Birmingham Baths Committee
Encyclopedia
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
-run organisation responsible for the provision and maintenance of public swimming and bathing facilities within the Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
boundaries in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. They constructed bathing facilities within Birmingham through funding by the council.
In the planning procedures before the construction of a swimming bath, the department regularly partnered with the Free Libraries Committee to provide a new swimming bath alongside a new public library.
Private baths
Birmingham had been provided with swimming baths for some time before the establishment of the Birmingham Baths Committee, which became possible through the introduction of an Act of ParliamentAct of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
. These baths were private and members were often only the wealthy who were able to pay for the service.
The baths received water from natural resources, often springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
, which were plentiful throughout the town. Digbeth
Digbeth
Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into...
was a significant site for spring water and had provided water for the area for drinking and washing purposes as well as contributing to the River Rea
River Rea
The River Rea is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. The name of the river derives from a root found in many Indo-European languages and means "to run" or "to flow". It frequently bursts its banks after heavy rain....
. However, Digbeth and Deritend
Deritend
Deritend is an historic area of Birmingham, England, built around a crossing point of the River Rea. It is first mentioned in 1276. Today Deritend is usually considered to be part of Digbeth.-History:...
became increasingly industrialised and the natural spring was built over as a result.
In William West
William West
William West was an American militia general in the American Revolutionary War, Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, Deputy Governor of Rhode Island, and anti-federalist leader. West also was a party in the first U.S. Supreme Court decision in 1791, West v...
's "Topography of Warwickshire", which was published in 1830, there were around ten private baths. Whilst the dimensions of the baths were small, they provided a range of services and had different aims. A major proprietor of bath houses in Birmingham was a Mr. Monro who had had premises in Lady Well and Snow Hill.
The campaign for public baths
Private baths were advertised as having healing qualities and being able to cure people of diabetes, goutGout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and all skin diseases, amongst others. On 19 November 1844, it was decided that the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
members of society should have the opportunity to access baths, in an attempt to address the health problems of the public. On that day, a committee was formed and a fund was opened. Within a week, £4,000 had been donated to the fund.
On 22 April and 23 April 1845, two lectures were delivered in the town hall
Birmingham Town Hall
Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival established in 1784, the purpose of which was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church became...
urging the provision of public baths in Birmingham and other towns and cities. It was recorded that the attendance of the lectures was low, however, those in attendance were 'highly respectable'.
A second public meeting was held by the committee on 15 June 1845, where they proposed to purchase a plot of land at the corner of Kent Street and Gooch Street in Birmingham. On 24 June 1845, the committee purchased the land for £6,102, which was taken from the funds they had accumulated.
Official establishment of the committee
After a period of campaigning by many committees, the Public Baths and Wash-houses Act received royal assentRoyal Assent
The granting of royal assent refers to the method by which any constitutional monarch formally approves and promulgates an act of his or her nation's parliament, thus making it a law...
on 26 August 1846. The Act empowered local authorities to incur expenditure in constructing public swimming baths out of its own funds.
Following the Act of Parliament, the town council called a meeting on 7 October 1846. It was at this meeting that they decided to adopt the act, and at a meeting of the Public Baths Association in November 1846, they decided to give the land purchased by the committee to the council.
On 2 October 1848, the council gave their sanction for the construction of the first public baths and wash house on Kent Street site purchased by the Public Baths Association.
Baths owned by the committee
The committee constructed many public baths and never acquired private baths. Also, Birmingham was undergoing a period of change in that it absorbed many urban districts which were not within the boundaries before. As a result of this, the committee often gained the ownership of bathing facilities owned by the district councils before.Kent Street Baths
The building contained first and second-class swimming baths for men, first and second-class baths for women, Turkish baths
Hammam
A Turkish bath is the Turkish variant of a steam bath, sauna or Russian Bath, distinguished by a focus on water, as distinct from ambient steam....
and laundry facilities. On 30 March 1914, a women's swimming baths and baths for women were opened in an adjoining building to the main building on Gooch Street.
In 1930, the main buildings, with the exception of the women's bath on Gooch Street, were demolished and new facilities were built in a more modern style. The building contained a gala swimming bath, private baths, Turkish and Russian baths, offices and a repair and maintenance depot. It was opened on 29 May 1933. Designed by Hurley Robinson
Archibald Hurley Robinson
Archibald Hurley Robinson F.R.I.B.A., known as Hurley Robinson, was a prolific British architect of cinemas prior to World War II. Following World War II, the demand for new cinemas had diminished and his work focussed more on office buildings...
, it was of art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
architecture and remains today as Kent House.
