Public Baths Old Trafford

PUBLIC BATHS FOR STRETFORD - The main entrance is directly in front of the principal swimming‑bath. Access is also obtained from the hall to the men's warm baths, committee ‑room, superintendent's apartments, and balconies over the swimming‑bath. A similar entrance is provided for the ladies' department with a central ticket office arranged in connection with both. The men's swimming bath has a water area of 75 feet by 30 feet, and contains approximately 63,000 gallons of water, with a maximum depth of 6 feet and a minimum of 3ft. There are 45 dressing‑boxes with a balcony over, finished in pitch‑pine, with ornamental‑cut brackets. A gallery at one end of the bath provides seating for eighty persons. The ladies' bath has a water area of 60 feet by 26 feet, and contains approximately 43,000 gallons of water, the depths being similar to the men's bath. Thirty-three dressing‑ boxes are provided. The various soap‑baths, hot and cold shower‑baths adjoin the main building; but special provision has boon made in these departments to insure ample light and adequate ventilation. The slipper ‑ baths are arranged on the front, fourteen for men and seven for women. In addition to these a douche‑room is fitted up with vapour box, dressing‑rooms, lounges, and hot and cold showers. A feature in the construction is the subways, which are formed under the whole of the slipper‑baths and round each swimming‑bath. A laundry, boiler‑house, and engineer's workshop are provided on ground floor, and committee‑room and superintendent's apartments on first floor. High‑pressure steam-pipes and radiators are used for heating the building, and all the condensed water is returned to the boiler. The cold‑water main service to the two swimming‑baths is of 5in. diameter. The water in these two swimming‑baths is warmed to a temperature of 80 degrees before it enters the bath, and is passed through a calorifier. Additional provision is made for heating by ten rapid patent circulating heaters built in the concrete walls of the bath. By this method the steam is blown into the water, and insures an equal temperature in every part of the bath during the day, to keep the water to the temperature required. All hot and cold water pipes are solid drawn copper, with gunmetal fittings. The buildings are lighted throughout by electricity, the current being supplied from the council's generating station, Stretford. The external walls of the buildings are faced with best Ruabon red bricks, relieved by terra-cotta dressings. Internally, the baths are finished with red and buff brick facings, and tiled dados. The general contractor was Mr William Thorpe, Cornbrook, Manchester. The buildings and engineering works have been executed under the supervision of Mr. Ernest Woodhouse, architect, of Mosley‑street, Manchester, whose design, was selected in an open competition. [Building News 16 December 1904 page 865]

Opened 30 April 1904 Cost £13,000. Baths noted as overlooking Hullard Park, Northumberland Road Old Trafford. Buff terra cotta by J C Edwards of Ruabon.

Reference    British Architect 2 May 1902 Page viii - contracts
Reference    British Architect 25 July 1902 Page x - tenders
Reference    British Architect 1 August 1902 Page ix - tenders for terra cotta
Reference    Builder 26 July 1902 page 87
Reference    Manchester City News 30 April 1904 Page 6 with illustration
Reference    British Architect 6 May 1904 Page 343
Reference    Building News 16 December 1904 page 865 and illustration