[Skoosh]

He could have been working anywhere but there were public baths/swimming pool at Whitevale Street/Gallowgate which would also include the Steamie. Greenside & Townhead also had baths but I don't know much about them. There were also private baths/swimming pool at Craigpark, Dennistoun which I don't think had a steamie, Mitchell Library website might give more info'.

Skoosh.

[greenvalley]

Thanks Skoosh

I think that the Whitevale Baths may have been the ones. I know he could have worked anywhere, but it makes sense if he was employed closer to his home.

Now I'll go and hunt for some pictures to see what they looked like.

[garngad]

Both the whitevale and townhead are about the same distance from the calton, regards the steamie their def one attached to townhead which was situated off the high st behind the Barony church building now college residences.

[greenvalley]

Thanks for that Garngad, I'll see if I can find pictures of both - they should give an idea what the baths were like.

[Skoosh]

Greenvalley,  just checking the map, his nearest baths were Greenhead Street right on the Glasgow Green, he could also have crossed the Clyde to Alice Street, Oatlands, and there must have been baths in the Gorbals also.
All the old districts had their baths and they had to be within pram hurling distance, heavily laden with washing. There was a guy at Springburn who hurled the womens washing back from the steamie for a small consideration. I don't think he was the full shillin but he might have charged a shillin
Springburn, like the Garngad, is a very mountainous district so I'm sure he earned his cash.
I might just add that it was a non-stop life for women in they days, they didnae need the gym', noo they just push buttons.

Skoosh.

[purplekat]

oooooooooo cheeky!  As I say to my husband, 'if it's so easy you do it' 

[greenvalley]

I'm not certain about James hurling the washing - he died in 1917 from a heart disease - his pulmonary heart valve wasn’t functioning properly, which will have made him very tired.

I'm also certain that he will have kept well away from the women 

It's a shame that I can't pin down the exact bath house where he worked, but I will be able to use photographs from several ones to convey the idea. If he was the attendant, will he have taken money from people who came to have a bath, would he have cleaned them?

How much was it to get your washing done in the steamie, does anyone know?

I am soooo pleased we have washing machines nowadays, but even happier with the dishwasher. I can always lug my washing to neighbours or friends when the machine is broken, but you can't get the dirty cups next door now, can you?

Thanks for the help. I really must try to get to Glasgow one day and see if there's any bath house and steamie ruins left.

Greenvalley

[Skoosh]

No idea of the cost Greenvalley, the guy at Springburn steamie was freelance, not a worker. I think the women balloted for their ticket for the steamie each year?
To be "the talk of the steamie" in they days was deffo a black mark. The Gorbals one was at Bedford Street/Gorbals Street.
Loads of the talk of the steamie on,  http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/  enter The Steamie in the search box.

Bests,

Skoosh.