Camberwell Public Baths
Encyclopedia
Campaign
Friends of Camberwell Baths was formed in 1998 to defend against closure. From May 2006 until October the Council planned that the Baths would receive £5m to £6m for full refurbishment. In January 2007 the Council had decided to "provide up to £1.5 million capital funding to ensure that the Centre stays open with its current facilities."Modern renovation
Funding of £1.45 million was confirmed on 31 March 2009 for improving the centre with the total refurbishment budget from all sources amounting to £4.7 million. Additional funds came from the Southwark Investing in Leisure programme of more than £2 million and the Youth Capital Fund allocated £576,000 in May 2009 for a council managed youth programme within the site. The building was closed from Wednesday 25 November 2009.The pool and learner pool reopened on 28 February 2011 with an opening event in Artichoke Place on Saturday 12 March 2011. The entrance, reception and café area have been renovated and include wheelchair access.
Renovations include:
- Compliance with disability guidelines includes a hearing induction loop and visual impairment support.
- The pools are separated by a new boom and a pool hoist is available for disabled access. A family changing area and two disabled changing rooms have been added.
- Energy efficiency upgrades include the pool hall, corridor, windows and roof being refurbished, installation of a new electricity supply and energy-saving lighting and there are new air handling and heat recovery units. An ultraviolet filter reduces the need for chlorine and improves water conditions.
- The changing rooms now meet Sport EnglandSport EnglandSport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
guidelines.
The gym, Warwick Hall and youth facilities and non-swimming changing rooms are scheduled for later in 2011.
History
Seven Commissioners were charged in 1887 by the Vestry of Camberwell with the task of establishing three Public Baths and Wash-houses in the Parish of Camberwell, one in each of the parliamentary divisions of North Camberwell, PeckhamPeckham
Peckham is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
and Dulwich
Dulwich
Dulwich is an area of South London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth...
. Dulwich Public Baths had been opened on Saturday 25 June 1891. In 1903, Warm Baths would open on Wells Street, closely followed in 1905 by the Old Kent Road Swimming and Warm Baths and Wash-houses, with its own Turkish Baths.
Camberwell Public Baths officially opened on 1st October 1892. The baths were built, at a cost of £28,575, with two large swimming pool halls, one behind the other.
The original facilities at the baths in 1892 were:
- Men’s First Class: 24 private baths, one public swimming bath 120 feet (36.6 m) by 35 feet (10.7 m) with 81 dressing boxes at the side
- Men’s Second Class: 40 private baths, one public swimming bath, 120 feet (36.6 m) by 35 feet (10.7 m) with 65 dressing boxes
- Ladies First Class; 12 private baths
- Ladies Second Class: 20 private baths
- Public Laundry: 78 compartments
- Establishment Laundry
The original pay box remains in the building entrance. Camberwell was one of the first baths with electric lighting, powered with its own generator. There was an apartment at the rear of the building for an engineer who also served Dulwich Baths.
By 1903 the baths were officially reported as failing to achieve their goal of being self-sufficient, being in deficit by £7,000.
In 2001 there was national press interest when lifeguards at the baths refused to support nude swimming sessions of the Gay London Swimming group
Gay naturism
Gay naturism or LGBT naturism concerns a lifestyle of gay people in which nudity, especially in a communal context, is viewed as natural, positive and healthy...
. The group agreed to provide their own lifeguards.
Opening ceremony
On 1st October 1892, the Commissioners marked the opening of Camberwell Baths by inviting the Lord Mayor of LondonLord Mayor of London
The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London is the legal title for the Mayor of the City of London Corporation. The Lord Mayor of London is to be distinguished from the Mayor of London; the former is an officer only of the City of London, while the Mayor of London is the Mayor of Greater London and...
, accompanied by City Aldermen, the Chief Magistrate and a display of "brazen instruments, the prancing of sleek City horses, gorgeous equipage, ornately attired footmen, flags and banners". A guard of honour was provided by the First Surrey Rifles
London Regiment
The London Regiment is a Territorial Army regiment in the British Army. It was first formed in 1908 in order to regiment the various Volunteer Force battalions in the newly formed County of London, each battalion having a distinctive uniform. The Volunteer Force was merged with the Yeomanry in 1908...
as the visiting dignitaries entered Artichoke Row. Music was played by the ‘P’ Division band, including pieces such as "The Queen’s Westminster Volunteers". Guests included MPs for the Borough, Members of the London County Council, the architects, Spalding and Cross as well as the builders, Balaam Brothers.
The Chairman of the Commissioners, James Tresidder Sears, said that he "sincerely trusted that better health, brighter homes and happier lives would be the outcome of the continued use of these establishments." After a speech by the Lord Mayor, the pool was opened with a first plunge taken by boys from twelve neighbouring Board schools. Miss Nellie Easton and her pupils to give a "most interesting and pretty" display of swimming and floating. The crowd was further entertained with exhibition swims by W. Dale, 100 yards Amateur Champion of South London, and W.J. Stratton, 150 yards Champion of London. Finally, a water polo match was held between two teams from the Surrey County Water Polo Association.
Civic events and meetings
The swimming baths were shut during the winter months, and floors were laid over them to convert them for use for other sports and entertainments. Camberwell used the space for indoor cricket and tennis, as well as dances, concerts and other civic events and celebrations.By 1941, during the second world war, the only swims available in Southwark were in the First Class Swimming Baths at Camberwell and Dulwich. The swimming baths had been kept full of water to provide a static water supply for the Auxiliary Fire Service. The dances resumed after the war, and new sprung floors were ordered during the 1950s as the Council initiated its own municipal dances on Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and St Patrick’s Day.
The baths were a location for public meetings. Events included:
- 17th January 1906, the Liberal election victory for North Camberwell was announced by Thomas James MacnamaraThomas James MacnamaraThomas James Macnamara PC , was a British teacher, educationalist and Liberal politician.-Education:Macnamara was born in Montreal, Canada, the son of a soldier originally from County Clare in Ireland. His family returned to Britain in 1869 and Macnamara was educated first at the Depot School in...
from an upper floor window at the baths to a public crowd of an estimated 20,000. - 11th December 1908, an exhibition of protest banners by the National Society for Women's SuffrageNational Society for Women's SuffrageThe National Society for Women's Suffrage was the first national group in the United Kingdom to campaign for women's right to vote. Formed on 6 November 1867, by Lydia Becker, the organisation helped lay the foundations of the women's suffrage movement, furthered later by the National Union of...
. - 8th March 1934, an LCCLondon County CouncilLondon County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
election meeting including the support of Lord Beaverbrook was interrupted by several spontaneous fights and one steward was carried out due to his injuries.
See also
- Alfred CrossAlfred CrossAlfred William Stephens Cross was a British architect.From 1889 to 1899 he was in partnership with Henry Spalding as Spalding and Cross, taking part in many competitions for building design...
, Henry SpaldingHenry Spalding (architect)Henry Spalding was a British architect.Spalding was an assistant for William Gilbee Habershon and Edward Habershon from 1857 to 1863... - Dulwich Public BathsDulwich Public BathsDulwich Public Baths was opened in 1892, making it London's oldest public baths in continuous operation. It is based in Dulwich, South London, England.-Description:...