It’s Potty Time – but not on the Forth and Clyde canal

After I spotted the official Canal Club’s cute little toilet building at Bowling Harbour, I got curious about toilets for ‘normal’ people.

Let’s say, I don’t think I’ll be having my usual mug (or even cup) of tea before I head out for a ride along the canal, just to be safe.

The first thing I found (which I hadn’t even noticed on my first visit) was a toilet block in the enclosed area of the harbour itself. There’s an area at the River Clyde opening to the canal which is gated, and open to the public during the day, but locked in the evening. I’d arrived about ten to the hour, and was invited to spin around for a quick look before the gates were closed.

Seen from above (from the old bridge over the canal) this is the block.

I knew it was there after finding a website that lists public toilet, but it failed to mention any access control, such as the gates I just mentioned.

A closer look also revealed that they are locked, and for customers!

Not sure what counts as ‘customers’ here, but there are a few shops in the arches below the old bridge.

Here are the signs on the doors.

There’s more

Also locked, and I think near Temple Bridge, and Lock 27, I noticed some toilet signs on a building set back from the path.

Given the lack of facilities, I wonder about all those wandering around with expensive bottles of water glued into their tightly clenched little hands.

Do they actually drink from them?

Or do they just latch onto one, so they can look ‘kewl’?

Glasgow toilets have suddenly become fascinating

Don’t know if I should be worried or concerned, but I’ve suddenly started to ‘collect’ toilets.

It all started innocently enough when I was taking some pics in Kelvingrove Park.

I noticed people randomly entering and leaving an unmarked building, then realised it was a public toiler (oops – better be careful taking that next pic!).

There is a reason for finding such an observation interesting in Glasgow, and that’s mainly because there are very few public toilets remaining in use and accessible. In fact, that statement probably applies to many parts of Scotland, with a fairly regular drip of stories in the news as people campaign to have MORE public toilets installed, or reopened, as most have been closed, making it difficult for those who NEED access to such a facility to go out.

While you’re probably likely to find public toilets at tourist attractions, even those get in the news when the relevant council decided closing them would be a good way to save some money, and there is local uproar which usually hits the media, followed by an appeal, and the toilets are often retained as a result.

Apart from a few of the local supermarkets (which have toilets open to customers), I can’t think of any council owned/operated public toilets I’ve passed anywhere in the east end of Glasgow.

So, that’s why I grabbed a (careful) pic of the ones I spotted still open in Kelvingrove Park.

Kelvingrove Park Toilets

Recall these ‘facilities’ I collected a while ago, near Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the cathedral.

I haven’t been there for ages, so don’t know if they were ‘let’ (I must make a detour soon).

Cathedral Square Public Lavatory Entrance 2

Glasgow used to have many underground toilets, but these were less than ideal for various reasons, and being below ground level meant they were pretty disgusting if anything ‘went wrong’ as there was no real ventilation, and no natural drainage.

They must have cost the council a fortune to maintain as a result, and really needed an attendant to, given their ‘hidden’ aspect.

They were all closed and locked/sealed years ago – and were easily recognised by their wrought iron surrounds and gates at ground level.

Most of those have also been cleared away too but some survive and can still be spotted, such as this one I passed a few days ago, in Minerva Street.

Minerva Street Toilets

Then I spotted another old relic, this time in Eldon Street, where the former toilet building has been converted into a small cafe – Chaiwallah West End.

Eldon Street Chaiwalla West End Cafe

And, yes, those stairs on the right DO lead to a rooftop garden.

There may have been no leaves on the trees, and the daffodils were still struggling to get out, but there were folk up there.

Chaiwallah West End Cafe Roof Garden

Developments

Now things get interesting.

I’d been to Queens’Park recently but didn’t know about this potentially troublesome development there, so just had to go back for another toilet pic.

Glasgow City Council’s planning committee has approved an application for a cafe to be opened in the disused half of a toilet block at Queen’s Park, on Pollokshaws Road, near Langside Hall, to have inside seating for 12, and a serving window. The whole building will also be timber clad.

