About The Centre

As they say, "Glasgow made the Clyde, and the Clyde made Glasgow." And the secret to Glasgow making the Clyde navvigable to merchant trade was the Deepening and dredging of the river.

Previously, large ships had to tie-up, load and off-load their cargo at Port Glasgow, and then have it transported to Glasgow via smaller boats or horses. The city's enterprising engineers came up with new ways to deepen the main channel, so commerce - and the wealth it brought - could come right into the city.

Over the next few decades, Whiteinch would be rendered unrecognisable as Glasgow's shipbuilding industry took hold and the district became densely populated. By the mid-1800s, the area was home to four shipyards, including the huge Whiteinch and The Clydeholm shipyard of the Barclay Curle company which occupied much of the Whiteinch riverbank and was opened in 1855.

Victoria park was created and named in honour of Queen Victoria's jubilee in 1887.

The first ferry between Whiteinch and Linthouse was provided by a rowing boat, which was replaced by a steam ferry in 1891. The high-level vehicular ferry was introduced in 1905, and was the second such vessel to work on a Clyde crossing.

By 1955, the ferry sailed from 6.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, and from 6.30am to 4.00pm on Saturdays. Both the vehicular and the passenger ferry services on this crossing were withdrawn in 1963 when the Clyde Tunnel opened.

Historically speaking, Whiteinch had long been an important river crossing point. A series of stepping stones once connected the north and south banks of the Clyde via Whiteinch Island.

Whiteinch was an important Clyde ferry crossing. A rowing boat ferry was replaced by a steam ferry in 1891 and the Clyde's second vehicular "horse" ferry was introduced in 1905. Both passenger and vehicle ferries, which ran from the foot of Ferryden Street, were withdrawn in 1963 with the opening of the Clyde Tunnel, which has its northern portal in Whiteinch.

The Whiteinch baths and wash-house were built in the 1920's by Glasgow Corporation at a cost of £67,000. There were two swimming pools, sixteen baths for women and thirty one baths fir en, as well as a Turkish bath from 1926. The "Steamie" as it was known, provided forty three washing stalls and sixteen washing machines, as well as racks for drying wet clothes.

Efforts to improve the transport infrastructure of Glasgow post World War II were hit by the problem of crossing the Clyde. Downstream of Jamaica Street in the city centre, it was perceived to be impossible to build a bridge due to the prevalence of shipping. 

The solution - to build a tunnel beneath the river. It was given the green light in 1948, but financial difficulties prevented work from beginning until 1957.

The first completed tunnel tube, for northbound traffic, which has its northern portal in Whiteinch, was opened on the 3rd of July 1963, with the southbound tunnel opening in March 1964. 

Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association (WSHA) is founded with a vision to address the growing need for safe, secure and affordable housing. The organisation set out to ensure that everyone - regardless of income - had access to a dignified place to call home. Over the years, WSHA has become a cornerstone of the local community, creating hundreds of affordable homes and fostering a sense of belonging among residents.

Beyond housing, the association has developed a social purpose to support the creation of equitable, secure and thriving communities that will sustain individual, family and community wellbeing for generations.

The Whiteinch Centre is opened on Northinch Court, as a community facility to provide a social space where the local community could share in events and activities for the benefit of local people.

The building cost £1.1 million and was created as a joint project between Whiteinch and Scotstoun Housing Association, Glasgow City Council and the Whiteinch Community Association.

Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association steps in to secure the future sustainability of The Whiteinch Centre. 

By welcoming TWC into the wider WSHA group, The Whiteinch Centre has continued to be a positive force within the local community that promotes projects, programmes and initiatives for the benefit of the people of Whiteinch and the surrounding area.