CAMPAIGN TO SAVE VICTORIA BATHS

BATH TIME | Victoria Baths were much more than just a swimming pool

This week Inside Out visits Victoria Baths in Manchester – and meets the dedicated campaign group trying to re-open them.

Named after the great Queen who’d recently died, Victoria Baths were the jewel in the Crown of Manchester Corporation’s Baths and Wash House Committee.

They opened in 1906 and were described as a ‘water palace’.

Victoria Baths facilities

3 pools (one for first class males, another for second class males and yet another for women)
A Turkish baths
A Russian baths
A steam room
One of the world’s first Jacuzzis.

All this when many people didn’t even have a bathroom at home!

The baths were much more than a public swimming facility. They were the equivalent of a modern day luxury health spa – although much more affordable.

But Victoria baths have now been closed for ten years.

The sparkle has gone but the memories still shine brightly.

Action

One Manchester group feel so strongly about preserving this part of Manchester’s heritage, they have taken action.

They have set up Friends of Victoria Baths, a campaign group trying to re-open the baths.

Gill Wright from the group explains in this week’s Inside Out how they regularly meet to discuss generating the multi-million pounds needed to save the building.

Victoria Baths facts

The original cost of the baths in 1906 was more than £59,000.

This was much more than other public baths.

It originally contained 64 wash baths for people who did not have a bath at home.

Mixed bathing sessions were introduced in 1914. · The channel swimmer Sunny Lowry began her career at Victoria Baths.

If they do, Manchester City Council will hand over the baths for just one pound! Representatives of the lottery fun and other potential donors are all enthusiastically being approached by Gill and the group.

Open day

In a bid to raise awareness for their cause and introduce people to the splendour of the building, The Friends of Victoria Baths are holding a public open day.

This will take place at the baths, Chorlton on Medlock, on Sunday 2 March from 12 noon to 4pm. Admission is free and there will be guided tours, history displays and a memory table.