Victoria Baths Manchester and the BBC Restoration Appeal

Development & History of
Victoria Baths, Manchester

Hathersage Road, Victoria Park,
Manchester M13.

The ornate Edwardian buildings which are the Victoria Baths in Hathersage Road, Victoria Park, are an historical and architectural jewel in Manchester's treasury of great buildings. Despite this, the baths have seen better days - they have been closed for a decade and are by now in an advanced state of disrepair.
The Baths were described when opened in 1906 as a "water palace of which every citizen of Manchester is proud".

Manchster's Public Baths & Wash Houses
Plans to provide public baths to the wards of Longsight, Rusholme and St Luke' was first considered by Manchester Corporation's Baths and Washhouses Committee in 1897.
High Street (now Hathersage Road) was chosen as the most suitable site and in 1899 a plot of land was purchased for £750. Henry Price was appointed in June 1902 as the first City Architect, responsible for carrying out and completing the project and the Baths were completed and opened to the public in 1906 at an eventually cost of £59,144 - then a small fortune and well over budget. They were created by Manchester Corporation as part of a general move to improve the health and well being of the ordinary people of Manchester, and they operated as public swimming pools, wash baths, Turkish Bath and a public hall from 1906 and sports hall from the mid-1980s until its untimely closure in 1993.

The Water Palace
The self-evident quality, style and opulence of detailing, materials used and its exuberant embellishments have deservedly earned it the title of having been Manchester's "Water Palace". It was a clear demonstration of the commitment, wealth and civic pride that a great city felt it ought to show to its residents and to the outside world, and it is widely held to be one of the finest examples of municipal baths in the country, eventually costing twice the original estimate to build.
Despite its recent disuse and decline it is now probably the very finest still in existence in England, though its future is severely threatened.
Externally it is comprised of fine red brick and terra cotta with ornate mouldings; inside it makes extensive use of stained glass, deep green Art Nouveau period ceramic wall tiles, wrought iron balustrades and expansive decorative mosaic floors. Despite a few later modifications, the building is still essential in its original condition.
Water was supplied clean and pure via its own on-site water supply via its own well and pumping system which supplied water to each pool. Clean water was in itself an original and new concept which must have seemed like a wonder of the age to those living in Manchester's slums.

Laundry & Turkish Baths
The Victoria Baths also had its own laundry block used to wash the towels used by swimmers and Turkish Baths customers. Later the laundry was used by local people as a public washhouse. There were also swimming events, galas, free swimming lessons, and, for the more affluent visitor there were the Turkish Baths.
At a time when ordinary people lived in very poor conditions, the Baths must have seemed like the ultimate luxury, but their most important function was as a vehicle to promote better health and hygiene amongst the working poor.

Male & Female Swimming Baths
The Baths actually have three swimming pools, ('First Class Males', 'Second Class Males' and 'Females') at a time when the concept of first and second class citizens was perfectly acceptable. The First Class Males Pool (also known as 'The Gala Pool'), is the most elaborate with its high glazed vaulted ceiling. A balcony runs around the pool and there is extensive use of stained glass. Iron and wood cubicles line the length of either side. The second pool, (Second Class Males) is considerably less ornate and was covered over in the 1980s to create a sports hall. The Females pool is smaller but of a similar pattern, though even less decorated, though there is some beautiful stained glass depicting purple irises.
In 1952 the first municipal 'Aerotone' bath in the country was installed - similar in concept to the modern Jacuzzi. Both the Turkish Baths the Aerotone were popular facilities right up until the time of its closure.
In 1993, regrettably, Manchester City Council decided to close the Baths, despite vigorous local opposition. Demonstrations took place, a petition was gathered, but the Baths closed on 13th March 1993 - the council could no longer continue to bear the high cost of maintenance and repair.

Setting up the Trust
Ever since the closure of the Baths local residents have been campaigning for ways to save the building for public use. Hence, in 1993, the Victoria Baths Trust was formed to investigate the possibility of saving the building and running the Victoria Baths independently. It is now estimated that at least £15 million will be required to restore the buildings to their original condition. An application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore Victoria Baths as a Healthy Living Centre was rejected, but the Trust is continuing to pursue a viable plan for the restoration of the building in partnership with Manchester City Council and English Heritage.
In 1998, the Trust formed a partnership with Manchester City Council (who still own of the Baths), CHRC Limited, Zion Community Health & Resources Limited and Central Manchester Healthcare Trust.

Victoria Baths Official Website

For an in-depth account of the Victoria Baths visit the official website at: http://www.victoriabaths.org.uk

The Victoria Baths Trust

Immediately upon its closure in 1993, a campaign was begun for the Victoria Baths to be reopened for public use. As a result, the Manchester Victoria Baths Trust was set up by local residents to pursue this aim. The Trust is a limited company, a registered charity and a member of the Association of Building Preservation Trusts. It is supported in its work by the Friends of Victoria Baths.
Since it began, the Trust has raised over £40,000 in grants towards reopening the Baths and has negotiated the handover of the Baths from Manchester City Council. Consequently, the Trust is responsible for the building and is now working in partnership with other local organisations towards its restoration. The Trust has submitted two important bids for grants to enable it to work on the Baths and has launched a public appeal to support the grants which will fund its restoration.

Funding So Far

The Trust has so far received assistance funding from:

English Heritage
The A6 Partnership
The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund
The Architectural Heritage Fund
...and now......
£3 million + from the BBC Restoration Fund !!

Donations to Victoria Baths Restoration Fund

You can help the Trust save Victoria Baths by making a regular donation or a one-off donation through their website at https://secure.efundraising.org.uk/tailored/
A full colour leaflet containing history and some early photos of Victoria Baths is available from the Friends of Victoria Baths - website: http://www.victoriabaths.org.uk/friends.htm

The Friends of Victoria Baths

The Friends of Victoria Baths have been campaigning ever since March 1993 to save the Victoria Baths. The Friends organise open days and other events at the Baths, carry out work on the building including cleaning up and other minor repairs. They produce a newsletter for members 3 to 4 times a year and Victoria Baths items which are sold at events and by mail order. They are also researching the history of the building.
The Friends meet on the last Monday of the month (except August and December) at Imex Business Park in Longsight at 7.30pm.

Join the Friends of Victoria Baths

Go to their website at: www.victoriabaths.org.uk/friends.htm.
Or write to:

The Friends of Victoria Baths
Studio 20, Imex Business Park, Hamilton Road, Longsight, Manchester M13 0PD

Victoria Baths Opening Times

Victoria Baths is open to visitors on the first Sunday of every month until October 5th 2003 - for opening times thereafter, please check the official website:
http://www.victoriabaths.org.uk/open_days.htm to verify the times.

BBC Restoration Fund

The plight of the Victoria Baths was brought to a wider public's attention by the BBC2 Television series "Restoration", which featured the Baths during its opening transmission on 8th August 2003.
The final broadcast in the series took place at 9.00pm on Sunday 14th September 2003 and happily, Victoria Baths was the outright winner. Some £3 million or more is now therefore added to the restoration fund and Phase 1 - the opening of the Turkish Baths, is now getting underway. For the time being, the Baths have been saved, but much more money is required.

More details of the BBC Television series can be found at:
www.bbc.co.uk/history/programmes/restoration