Dear Old Bridge - Letters from Glasgow to Mostar

A young bridge built this summer, joins two historic boroughs across the River Clyde. For centuries there has been a strong connection between Govan and Partick brought together as a single parish during the industrial revolution when shipbuilding dominated their lives. Ferries have come and gone, nearby downstream there is a tunnel and upstream many other bridges. The young bridge opened with a fanfare and brought optimism to both communities.

An old bridge built in 1556, spans the Neretava River, in Mostar, a city named after its bridge keepers. The single-arch stone bridge is an exact replica of the original bridge that stood for over 400 years, joins two communities and is a symbol of connection. Can the communities of Glasgow learn from the communities of Mostar.

The communities of Govan and Partick are writing letters to Mostar, to further extend that connection and ask how their bridge helps them. These letters will be gathered, translated into Bosnian, and sent to Mostar where their communities will correspond with our communities. Questions will ask what they remember before the bridge existed, what the bridge means now beyond acting merely as a crossing point, and what role the bridge will play in their future and affect the identity of the communities.

The letters will be posted and read on the 07th June at 10.00 am, the event will start at Water Row in Govan.