I first covered Clydebank’s town hall back in January of 2010, when it was still half-live and attached to the absolutely gorgeous public baths next door. Now, sadly, the baths have been half-demolished, and the town hall is being refurbished.
So when I heard that the tower was now possible, how could I resist a revisit? First, in through the catacombs:
Next a bit of a surprise – they’ve ripped half the stage away:
It does mean it’s now possible to see the fantastic main hall now, which was securely behind a fire curtain on my last visit:
Check out the minstrel’s gallery in a dining hall 🙂
Another hall, with the loudest flooring ever – it sounded like several gunshots every step!
Next into the highheidyin’s quarters, with everything carefully protected with plastic and bubblewrap:
As well as a town hall, this building housed the courts:
The courtroom itself, stripped out sadly:
Next, up the tower:
To the bells:
Which are controlled on a lower level by a brilliant keyboard device, complete with music stand:
Also in the tower is the clock mechanism which drives four faces:
While poking about in the attic, I also found the trapdoor leading to the flagpole – it was very exposed with lots of people about, so I didn’t have time for a picture, but inside on the floor was what I think is the official flag of Clydebank:
Next, what else does a courthouse have? Cells, of course 🙂
Finally, a stop-off in the baths – only the main pool is left, but at least they’ve saved the old cast-iron turnstile and a slipper bath for posterity.
Happy memories, Tuesday afternoons with school bus and many evenings from Duntocher to the baths.
I once hid in cubicle after the whistle went and had another free session,honestly only once.
Lived across from townhall for16yrs Went to old baths in Hall St. and new ones in Bruce St.Fire station and Police Station were in Hall st. Dad worked in J browns. Was there when gales came in 1967 and statue was blown down inside tower. Went back last July and got pics of Clock but didn’t get into town hall . It looks great so far
Ann, you weren’t the only one who got a free session by hiding in the cubicles, I did too, and was terrified the “caretaker” Mr Frew or Freel would catch me…lol.
Had great times at and great memories of the baths!!
Didn’t know that, did you Jess?
Brings back great memories, where I learned to swim, was always a packout, on saturday & sunday you could swim if you found a space to do it, running diving in, bombing jumping into the crowd, I never knew anyone to get hurt, no nanny state then so we had loads of fun, had to get changed in the basement as the cubicles were usually full, the smell of chlorene, refusing to come out for the attendant until threat of being barred, just to see who would be last out of the water, the soup machine outside the pool, the que to get back in again if ye could afford it. The only time a wis in a polis cell wis when a big sergeant locked our class in one on a visit to the town hall, that clang of the door shuttin was enough for me. the hot baths up stairs in Bruce street, you could have as many refills as you wanted. Much more fun at the baths then as now.
Remember the baths very well! Went there for swimming lessons, nearly drowned after getting pushed off diving Dale from the top step!!
Looking at. These pictures the smell and the noise of them came flooding back.
Great memories of the baths, some good some not so good. Dad tried to teach me swimming by throwing me in, didn’t work, still can’t swim. Best memory of taking swimming lessons from a boy that was my “high school sweetie”, Bruce. Can still remember faking drowning so he would put his arms around me to help, also had leg cramps, not faked, and he rubbed my legs to get rid of them. Oh what happy memories!
Same here. Good and bad memories of those baths.
Trips on a Saturday with my pals and having to change in the basement for a swimming gala.
Lovely building.
Whats happening with the Town Hall? Is it just being refurbished?
Brings back great memories. Having worked there most of my life I know every nook and cranny in the Town Hall. I also learned to swim in the baths and remembers pulling clothes over wet swim suit to queue to get back in again. Happy days
I went to the baths every day after school i had a season ticket to get in lived across from the old baths 74 Dumbarton rd i loved being there i used to follow my older brother to the baths he was there looking for girlfriends.Lived next door to the Leishmans.
Hi Jacqueline I am hoping you can remember the name of the pub on the corner of Bruce Street and Dumbarton Road. We have a few regulars having a discussion ab out old Clydcebank pubs and no one can remember the name
Many thanks
Was that pub called McCallums?
I had great times going to the old baths in hall st, learnt to swim there, brings back a lot of memories from my primary school years at gavinburn school, we went to the baths every Thursday which I remember and had great fun, loved it, better than sitting in a classroom,
Used To go every Saturday after going to the flicks to watch a matinee
In dalmuir, I can remember the baths were always full and had to queue up to get in, I think it was sixpence to get in but not too sure as it was 50 years ago,, great and happy days then, different to today……..
I loved the baths. The smell of the water and the stem coming aff your soup and your head when you went outside after a swim if it was a really cold night. Chicken soup was fantastic and I can still taste it Mmm. That stupid Brylcream machine near the door on the way out. My eyes always ended up stinging after a swim at the baths.
We were bussed down here from Bearsden Academy in 1966 and it was where I learned to swim. A great place. I mind one day I forgot my trunks and towel but they had ones for hire. The weirdest towelling trunks I’d ever seen, but better than none! On other days they bussed us to Clydebank college where we punched cards to make programs run on their computer – one of the very few back then…