First published in 1976 by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
This edition first published in 2021
by Routledge
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1976 Sidney Jacobs
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ISBN: 978-0-367-64519-9 (Set)
ISBN: 978-1-00-313856-3 (Set) (ebk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-68238-5 (Volume 11) (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-00-313485-5 (Volume 11) (ebk)
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First published in 1976
by Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd
Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane
London EC4V 5EL and
9 Park Street,
Boston, Mass. 02108, USA
Manuscript typed by May Ling Wee
Printed and bound in Great Britain
by Unwin Brothers Limited,
The Gresham Press, Old Woking, Surrey
A member of the Staples Printing Group
Sidney Jacobs 1976
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except for the quotation of brief passages in criticism
ISBN 0 7100 8305 X
CONTENTS
PREFACE
2 FROM YOUTH WORK TO COMMUNITY ACTION
3 REHOUSING AS AN ISSUE
4 FORMING THE GAIRBRAID HOUSING COMMITTEE
5 ORGANIZING BEFORE THE CRISIS
6 THE START OF REHOUSING
7 A WEEK OF ACTION
8 THE THREAT OF MANY GAIRBRAIDS
9 ORGANIZING FOR REPRESENTATION
10 PROTEST AT CLIVE HOUSE
11 THE COMMITTEE IN RETROSPECT
12 REFORM THROUGH COMMUNITY ACTION
Only the working class know what it is to be rehoused by a local authority but their viewpoint is seldom recorded. The history of local working-class militancy is frequently forgotten and my account of one communitys struggle was written in the belief that the working class must preserve its heritage. This book is based on my experiences as a community worker in the Gairbraid housing clearance area of Maryhill, Glasgow, and I have attempted to describe events from the communitys perspective with the local leaders being quoted throughout.
The Gairbraid story is about community action, about a working-class community under stress and about local authority rehousing. In providing a detailed, blow for blow guide to the campaign, the book is aimed at community workers, local activists, sociologists and others interested in the working class and the ordeal they must endure to attain decent living standards. Glasgows rehousing policy and practice is analysed throughout: by understanding the rationale behind rehousing, local communities may best protect their own interests. Little appears to have changed in Glasgow since Gairbraid and in spite of new housing legislation and local government reorganization, the conclusions drawn from the campaign seem as valid now in late 1975 as they seemed then, between 1971 and 1973. Glasgow is an extreme among British cities, but rehousing there seems basically no different from that practised anywhere else. The book thus attempts to explain local authority rehousing, not merely in Glasgow but as practised throughout urban Britain.
The view taken here is that it is mistaken to blame individuals for housing policy rather than the social, political and economic structures of society. Although I am highly critical of Glasgow Corporations performance in Gairbraid, this is directed at the system and is not intended to reflect on any individual. No one is singled out for criticism; indeed, many council tenants have reason to be grateful to a number of dedicated but anonymous officials and councillors without whose effort rehousing would have been a great deal more painful.
Gairbraids experience was of rehousing in a highly developed capitalist democracy. While the alternative of a socialist solution to our housing problems is not posed in this book, implicit in the arguments presented is that socialism offers the only possible way out of the present mess. In this sense, the book does not merely criticize without suggesting solutions: by demonstrating the solidarity, ability, commitment and potential that exists in local communities. Gairbraid glimpses a future where the working class have the power to control their own destinies.
For being permitted to share in Gairbraids experience, I gratefully thank the people of the area. It is not possible to name all of those whose many acts of kindness and lavish hospitality I warmly remember. I cherish the friendship of the local activists and feel privileged to have been associated with their organization, the Gairbraid Housing Committee, and thank in particular its chairman, John Moir; its vice-chairman, Jimmy Gallagher; its secretary, Annie Mallon; and the other members: Georgina Atkinson, Davey and Jeannette Bouse, Ella Donnelly, Isa Hanlon, Adam and Margaret Hobson, Eileen Kelly, Jackie Moir, John Smith and Hugh and Eileen Thompson.
I was particularly fortunate in the assistance I received from Jane Skinner and Joan Shannon who, at different times, worked with me in Gairbraid. When Jane Skinner began work rehousing had only just started in Gairbraid. In addition to being responsible for organizing the local pre-school playgroup and mothers group, she was actively involved in all aspects of the rehousing campaign. For instance, it was she who first drew local attention to Glasgows housing visitors report. Local people are perhaps in the best position to judge the contributions made by community workers: Jane Skinner was greatly missed when she left Glasgow and the fondness with which she is remembered is a tribute to her skill. Gairbraid, however, was extremely fortunate in her replacement. Less than thirty families remained in Gairbraid when Joan Shannon began work. She was appalled that people still lived in such conditions, and on climbing the stairs of deserted tenements admits to being terrified. With much resourcefulness, initiative, energy and dedication she worked virtually single-handed, with the last families until the area was finally cleared. There can be no doubt that the pace of rehousing from Gairbraid was greatly accelerated by her efforts, attested to by the lasting relationships she formed with many of the people which continued long after they had been rehoused. Joan Shannon also conducted interviews and helped with transcribing the material and her ideas and enthusiasm were a continual source of encouragement throughout the writing of this book.
