Public Baths, Union Street, Hyde

The Baths in Union Street were opened on 4 May 1889. but the North Cheshire Herald commented at their opening that they were "not perhaps so handsome externally as could have been desired". The building contained six slipper baths, a laundry, a men's plunge bath, a smaller ladies plunge bath, thirty-eight dressing boxes and a gallery capable of holding several hundred spectators.

NEW BATHS AT HYDE -The Mayor of Hyde, Mr J. Cheetham, recently laid the foundation-stone of some new baths, the cost of which will be £4,300. The building is situated in Union-street, and is set back 16 feet from the street. Loading from the two main entrances are a set of slipper baths, 7 ft. by 7 ft., fitted with porcelain. There is also a plunge-bath, with a water area of 75 ft. by 25 ft., the ground area being 89 ft. by 40 ft., and this is supplemented by thirty-eight dressing-boxes, two shower and foot baths, and other conveniences. The room will be spanned by a light iron roof, the underside of the spars being boarded. The light is obtained from a ridge skylight running the full length of the building, and raised above the roof, with Louvre ventilators. The water will be 6 feet. deep at one end, and 3 ft. 6 in. at the other, and the sides and bottom will be lined with, white enamelled bricks. The walls will be faced to a height of 5 ft. with brown salt-glazed bricks, and above this with grey bricks. The women’s plunge-bath will be carried out in the same manner, the size of the water area being 33 ft. by 17 ft., and the ground area 42 ft. 6 in. by 25 ft. 6 in. At the back of the large plunge-bath will be the laundry, and raised above it about 6 ft., the space below being used as the boiler-house. The laundry will be fitted with machinery, by Messrs. Bradford & Co., of Salford, who have also undertaken the engineers’ work. Mr. S. Warburton, of Miles Platting, is carrying out the contract for the boilers. The architect is Mr J W Beaumont of Manchester, the clerk of works being Mr Hill. [Builder 19 November 1887 page 722]

Reference        Manchester Guardian 23 April 1887 Page 10 (Contracts)
Reference        Builder 19 November 1887 page 722