The bath suffered heavy damage during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with the loss of the gala bath to a heavy night raid on 3 December 1940. The surrounding buildings were also damaged from the blast. When the war finished, the committee repaired the baths.
In September 2009, after lying empty for years, the baths were demolished by Benacre Property, the landowner, provoking a local outcry. Despite being Grade B locally listed, Birmingham City Council were unable to save the building and the site has now become a surface car park.
Woodcock Street Baths
At a meeting of the council on 28 September 1852, the committee were advised to look for another site for a second suite of baths. The area selected for the suite of baths was DuddestonDuddeston
Duddeston is an inner-city area of the Nechells ward of Birmingham, England. It was part of the Birmingham Duddeston constituency until that ceased to exist in 1950.-Etymology:...
. The sites were narrowed down to Woodcock Street and construction began on 25 July 1859. Construction was completed considerably quicker than that of the Kent Street Baths and the baths were opened on 27 August 1860. The buildings were of a Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
style as opposed to the Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
style of the original Kent Street Baths.
Facilities provided included a large swimming pool, suites of private baths for men and woman, each with a small plunge pool. Additions were made which included a first class swimming pool, suites of first class private baths and a steam laundry to ease the demand at Kent Street.
After World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it was decided that the baths should be reconstructed. The buildings, with the exception of the 1902 bath, were demolished and the new buildings were opened on 14 April 1926. A gala bath, suites of private baths for men and women, a new laundry and offices were constructed.
The baths were improved again in 1948 with the installation of underwater lighting, improved lighting in the bath hall and the application of sprayed asbestos
Asbestos
Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
acoustic treatment to the bath hall ceiling.
Northwood Street Baths
In 1853, the inhabitants of the northern districts of Birmingham campaigned for the construction of a swimming bath in the area. A site between Northwood Street and Kenyon Street was chosen and construction began on 30 May 1861. On 5 March 1862, the baths had been completed and were opened to the public.The architecture was of red brick with a blue brick base. The façade was decorated in block stone dressings and stone string courses with moulded cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
and cappings.
The baths closed in 1947 as a result of being destroyed beyond repair by air raids in World War II. The buildings were the oldest owned by the committee as the Kent Street and Woodcock Street baths had been reconstructed during their life times.
The baths offered first and second class swimming baths as well as large private baths. The private baths were transformed into a First Aid post upon the outbreak of the Second World War.
Monument Road Baths
Providing baths for the northwest of the town had been an issue since 1867, however, action did not begin until 1877 when a site at Monument Road was acquired by the committee. Construction of the building commenced early in 1881 and the baths opened on 27 February 1883.The baths provided the area with first and second class baths, suites of first and second class men's and women's private baths, and Turkish baths. It fast became the second most popular bath owned by the committee, with attendances only being exceeded by the baths at Kent Street.
Just before the outbreak of the Second World War, it was decided to demolish the buildings and to construct a modern facility. However, as a result of planning restrictions, the site was resized and made smaller allowing the construction of only one swimming bath and no Turkish baths. The baths were opened on 27 June 1940 during World War II.
The baths were demolished at the end of the century.
Green Lane Baths
Talk of providing the areas of Bordesley
Bordesley, West Midlands
Bordesley is an area of Birmingham, England and is part of the City's Nechells Ward.It is served by Bordesley railway station.It should not be confused with nearby Bordesley Green.-Notable residents :...
and Deritend and the adjoining wards with baths had been around before that of the Monument Road Baths. The committee presented the council with a site they believed suitable for the construction of the baths, however, this was rejected on the grounds that a cheaper site be found.
By the end of 1887, no alternative site had become available and the original proposals were renewed. There were slight amendments made to the proposals, but again the proposals were rejected.
In 1890, the committee joined with the Free Libraries Committee whom had also been looking for a site for a new library in Bordesley. A proposal was put forward by the two committees for the site at Green Lane, Small Heath
Small Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
for the erection of baths and a library. The council approved the proposal but financial problems meant that the baths did not open until 29 October 1902.
The baths provided first and second class swimming baths and first and second private baths for men and women. The baths suffered severe damage during an air raid in the night of 18 October 1940. After the end of the war, the council granted permission for the reconstruction and reparations of the baths and work commenced in 1951.
Moseley Road Baths
Balsall Heath
Balsall Heath is a working class, inner-city area of Birmingham, England. It is home to a diverse cultural mix of people and the location of the Balti Triangle.-History:...
into Birmingham. The order for the inclusion of the area into Birmingham came into effect on 1 October 1891 and the committee were soon told to find a suitable location to construct baths.
