THE newspapers of August and September 1946 were full of stories about the “squatters’ revolt”. Many thousands of families, homeless or inadequately housed, took over service camps, flats and churches. Among the incidents in Scotland was this one, when a family moved into a day nursery in Dumbreck, Glasgow. Seven families, including 13 children, occupied a vacant church in Bellgrove Street. Squatting was reported in Edinburgh, Peterhead and Wigtown. Grangemouth aerodrome, and the former German consulate in Glasgow’s Park Terrace, were occupied, as were luxury flats in London.The squatters attracted much public sympathy. Recorded the Glasgow Herald of September 13: “It was not until squatting achieved sizeable dimensions in London on the Government’s doorstep, that the Government betrayed signs of anxiety. Nor could it be pleased that the Communist Party’s activities brought matters to a head, for the Communist Party had been openly active in Glasgow and elsewhere, instigating and organising squatting. Squatters fined at Falkirk were cheered by crowds outside the courthouse.’’
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