'Unique' statues lost during Springburn Halls demolition star in Glasgow exhibition

Now, the Springburn Maidens – rare statues depicting women as figures of the industrial revolution – have been rescued in the hope they will find a better home.

The stone statues were saved after the demolition of the Springburn Halls on Christmas Eve 2012 but were left to decay.

Now they feature in Glasgow International’s Across the City exhibition (which runs until June 27 at Springburn Museum) as part of a display all about the hidden histories of working women.

Curator Thomas Abercromby, who grew up in the north of Glasgow, explains: “When the Springburn Halls were demolished, against the wishes of the community and activists, the statues were saved, but no-one took ownership of them and they simply ended up in an industrial unit, left to decay.

“Local people have talked about them for years, and especially when anything to do with the history of the area or lost heritage comes up, the statues are mentioned.”

He adds: “This is a part of the city where around 80 per cent of it was destroyed for the new motorway, and so much working class heritage and culture was lost along with it.

“When we started putting together our exhibition, You’re Never Done, we were looking at steamies and the unpaid and invisible work done by women in a patriarchal and industrial society, and the statues came up again, so we wanted to include them.”

Depicting two women, one with a locomotive and another with tools in her hands, the statues are unusual because they depict women in an industrial setting.

“Most statues of women depict them as goddesses, or half-clothed, or frolicking about, so it’s very rare to see this portrayal of the role women played during the industrial revolution in Scotland, and specifically, Springburn, which was a key player in railway manufacturing,” says Thomas. “We are hoping that by bringing them into the public domain once more, as a part of Gi 2021, it will ignite the search for a permanent home for them.

“So far, people visiting the exhibition have been so moved to see the statues again, many have been in tears. It’s been very emotional because it is ultimately about working class women not being recognised for the work they did and the contributions they made. We know how much the statues mean to local residents, and we hope they can be saved for future generations.”

READ MORE: First look at ambitious plans for Springburn Winter Gardens

Springburn Public Halls were built between 1899 and 1902 and funded by the Reid family of Nelson, Reid & Co, which eventually merged with two other firms to become the North British Locomotive Co.

The red sandstone Italian Renaissance-style building was designed by William B Whitie (who also designed the Mitchell Library.) It was originally opposed by the city fathers as it was campaigned for by the residents of Springburn for a place to hold larger public gatherings. During the foundation stone laying ceremony, Baillie Samuel Chisholm referred to the people of Springburn as the ‘petted and spoiled child of the corporation’.

The halls opened in1902 and later became a sports centre. After closing in the 80s, they lay derelict until 2012. Do you remember Springburn Halls? Share your stories and photos with us here at Times Past.