Once again, the Baths Committee joined with the Free Libraries Committee to find a site and they soon found a site on the Moseley Road. Following some construction problems, the baths were opened on 30 October 1907 and offered a first class swimming bath with a gallery for spectators, a second class bath, suites of first and second class private baths for men and women, a clubroom and a small room for laundry facilities.
The building remains and is Grade II* Listed. It has undergone emergency repairs and a bid for Lottery Heritage Money is set to be submitted.
Nechells Baths
Nechells
Nechells is an area in inner-city Birmingham, England, with a population of 27,969 . It is also a ward within the formal district of Ladywood. Nechells local government ward includes areas, for example parts of Birmingham city centre, which are not part of the historic district of Nechells as such...
area of the city. However, due to other activities in which the committee were participating in, the plan for Nechells did not begin until 1903 when a site at the corner of Nechells Park and Aston Church Road was purchased. In 1908, approval was obtained for the construction of the building by the architect Arthur Harrison, and it opened on 22 June 1910.
It offered a large swimming bath with a gallery for spectators and suites of private baths for men and women.
Following interest from Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
, whose interest in using the baths as a recording studio fell through, refurbishment work to the baths was completed in May 2007 by Welconstruct. It cost £5.5 million, with funding from Advantage West Midlands
Advantage West Midlands
-Advantage West Midlands – Regional Development Agency:Advantage West Midlands was established in 1999 as one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England. RDAs were created by the UK Government to drive sustainable economic development and social and physical regeneration through a...
, the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
and ERDF.
Kings Heath Baths
Following the Greater Birmingham Scheme, the committee decided to immediately enquire into constructing baths in the area of Kings HeathKings Heath
Kings Heath is a suburb of Birmingham, England, five miles south of the city centre. It is the next suburb south from Moseley on the Alcester Road.-History:...
. In 1911, a plot of land at Institute Road was purchased. The First World War interrupted plans for the development and it wasn't until 15 August 1923 that baths opened.
They were constructed as part of the Unemployed Relief Words with facilities provided including a swimming bath with suites of washing baths for men and women. It also had the ability of being floored over in the winter months for social purposes.
Harborne Baths
HarborneHarborne
Harborne is an area three miles southwest from Birmingham city centre, England. It is a Birmingham City Council ward in the formal district and in the parliamentary constituency of Birmingham Edgbaston.- Geography :...
acted after hearing about the residents of Kings Heath and in 1911, the committee also bought a plot of land in Lordswood Road. The baths were almost identical to that of the Kings Heath baths and offered exactly the same usages. Designed by architects Crouch, Butler and Savage, it opened on 13 December 1923.
The building now carries a blue plaque
Blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event, serving as a historical marker....
, noting that the poet W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
lived in an adjacent house from 1919–39.
The old building was demolished in 2010, with a modern replacement pool and lesiure centre being built on the site.
Saltley Baths
The committee placed extra emphasis on the area of SaltleySaltley
Saltley is an inner-city area of Birmingham, east of the city centre. The area is currently part of the Washwood Heath ward, although formerly a feature of the Nechells ward...
as it was densely populated. They purchased land in the area and the baths opened 30 July 1924. It was the first of the baths constructed by the committee to contain a 100 feet (30.5 m) pool. This allowed it to become a venue for competitive swimming. It also had the ability to be floored over in the winter months and be used as a hall. During World War II, it became popular as a public dancing venue.
Erdington Baths
Mason Road in ErdingtonErdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
was the next site chosen for the erection of baths by the committee. On the site, an establishment offering a swimming bath, suites of washing baths for men and women and Turkish baths was constructed and opened on 6 May 1925.
The pool had the ability to be floored over in the winter months, however, winter swimming was popular at the facility and the floor was not added.
Sparkhill Baths
Sparkhill
Sparkhill is an inner-city area of Birmingham, England, situated between Springfield, Hall Green and Sparkbrook.-Etymology:Sparkhill takes its name from Spark Brook, a small stream that flows from Moseley to the River Cole in Small Heath. It was, as the name suggests, a hill that was situated...
was approved by the council, however, there was a lack of skilled labour due to the demand in house construction. The district pressed for a reconsideration in February 1927 and the committee decided to place focus upon the baths that were to built on the site.
They purchased land on the busy Stratford Road with the intention of building the most modern set of baths possible. Members of the committee were sent to towns to observe the latest types of baths built and were also sent to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
to obtain information.
