Slipper Baths and Public Wash-house, Hodge Lane, Salford

In 1928 there was opened in Hodge Lane one of the largest wash-houses in the country, having 80 washing stalls; 88 clothes drying horses; 4 rotary washing machines; 10 hydro-extractors; and mangling and ironing facilities. The building also housed 18 slipper baths, and was erected at a cost of £1,855 for the site and £36,220 for the construction and machinery. The scheme was Salford’s first public wash-house A swimming bath intended for women exclusively during the greater part of the week was also proposed but never built.   Whilst the need for bathing and washing facilities had been recognised in the 19th century, it was not until 1926, the year in which Salford was raised to the status of a City, that steps were taken to provide a public wash-house.

Tenders are invited for the erection and completion of Public Swimming Bath, Wash-house and Slipper Baths to be erected in Hodge Lane, Salford. Drawings may be seen and quantities obtained from the architect, Charles Swain 12 Exchange Street Manchester. Tenders to be returned by 28 July 1925. [Manchester Guardian 10 July 1925 page 3]

WOMEN’S GROWING USE OF SWIMMING BATHS: SALFORD’S NEW SCHEME. The Salford Corporation propose to build swimming baths, slipper baths and a public wash-house on a site that was acquired some time ago in Hodge Lane, and Mr J R Taylor, an inspector of the Ministry of Health held an inquiry at the Town Hall yesterday into an application for sanction to borrow £49,824 for this purpose.  .... The site was afterwards visited by the Inspector and members of the committee and the architect (Mr Charles Swain) [Manchester Guardian 13 November 1925, page 11]

SALFORD'S NEW PUBLIC WASHHOUSE. “LARGEST IN THE COUNTRY" - During the Salford Committee's annual tour of inspection of the five public baths in the city yesterday Councillor A. Worthington, chairman of the Committee, laid the foundation-stone of what will be the first public washhouse in the city. It is being erected in the densely populated district of Hodge Lane at a cost of about £35,000 and it expected that it will be opened about this time next year. The idea of a public washhouse in Salford was first considered as a practical proposal 19 years ago. but the Committee of the time, and its successors over long period, were faced with the difficulty of acquiring a suitable site. In 1919 the project was revived, and after a long quest for land the Committee in 1923 successfully negotiated with the Bradford Dyers' Association for the purchase of a plot of 2,900 square yards in Hodge Lane for the sum of £1,850, freehold and free from chief rent. The Committee considered itself fortunate in getting the land a neighbourhü0d where the washhouse will be likely to be of great service. It was the original intention of the committee to put up a swimming bath for women adjoining the washhouse: and the Council sanctioned the scheme, which, however, did not meet with the approval of the Ministry of Health, who did not regard the position as suitable for a swimming bath. The Committee therefore went forward with the alternative plan for providing the wash-house, to which there was no objection, and it is proposed to add about a dozen slipper ‘baths. Councillor Worthington yesterday expressed the regret felt by himself and colleagues that it had not been found possible to proceed with the larger scheme, because ‘extended facilities, he said, were needed for ‘the increasing number of female swimmers. He claimed that the new washhouse would ‘be the largest the kingdom: it would have 80 washing stalls and a similar number of drying “horses."  The Mayor (Alderman ‘Delves), who presided at the opening ceremony. said he was sure the women in that part of the city would appreciate the new experience of having available a well-equipped building in which the family washing could be done so conveniently. In just under 20 years the number of persons using the warm and swimming baths in the city has doubled - the total for the year ended December last being 603,420.  [Manchester Guardian 19 August 1926; page 5]

MUNICIPAL WASH-HOUSE IN SALFORD – The municipal was-house which was opened with some ceremony yesterday, is not only the first of the kind in the city, but was declared to be the largest in the kingdom. With the adjoining slipper baths the total cost will be about £35,000. .... The new wash-house will meet a long-felt want in one of the most densely populated districts of Salford. Accommodation has been provided for 80 women to do the family washing simultaneously, and the equipment of the place is complete in every particular. [Manchester Guardian 19 January 1928 page 13]

Foundation    18 August 1926
Opened         18 January 1928

Reference    Manchester Guardian 10 July 1925 page 3 - contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 11 July 1925 page 1 – contracts
Reference    Manchester Guardian 13 November 1925, page 11
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 March 1926 Page 535 - contracts
Reference    Builder 26 March 1926 Page 535 - contracts
Reference    Builder 16 April 1926 Page 680, 685
Reference    Builder 15 October 1926 Page 633 – tenders
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 August 1926; page 5 - foundation
Reference    Manchester Guardian 19 January 1928 page 13 - opening
Reference    The Journal of the Association of Bath Superintendents August 1952 Volume 11. No. 116 p.16-19