Govan’s culture – community spirit & becoming shipshape again
The following text and images came out of research following regeneration efforts beginning within the community. My article commissioned by Urban Realm Magazine was published in issue 8 of the magazine in December 2011 Govan Shipshaped PDF It is also viewable in the publications section of this site.
Glorious Govan… Resilient and exciting; it is rich in stories, and today the site of much activity and construction, cultural and community development. From its humble and strategic beginnings, located at a vital crossing point on the River Clyde, Govan has been a significant centre. Once at the heart of the Kingdom of Strathclyde it was an early Christian centre, the landscape dominated by the legendary ‘Doomster Hill’ burial mound. Govan’s position on the banks of the river cemented its maritime connotations and as Glasgow’s industrial empire flourished, Govan’s place at the heart of shipbuilding was made.
Recently I have been working on an ongoing project that looks at how this community is being reshaped, following years of gradual decline and neglect, and emerging with a new vision for its future. The community once again are beginning to play a part in local decision making for the area and thanks to the work of the Central Govan Action Plan and an array of local economic, cultural, and social enterprises this colourful part of Glasgow is looking to a better future. There are many challenges facing the area, and the signs of poverty are not going to disappear overnight but it’s great to see progress happening here.