The baths, designed by architect Hurley Robinson, opened on 29 July 1931. The main swimming pool was 100 feet (30.5 m) by 35 feet (10.7 m) with a depth of 9 feet (2.7 m). The baths also featured a learner's pool specially suited for children near the entrance hall. There were 160 dressing boxes, which were not fronting onto the pool but in corridors. As well as the swimming facilities, there is a cafe. Soon after World War II, the pool was modernised with new lighting and acoustic treatment.
As of September 2009, the baths are closed, with a decision to be made as to their future.
Northfield Baths
NorthfieldNorthfield, West Midlands
Northfield is a residential area on the southern outskirts of metropolitan Birmingham, England and near the boundary with Worcestershire. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
was a quickly developing area and the committee focussed on providing baths for it. It was decided to build the baths at Bristol Road South. As the area was predominantly new build, most houses contained their own washing facilities, thus removing the necessity for washing facilities at the baths.
The Northfield Baths was designed by the architect Henry Walter Simister opened 8 May 1937 and consisted of a 100 feet (30.5 m) swimming pool and a learners' pool. It was a large site providing a lot of space for car parking. There was also a large cafe overlooking the main pool.
In the early 1980s the large former gents changing rooms was converted to separate gents and ladies changing areas, with the former ladies changing area becoming an additional fitness suite. The changing facilities were again remodelled in 2003, along with the reception area, while the pool was closed to have a large refurbishment.
Kingstanding Baths
KingstandingKingstanding
Kingstanding is an area in north Birmingham, England. It gives its name to a ward in the Erdington council constituency. Kingstanding ward includes the areas; Perry Common, St. Mary's College, Witton Lakes and parts of Kingstanding, Wyrley Birch and New Oscott...
was another newly developing area and the same approach was given like the Northfield Baths. Located on Warren Farm Road, the baths opened on 31 March 1938 and were the last to be constructed before the outbreak of World War II. The baths again offered a 100 feet (30.5 m) pool and a learners' pool.
Baths acquired by the committee
The Greater Birmingham Scheme received royal assent on 3 June 1911 and this resulted in the areas of HandsworthHandsworth, West Midlands
Handsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
, Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Erdington
Erdington
Erdington is a suburb northeast of Birmingham city centre, England and bordering Sutton Coldfield. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee...
, Yardley
Yardley, Birmingham
Yardley is an area in east Birmingham, England. It is also a council constituency, managed by its own district committee.Birmingham Yardley is a constituency and its Member of Parliament is John Hemming.-Features:...
, Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
, Kings Heath
Kings Heath
Kings Heath is a suburb of Birmingham, England, five miles south of the city centre. It is the next suburb south from Moseley on the Alcester Road.-History:...
and Northfield
Northfield
-Places:Australia*Northfield, South AustraliaCanada*Northfield, Nova Scotia England* Northfield, BirminghamScotland* Northfield, EdinburghUnited States* Northfield, Connecticut* Northfield, Illinois* Northfield, Indiana...
being included in the Birmingham boundaries, thus expanding the city.
Due to the acquisition of the areas, the baths committee also acquired four new baths;
- Victoria Road Baths, AstonAstonAston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
- Tiverton Road Baths, BournbrookBournbrookBournbrook is a residential suburban district in south-west Birmingham, England. The suburb of Bournbrook is bordered by Selly Oak to the west and south, Selly Park to the east, and Edgbaston to the north. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal and the Birmingham Cross-City Railway Line run along the...
- Grove Lane Baths, HandsworthHandsworth, West MidlandsHandsworth is an inner city area of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. The Local Government Act 1894 divided the ancient Staffordshire parish of Handsworth into two urban districts: Handsworth and Perry Barr. Handsworth was annexed to the county borough of Birmingham in Warwickshire in 1911...
- Bournville Lane Baths, StirchleyStirchley, West MidlandsStirchley is a southern area of Birmingham, England. Close to the districts of Kings Heath, Bournville, Selly Park, Cotteridge and King's Norton...
.
The Grove Lane facility was unusual in that it had two 100 feet (30.5 m) swimming baths, which was large for those days. It also allowed the swimming pool to have a floor fitted over it in the winter months for social purposes, such as dancing. In the late 20th century, after standing derelict for many years. these baths were converted into a number of residential apartments. A new leisure centre, with swimming pool, had meanwhile opened in the adjacent Handsworth Park
Handsworth Park
Handsworth Park is a park in the Handsworth area of Birmingham, England. It lies 10 minutes by bus from the centre of Birmingham and comprises 63 acres of landscaped grass slopes, including a large boating lake and a smaller pond fed by the Farcroft and Grove Brooks, flower beds, mature trees and...
.
