thegorbals

Hi gang,
Who remembers the Steamie ?, my own memory's are about the steamie in Fauldhouse st in the Oatlands where I lived directly opposite my Ma and other Mothers used to do their weekly wash there but no weans were allowed in [?], upstairs was the hot baths where you could lay down and relax [much better than the old tin bath in your living room] I know there was a steamie in Gorbals st but was there anymore n the soo-side ?, can anyone remember or have any tales or maybe photos maybe Jimbo can help there please.

Danny

Interesting article in the Herald a year ago about Tony Roper's play "The Steamie"

http://www.heraldscotland.com/arts-ents ... s.17040927

Another interesting read (wi' photies!) > http://www.glesga.ukpals.com/green/greenwashing.htm
detailing the origin of the steamies (1732)

The photo in this link may be copyright, hence posting the link to the page.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/ap ... ndcareers3

Jimbo wrote:The photo in this link may be copyright, hence posting the link to the page.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/ap ... ndcareers3

Well done Jimbo,
Thanks again mate for all your hep with the links , they really are helpful and it's great to take a look back in history. It really was hard for our Mothers and grandmothers in years gone bye. Nowadays washing machines/dryers, micro wave ovens etc does make life a lot easier.
Danny

Non Copyright (to my knowledge) Photos of Steamies in use.

Edit: Note that the 2nd photo appears to be much older than the first - zinc baths versus plastic baskets to hold the washing.

Never experienced the steamie myself. My mum used it often and she would take one of my sisters with her to help. With 8 kids you can imagine how much she had to use it. Have added a photo of a bath cubicle at a steamie/wash-house. Not sure which one it is but the one in Gorbals St. had proper baths.

JosieStuksis wrote:Never experienced the steamie myself. My mum used it often and she would take one of my sisters with her to help. With 8 kids you can imagine how much she had to use it. Have added a photo of a bath cubicle at a steamie/wash-house. Not sure which one it is but the one in Gorbals St. had proper baths.

Hi Josie,
Yes our Mothers had a hard time of it alright, the hot baths in the Fauldhouse st steamie were upstairs and it was a cubicle on it's own and you couldn't operate the water taps as the attendant done this from outside your cubicle with a turnkey but what a luxury with a bar of carbolic soap. Nowadays we just walk into the shower or run a bath without thinking of what happened years ago or use your washing machine again without a second thought.
Regards
Danny

Hi there gosh I feel right old when you are talking about wash houses. There was the steamie in govanhill of Victoria Rd. then the one down the lane in the Gorbals, Oatlands steamie and then the one in Rutherglen Rd facing Campden St next to the old church that the landmine fell on. Cannot remember if there were anymore, I think Pollokshaws had a steamie.

My aunties all worked in the Hare work in Ballater St. if anyone can remember this work it was next to Adelphi School and they had a night think it was a Wednesday night when all the workers from the Hare work took over the wash house no outsiders were let in it was only for the workers. My grannie who lived in Commercial Rd used to send us around to help my aunties with the washing, kids were allowed in there and kids were allowed in the Gorbals one as we used to go down and help my ma with the washing.
The Oatlands steamie was a wee bit toffier some of the women used to wear wee hats or turbans when they were doing the washing one of the wee men was called Donald because I used to go to it when I was married and had 4 weans at the time. before I moved up to Castlemilk. Amelia x

Hi Amelia

I went to the steamie in Oatlands to help my Aunt. Talk about hard work! I don't remember anyone wearing wee hats, but I do recall my wee Auntie wearing a turban, wellies and a rubber apron. And using the auld pram to transport all the washing, tied up like a hawker's bundle. We're all definitely spoiled nowadays with all our luxuries, but I wouldn't want to go back to those days myself. Good on all the hard working women that did their best to have their families clothes and bedding clean. Cheers, Sheila