Public Baths Frederick Road Pendleton Salford

Pendleton Baths in Frederick Road opened 24 July 1885 at a cost of about £8,750 from plans by Lawrence Booth MA FRIBA, architect. The building is of red brick and terra cotta, and has a large octagonal tower at the corner of Broad Street and Frederick Road containing slipper baths and a committee room.  [Kelly Directory 1930]

PUBLIC BATHS FOR PENDLETON – For the proposed public baths for the district of Pendleton, the design of Mr Larence Booth, architect, King Street has been accepted. Messrs Mangnall and Littlewoods, Brown Street were awarded £30 for the second design; and Mr A Darbyshire, Brazennose Street £20 for the third. The new baths, which it is estimated will cost £5,000, will be erected on the vacant piece of land at the Broad Street corner of Frederick Street, and will occupy 1,655 square yards. Provision is made for two swimming baths, first and second class. The first class bath, which it is proposed to set apart on certain days for the exclusive use of females, is to be 54 feet long by 24 feet wide; and the larger one, or second class 75 feet long by 28 feet wide. Thirty hot and cold water and shower baths, attendants’ rooms, etc are arranged for. The structure is to be of red brick with terra cotta facings [Manchester Guardian 26 May 1883 page 9]

Tenders are invited for the works to be done in erecting and completing public baths in Broad Street and Frederick Street, Pendleton. [Manchester Guardian 7 July 1883 page 4 – contracts] Salford Corporation subsequently accepted tenders of Robert Neill & Son (£5414) and Thomas Bradford & Co (ironwork £1046-10-0)

THE PROPOSED NEW BATHS AT PENDLETON - The public baths for the district of Pendleton, for which the Salford Corporation accepted tenders yesterday, are the second instalment of a series of four intended to be built by the Corporation, the first being that in Blackfriars Street which have been in working operation for some time with encouraging results. The site is a portion of a plot of land acquired by the Corporation some time ago for public improvements and is situate at the corner of Broad Street and Frederick Street, the longer frontage being in the latter. The Committee, after visiting many similar establishments, embodied their requirements in a schedule of particulars tabulated by the Borough Engineer, Mr Arthur Jacob CE, and invited three firms of architects to submit designs in competition, giving honorariums of £30 and £** respectively to second and third in order of merit, with the understanding that the author of the design placed first should be entrusted with the carrying out of the work. The plans of Mr Lawrence Booth, Faulkner Street, Manchester, were placed first, and subject to certain modifications subsequently made thereto, are those from which the intended baths are to be erected and completed under his superintendence. The contractors for the construction of the building are Messrs Robert Neill and Sons, and for the engineering (which included the provision of washing machinery, dryers, slipper baths etc. Messrs Thomas Bradford and Company, Crescent Works, Salford. Building operations are to be commenced forthwith, in the expectation of an early completion. The Baths Committee having had considerable experience in the practical working of the Blackfriars Street establishment, and the chairman (Mr Alderman W Bailey), the vice chairman (Mr Alderman D Haigh) and other members being practical engineers, it is expected that the new building in all its detail be as complete as such an establishment ought to be. One novel feature in the proposed arrangements, determined with hearty concurrence of the architect is the absolute exposure of all gas water steam and heating pipes, so as to leave them open for constant observation and readily accessible for the purposes of repair etc. With a view to similar utilitarian purposes, the whole of the baths will be placed on the ground floor level although this desideratum has had to be effected by in the quantity of land which would otherwise be required, and also in the first cost of the building. The principal entrances will be from Frederick Street, the ticket office being situate between them. The laundry department will be behind, with a separated entrance from the back street. The second class plunge bath is to be 75 feet by 27 feet and the first class ** feet by 25 feet There will be balconies round three sides of the former. There are 25 slipper baths for men and ** for ladies. There are also vapour baths, foot baths, ** stages, dressing rooms and all the usual conveniences. The building will be so arranged as to allow ** use of the plunge baths. [Manchester Guardian 7 February 1884 page 8]

THE NEW BATHS FOR PENDLETON –The foundation stone of the baths which the Salford Corporation are about to build at the junction of Broad Street and Frederick Street was laid yesterday afternoon by Mr Alderman W H Bailey, chairman of the Baths Committee. The baths, which will cost between £8,000 and £ 9,000, are being erected from the designs of Mr Lawrence Booth, architect, of this city, by Messrs Robert Neill and Sons, builders and contractors, Strangeways. …. It was expected that the new baths would entail an expenditure of £8,622. The accommodation would include a first-class swimming bath 44 feet by 25 feet; a second-class swimming bath, 75 feet by 28 feet; 39 private and two vapour baths. [Manchester Guardian 27 June 1884 page 6]

PUBLIC BATHS FOR PENDLETON. The foundation stone of the public baths which the Corporation of Salford are about to erect at the junction of Broad-street and Frederick-street, in the township of Pendleton, was laid yesterday afternoon by Alderman Bailey, chairman of the baths committee of the Salford Town Council, in the presence of the mayor Charles Makinson) and a considerable number aldermen and councillors, officials of the corporation, and residents. A description of the plans for the buildings, which have been prepared by Mr. Lawrence Booth, architect, of this city, has previously been published. The site belonged to the corporation, from whom it was purchased by the baths committee, and the total cost the buildings, when completed, and including the land on which they are to stand, will be about £8,600. The accommodation will include a first-class swimming bath, 44ft. by 25ft., a second-class swimming bath, 28ft. by 25ft., private baths and two vapour baths. The builders are Messrs. Neill and Sons, of Salford. The Mayor, at the outset of the ceremony of laying the foundation stone, complimented the members of the baths committee on the vigorous and enterprising way in which they were doing their work and his worship then, having laid a cavity beneath the foundation-stone a bottle containing copies of the Manchester and Salford newspapers, and of the last annual report of the baths committee, called upon Alderman Bailey to lay the stone. Mr Lawrence Booth presented to Ald. Bailey a handsome silver trowel.  [Manchester Courier Friday 27 June 1884 page 8; repeated 28 June 1884 page 14]