Queens Park toilet building

It’s in plain view of a busy street, so seems surprising that some 26 letters of objection, including a 23-signature petition, were received from Shawlands and Strathbungo Community Council and members of the public, citing various problems they foresaw, including parking, servicing, materials, design, litter, and anti-social behaviour.

Subject to conditions, the council didn’t agree, and suggested the redevelopment “would enhance the character and appearance of the streetscene and the wider Queen’s Park.”

Next

Into the city centre, and St Vincent Place at Buchanan Street.

The former toilets there (and the more recent ones too) are up for sale and redevelopment (there are more links to details in the article):

Public toilets near Glasgow’s Style Mile up for let could be transformed into a new bar, restaurant or shop

Originally underground toilets (as mentioned above), these were closed along with all the rest, but in this case gained modern overground toilets in the space between the stairs descending into the former rancid dungeon below.

St Vincent Place toilets

The screens around the modern toilet block on the right came from the former Caledonian Railway Glasgow Cross railway station and have the letters ‘CR’ cast into their surface. These have nothing to do with the original underground toilets, and were not there when it was opened.

The area was just open space, and that toilet block is a modern-day creation.

I was sure there was a plaque here, giving the details, which was how I discovered their source/history, but although I walked around this area looking for it, I couldn’t see it. Maybe I imagined it and got that info somewhere else, or it’s just been stolen borrowed by someone.

A wider view almost showing both of the underground entrances.

St Vincent Place Toilets

The entrance on the right is obscured by the letter’s advertising.

The entrance on the left has been taken over by a man on hunger strike (suspended while he is in talks) who is trying to shame the Clydesdale Bank which he holds responsible for the actions of the company the bank sold his loan to, and is said to be about to declare him bankrupt and seize his house.

I haven’t really looked as it seems a little convoluted, and I’ve done the ‘home as loan guarantee’ thing for business, without issue.

I believe the chap in the hi-vis vest is the 63-year-old protester (who built a portfolio of around 150 properties in Scotland) and this is Day 7 of his protest (that sign got covered by other stuff in the pic). His plan is, or was, to go on hunger strike in front of the bank, staying the tent that can be seen in the background.

Glasgow St Vincent Place Toilet Protest Sign Clydesdale Bank

Well, that’s another story.

You can go to the toilet now, it’s safe – I don’t seem to have any more ‘toilet tales’ to hand, for now at least.

Cathedral Square public toilets

(Yet) Another post inspired by the proposals to brighten the area up.

I’d forgotten about collecting these pics one day, as it was pure chance that I noticed the reason.

These public lavvies (toilets) have, like all the other underground types that once dotted much of the city, been closed for years.

Unlike many, however, the ‘TO LET’ sign suggests they are not ruinous below, have been trashed and/or vandalised, or deliberately wrecked and sealed forever.

These are quite grand, with sandstone surround and tiled entranced leading down from ground level, presumably due to their location. The more usual appearance of these ancient street conveniences (which I understand Glasgow was quite proud of, and envied for) was of a black painted wrought or cast-iron fence, surrounding steps leading below ground.

And that, I believe, was also the reason for their demise (although these facilities all seem to be closed now), but I’m sure there were many more.

Being underground, it didn’t take much for these places to flood, either by accident of there was a plumbing failure, or by intent, if the vandals got down there and decided to smash the place up a little, and block the drains.

The reason I collected these pics was spotting one of the outer gates being unlocked and open (you’ll see the other is still locked), and wandered in thinking this might allow some access and maybe some pics inside.

As you can see, this wasn’t happening any time soon, as the entrances are secured by roller shutters.

Cathedral Square Public Lavatory Entrance 1

I’m guessing this had the usual ‘LADIES’, ‘GENTS’, or ‘GENTLEMEN’ plaques attached somewhere, but I couldn’t spot them.

Cathedral Square Public Lavatory Entrance 2