Aeration
Aeration is the process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance.-Aeration of liquids:-Methods:Aeration of liquids is achieved by:...
and filtration system for the water which was extracted from a mains supply. This meant that the baths did not need to be emptied and refilled. This system was modern and the system was later installed in all swimming baths controlled by local authorities meaning that King's Norton and Northfield District Council were the first local authority in the country to use such a system. The Baths were built in 1910 to a design by John P. Osborne. The building is Grade II listed.
Post war committee
After World War II, the committee were faced with the task of modernising and reconstructing many of the baths. Kent Street Baths, which had been the most popular bathing facility in the city, had been seriously damaged by a night raid and action by the committee was immediately taken to repair it. Several other baths had suffer light damage from bombing raids and needed repair work.Numerous baths were modernised with the installation of new lighting which was added to the roof and inside the pool itself. Acoustic treatment was added and in some cases, asbestos was sprayed in the buildings.
The department continued to open baths including Stechford baths on 20 June 1962 by Councillor H. Bentley.
In 1974, the baths committee merged with other departments in the council to form the Leisure Department. From 5 April 2004, management of leisure facilities was devolved to individual constituencies
Government of Birmingham
Birminghamshown within West MidlandsThis page is about the Government of Birmingham, England.-Civic history:Most of Birmingham was historically a part of Warwickshire, though the modern city also includes villages and towns historically in Staffordshire or Worcestershire.Until the 1760s, Birmingham...
(originally 11, now 10).
Cottage baths
Cottage baths were small baths off streets which were sometimes built in converted buildings. Experiments of this in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
were unsuccessful, and results from the experiment in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
were varied. In 1905, a member of the Health Committee published a report which strongly recommended the construction of cottage baths. This prompted the council to look into providing cottage baths.
The first attempt by the committee was made in 1902 with the proposed conversion of the George Arthur Road police station into cottage baths. This was rejected and it was decided to build an entirely new building on Adderley Road. These proposals were unanimously approved. More baths were then constructed on Coventry Street in Digbeth, Brearley Street in Summer Lane, Bacchus Road in Winson Green
Winson Green
Winson Green is a loosely-defined inner-city area in the west of the city of Birmingham, England. It is part of the ward of Soho.It is the location of HM Prison Birmingham and City Hospital .The area has a very multi-racial population, with large Afro-Caribbean and Asian communities.R&B singer...
, Lower Dartmouth Street, Grosvenor Road in Aston, Willis Street in Ashted
Ashted
Ashted is an area of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, within the ward of Nechells.- History :...
and St Georges Street in Hockley
Hockley, Birmingham
Hockley is a central inner-city district in the city of Birmingham, England. It lies about one mile north-west of the city centre, and is served by the Jewellery Quarter station...
.
By 1950, however, only three baths remained in use due to decreasing attendances. All cottage baths were closed by 1960.
Open air pools
Open air pools were popular amongst the residents of Birmingham during the summer months as a place to cool down in the warm weather. The first municipal open air pool was opened in Cannon Hill ParkCannon Hill Park
Cannon Hill Park is a park located in south Birmingham, England. It is the most popular park in the city, covering consisting of formal, conservation, woodland and sports areas...
, and they opened on 1 September 1873 on the same day the park opened. However, the pool was used by the boating club. The lease was not renewed in 1899 and it was decided that the committee should take control of the pool.
The second pool was opened in 9 July 1883 in Victoria Park in Small Heath
Small Heath, Birmingham
Small Heath is an inner-city area within the city of Birmingham, West Midlands, England. It is situated on and around the A45 ....
. It was larger than the Cannon Hill Park pool and consisted of a very similar shape.
Brookvale Park Lake
Brookvale Park Lake
Brookvale Park Lake is a former drinking water reservoir in the Erdington area of Birmingham, England.Two brooks, arising at Kingstanding and Bleak Hill, Erdington, respectively, feed first Witton Lakes, then overspill into Brookvale Park Lake, before reaching the River Tame, and ultimately the...
in Erdington became the third location for a pool. It was opened in a disused drinking-water reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
and was opened on 7 October 1909. It was open until 1926.
Open air pools were both a commercial problem as they only received money in warm weather, and they were also a risk to the health of the users. A report published by the Ministry of Health advised against the use of open air pools unless they were chlorinated
Chlorination
Chlorination is the process of adding the element chlorine to water as a method of water purification to make it fit for human consumption as drinking water...
and filtrated. The committee felt that cost of adding such systems to the pools in Victoria Park and Cannon Hill Park was too expensive and both pools were closed in early 1939.
External links
- "A Boon for Birmingham - Lord & Lady Mayoress open block of Municipal Washhouses… the best in the Country" - Pathe newsreel, 23 January 1928