Public Sea-Water Baths Promenade Southport

SOUTHPORT PUBLIC BATHS – Tenders will be received for the erection of the baths, directed to Mr William Robinson, Secretary to the Company, Southport, on or before 31 January at 7.00pm.The plans and specification will be at the Bold Arms In, Southport until the 16th January, and from that time until 30 January at the office of the architect, Mr A B Clayton, St Mary’s Manchester. [Manchester Guardian 6 January 1838 page 1]

OPENING OF THE BATHS AT SOUTHPORT – On Thursday last the Royal Victoria Baths at Southport were opened with much celebration and rejoicing.  …  The building itself is a handsome ornamental structure, erected in a neat and substantial manner by Mr R Wright. The architect is Mr Clayton. The point of the building towards the sea is erected of pale-coloured freestone, from the quarry at Scarisbrick, and appears well-calculated to resist the sea blast; the centre is composed of a circular building containing a public news or waiting room, which is surrounded by a semi-circular colonnade or portico of the ionic order, at each extremity of which are situated the respective entrances to the ladies’ and gentlemen’s baths. Extending to the right and left of the centre building are wings formed by pilaster considerably isolated from the body of the building, and which, being connected with the colonnade, form a continuous promenade from one extremity of the building to the other. The internal arrangements are roomy and convenient. The entrance on the gentleman’s side, from the circular portico opens into a spacious corridor, in part supported by isolated pilasters; to the left is the gentlemen’s swimming bath, about 25 feet by 66 feet in size, surrounded by dressing rooms, and which has a constant supply of fresh water from a mountain (sic) near the centre; to the right of the corridor are situated a range of private baths, each having a dressing room attached, and which can be used either as a hot, cold or shower bath. The corridor next conducts to the invalids’ and medical baths, to which separated entrances and waiting galleries are attached, and terminates in the engine house, which is fitted up as a conservatory for the reception of tropical plants and exotics. The ladies baths possess nearly similar arrangements, excepting that an extensive tepid bath is provided; and which is used in mornings for ladies and in afternoons for gentlemen. Pipes are laid a considerable distance towards the sea into extensive reservoirs, and sea water is drawn from thence by a steam engine, erected by Messrs Galloway and Company of this town, into tanks covering the whole space of the centre building; from these tanks the several baths are supplied. [Manchester Guardian  8 May 1839 page 4].

THE VICTORIA BATHS - The Victoria Baths stand about the centre of the Promenade. They were erected by a company, at an expense of about £6,000, and opened with great rejoicing on the 2nd May, 1839. The façade is towards the sea, and is composed of a central portico or colonnade of the Ionic order, with balustrades to the right and left, forming a continuous covered parade. The entrance on the right leads to the ladies’ baths, and that on the left to the gentlemen’s. A refreshment-room divides the entrances, over which is another apartment, and above that there is an open gallery. Tepid and cold swimming, hot, shower, vapour, and other baths are instantly obtainable, with every convenience, and the most civil and obliging treatment. At the end of the lobbies is the engine-room, which was formerly used as a conservatory,—a singular and unusual combination of objects. Mr. Clayton, the architect, took advantage of the high temperature produced by the boiler to form the conservatory, and the effect, as may readily be imagined, was really admirable. It was furnished with one hundred and fifty pots of rare and beautiful plants, and the stage was surmounted by a bust of the “Iron Duke.” We have spoken of the conservatory as a thing of the past;—it is indeed so. In the employ of the company was an individual who has a peculiar and intense love for botanical pursuits; and to him the charge of these specimens of Nature’s handiwork partook more of a pleasure than a duty. The company ceased to manage the baths on their own account, having agreed to let them at an annual rent. The individual alluded to ceased his connection with the establishment, and with him the flowers and stage, and, if we mistake not, the stern representation of the “ hero of a hundred fights ” as well, departed, and, “ like the baseless fabric of a vision, left not a wreck behind.” The engine is of six-horse power, and lifts fifty tons of water per hour from a reservoir on the shore, about one hundred and fifty yards distant, into a large iron tank upon the centre of the building, from which the baths are supplied. The engine, and all the apparatus connected with it, was manufactured by Messrs. W. and J. Galloway, of Manchester, and the builder, Mr. Richard Wright, of this town. [A Descriptive History of the Popular Watering Place of Southport in the Parish of North Meols, on the Western Coast of Lancashire]

The Victoria Baths, built by subscription at an expense of £6,000 form a handsome range of buildings with a colonnade in front; the principal bath is 55 feet long and 25 feet wide, and there are cold and tepid baths supplied with water by a steam engine; the building comprises rooms for refreshment, and attached to it are gardens and a conservatory, with a fine terrace walk of great extent. [A Topographical Dictionary of England..., Volume 4,  Samuel Lewis 1840]

REBUILDING - The baths of the Southport Baths Company, Limited, occupy a site on the promenade, and were opened July 5th, 1871. The building is externally of stone, in the Italian style, and was erected at a total cost of £40,000, from the plans of Messrs. Horton and Bridgford, architects, of Manchester.

Reference    Manchester Guardian 26 November 1836 page 1- Prospectus
Reference    Manchester Guardian 6 January 1838 page 1 – contracts