NEW PUBLIC BATHS FOR. PENDLETON. -  Alderman W H Bailey, chairman of the Salford Baths Committee, on Thursday afternoon laid the foundation stone of the new baths to be erected on a plot of land at the corner of Broad-street and Frederick-street, Pendleton. The Mayor of Salford (Mr. Ald. Charles Makinson), Mr. Aid. I. Bowes, Mr. Aid. T. Davies, Mr. Aid. W. Robinson, Mr. H Roper, and other members of the Corporation were present. The baths are expected to cost £8,622, of which £952 has been paid for the land, wit-le the erection of the building is estimated to cost £55,418. There will be a first-class swimming bath 44ft. long by 25ft. wide, a second-class swimming bath 75ft. long by 28£t. wide, 37 private baths, , first and second class, and two vapour baths. The i proceedings were opened by the Mayor, who congratulated the Baths Committee on the vigorous and enter- prising work they had done. It was true, he said, they had not gone so far as some of the members of the Council desired, but they had done all they felt justified in doing, and if they had not accomplished all that could be wished, it was from no lack of desire on their part to do so. The mayor then deposited beneath the foundation stone a glass bottle containing copies of the Manchester and Salford newspapers. Mr. L. Booth, the architect, presented Mr. Alderman Bailey with a silver trowel, and Mr. Neill, contractor, gave him a wooden mallet, with which tools Mr. Bailey proceeded to lay the stone. Having done this, he said he could assert, without fear of contradiction, that the Salford baths had been carried on at a less cost to the rates than any other municipal baths in the United Kingdom. Last year there were 100,000 bathers in the baths in Blackfriars-street, and the cost to the rates was only £250. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Alderman Bailey on the motion of Mr. Alderman Bowes, seconded by Mr. Alderman Davies, and this concluded the proceedings. [Manchester Courier 28 June 1884 page 6]

PENDLETON - The new public baths at Pendleton erected by the Salford corporation were opened on Saturday. The principal plunge bath, the water area of which measures 75 feet by 27 feet, is intended for second-class bathers. Dressing boxes 4 feet 6in. by 4 feet 6in. are placed along both sides and one end, with balconies over. All the gangways are 4 feet 6in. wide. Shower baths, foot baths, spray pipes, and other conveniences are introduced. The first-class plunge bath has a water area of 41 feet by 25 feet, with dressing boxes arranged on two sides, and is finished in varnished pitch-pine. The whole of the private or slipper baths are placed upon the ground-floor level. There are of these ten first class and fifteen second class in the men's department; and in the ladies' department four first class and eight second class. Two vapour baths are also provided, one for the use of ladies, and one for gentlemen. Over the ticket office is placed the caretaker's residence, and in the rear the laundry, drying-closet, storeroom, and boiler-house. The committee-room is at the corner of Broad-street and Frederick-street. The contractors for building are Messrs. R. Neill and Sons. The work has been carried out from the designs of Mr. Lawrence Booth, architect, Manchester; Mr. W. Young acting as clerk of works. The total cost is about E8,000. [Building News 31 July 1885 page 164]

PENDLETON - New Public Baths were opened at Pendleton on the 25th ult. The entrances are placed in the centre of the building, right and left of the ticket office. The principal plunge bath has a water area of 75 feet by 27 feet Dressing boxes, 4 feet 6 in. by 4 feet 6 in. are placed along both sides and one end, with balconies over. All the gangways are 4 feet 6in. wide. Shower baths, foot baths, spray pipes, and other conveniences are introduced in accordance with the most recent improvements in bath construction. The first-class plunge bath, approached from the corridor on the right-hand side of the ticket office, has a water area of 44 feet by 25 feet, with dressing boxes arranged on two sides. The whole of the private or slipper baths are placed upon the ground floor level. There are of these ten first class and fifteen second class in the men's department, and in the ladies' department four first class and eight second class. Two vapour baths are also provided, one for the use of ladies and one for gentlemen. Over the ticket office is placed the caretaker's residence, and in the rear the laundry, drying-closet, store-room, boiler-house, etc. The committee-room is at the corner of Broad Street and Frederick Street. The contractors for the erection of the building are Messrs. R. Neil and Sons, and for the engineering and washing machinery Messrs. T. Bradford and Co. of Salford. Messrs. Galloway and Sons have supplied the two large boilers. The whole of the work has been carried out from the designs of Mr. Lawrence Booth, architect, Manchester, Mr. W. Young acting as clerk of works. The total cost of the entire structure, including all fittings and appliances is about £8,000. [British Architect 7 August 1885 page 71]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 26 May 1883 page 9
Reference    British Architect 18 May 1883 Page 266
Reference    British Architect 1 June 1883 Page 278
Reference    Manchester Guardian 30 June 1883 page 10 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 July 1883 page 4 – contracts
Reference    British Architect 8 February 1884 Page 71
Reference    British Architect 8 February 1884 Page 81
Reference    Manchester Guardian 7 February 1884 page 8
Reference    Manchester Guardian 27 June 1884 page 6 – foundation stone
Reference    Manchester Guardian 24 July 1885 page 6
Reference    Manchester Guardian 25 July 1885 page 10 – opening
Reference    Building News 31 July 1885 page 164]
Reference    British Architect 7 August 1885 page 71
Reference    Kelly Directory 1930