Background and Ephemera Govan has had two eras of greatness — and that is two more than most places’ Professor Stephen Driscoll, Head of Archeology, University of Glasgow The two eras that Steve Driscoll refers to are: • The Early Mediaeval period — when Govan was home to the royal court of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde. The royal court comprised a palace, a church (sited at Govan Old) and the giant earthwork ‘parliament’ Doomster Hill (finally leveled in 1850) • The era of the Shipyards — between the mid 19th and mid 20th century, Govan was one of the major shipbuilding centres of the world. In the early 20th century more than 30% of the world’s shipping was ‘Clydebuilt’. The River Clyde was an ancient fording point, then a connector and conduit for industry, but now is more often than not a barrier. Govanites joke of passport controls on the bridge… The boundaries of The Parish of Govan extend across the river to the ‘north’ side, well into Partick and the ‘west end’. Further, both sides claim the name ‘Riverside’. The opening of the Riverside Museum (and previously The Glasgow Science Centre, BBC, and Digital Hub) present a challenge and an opportunity for Govan Parish to bridge the Clyde anew.
Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us is presented with two key partners – The Riverside Community Halls and The Riverside Museum. Riverside Community Halls is a small but pivotal community centre on the south side of the river in operation since the1980s. The Riverside Museum, opened in 2011, is a new and iconic museum of transport sited on the north side of the Clyde, in view of ancient Govan Old Church, the Govan Graving Docks, and the working BAE Systems shipyard. Nothing About Us Without Us Is For Us is part of a larger effort to both celebrate and examine the rich layers of ancient and contemporary culture in Govan Parish, and to serve as a catalyst for conversation, Govan-style: An genuine attempt to connect up folk, hurling language (and charm) across the Clyde.