Whitworth Baths. Ashton Old Road Openshaw

OPENSHAW - At a meeting on Friday of the local board of Openshaw, near Manchester, plans were submitted of the new baths shortly to be erected in the township by the Whitworth legatees. The baths will be built of Ruabon stock bricks with terra-cotta dressings and mouldings. The accommodation provided includes' a first-class swimming bath, 60 feet long, a second-class swimming bath, 75 feet long, first and second-class private baths, and Turkish baths. The Whitworth legatees have secured a site on the main road, and the demolition of the buildings on the site has been going on for some time. The architects are Messrs. J. W. and R. F. Beaumont, of Manchester, and the contract for the work has been let to Messrs. W. Southern and Sons, of Salford.   [Building News 18 January 1889 page 124]

PUBLIC BATHS FOR OPENSHAW -  Through the munificence of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth, the people of Openshaw will ere long be placed in possession of very fine baths. For site a piece of ground has been purchased within a stone’s throw of the works of Sir Joseph Whitworth and Co. Limited. The ground, formerly covered by cottages, most of which have now been demolished, extends back from Ashton Old Road to South-street. It is in the centre of the Openshaw Local Board district, and is on that account exceedingly suitable for the purpose to which it is being devoted. Although it is only a month or two since a commencement was made, and the buildings are not yet far above ground, it is possible, with the aid of the plans, to form some idea of how they will look when finished. Our sketch furnishes some indication of the handsome appearance the building will have as seen from Ashton Old Road. The internal arrangements will be unusually comprehensive for public baths. They are to comprise a first-class plunge bath with a water area of 59 feet by 24 feet; a second-class plunge bath, with a water area of 76 feet by 28 feet 6 inches; Turkish baths with hot-rooms shampooing rooms, cooling rooms and dressing boxes; Roman baths, “slipper baths,” and all the other requisites of a well-equipped establishment. In the rear of the building there are to be boiler-house, laundry, towel-room, etc. The plunge baths, which will no doubt form one of the chief sources of attraction when the baths are thrown open, are to have walls of buff-coloured brick, with a dado of tinted enamelled bricks, and strings and ornamental panels of red Ruabon bricks. The sides and bottom of the baths will be concrete lined with white glazed bricks. The roof will be constructed of steel principals and pitch pine spars, with lanterns, ventilating lights, and skylights. Alike in the first-class plunge bath and the second-class plunge bath, there will be a gallery (approached from the entrance hall by a handsome stone staircase) which will furnish accommodation for spectators when swimming galas are being held. In the first-class plunge bath are 14 dressing boxes, attendant's room, and foot and shower bath; and in the second-class plunge bath 52 dressing boxes, two shower baths, and several troughs in which boys may wash themselves. The Turkish bath, which is to be over the laundry, will have dressing boxes in pitch pine, a shampooing room 16 feet nine inches by 16 feet; two marble shampooing slabs, needle baths and douches, and a cooling room 25 feet 9 inches by 20 feet. From the cooling room a spiral staircase leads down to the first-class plunge bath where the bather may “finish off” in orthodox Turkish fashion with a plunge. All the other portions of the establishment are planned on an equally complete and handsome scale. The building appears to have been designed with a view to reducing as much as possible the cost of maintenance. With this object all the inside walls, except those in the caretaker's house, are to be faced with bricks for the most part glazed. The building, faced with red bricks and terra-cotta dressings from Ruabon, is set back about 3.5 yards from Ashton Old road and the boundary is to be formed by a low wall with wrought iron gates and railings. The engineering work of the baths is being carried out by Messrs Thomas Bradford and Co., Salford, and the general contract has been let to Messrs Southern and Sons, builders, also of Salford, who are carrying it out under the superintendence of Messrs J W and R F Beaumont, architects, 10, St James’s Square. The total cost is estimated at £15,000. When the building is completed, as it is hoped it may be about twelve months hence, Sir Joseph Whitworth’s legatees will hand it over to the Openshaw Local Board for custody on behalf of the inhabitants. [The Manchester Guardian Monday 13 May 1889 Page 8].

OPENSHAW, MANCHESTER — The Whitworth Trustees are building a group of public baths at Openshaw, near the works of Sir Jos. Whitworth and Co. The building will comprise a first-class plunge bath, with a water area of 59 feet by 24 feet; a second-class plunge bath, with a water area of 75 feet by 28 feet 6 in.; Turkish baths, with hot-rooms, shampooing-rooms, cooling-rooms, and dressing-boxes ; Roman baths and slipper baths. In the rear there are to be boiler-house, laundry, towel-room, etc. The plunge baths are to have walls of buff-coloured brick, with dado of tinted enamelled bricks, and strings and panels of red Ruabon bricks. The sides and bottoms of the baths will be concrete lined with white glazed bricks. The roof will be constructed of steel principals and pitch-pine spars, with lanterns, ventilating lights, and skylights. Alike in the first-class plunge bath and in the second-class plunge bath, there will be a gallery, approached from the entrance hall by a stone staircase. In the first-class plunge bath are 14 dressing-boxes, attendant's room, and foot and shower bath; and in the second-class plunge bath 52 dressing- boxes, two shower baths, and troughs, in which boys may wash themselves. The Turkish bath will have dressing-boxes in pitch-pine, a shampooing-room 16 feet 9in. by 16 feet, two marble shampooing slabs, needle baths and douches, and a cooling-room 25 feet 9in. by 20 feet The building has been designed with the view of reducing as much as possible the cost of maintenance. With this object all the inside walls, except those in the caretaker's house, are to be faced with bricks, for the most part glazed. The building is faced with red bricks and Ruabon terracotta dressings. The general contract has been let to Messrs. Southern and Sons, also of Salford, who are carrying it out under the superintendence of Messrs. J. W. and R. F. Beaumont, architects, St. James's-square. The total cost is about £15,000.  [Building News 17 May 1889 page 708]

NEW BATHS, OPENSHAW, NEAR MANCHESTER - New public baths are about to be erected in Openshaw, through the munificence of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth. Messrs. J. W. and R. F. Beaumont, of Manchester, have designed the new buildings, which are to comprise a first-class plunge bath, with a water area 59 feet by 24 feet; a second-class plunge bath, with a water area of 75 feet by 28 feet 6in.; Turkish baths, with hot-rooms, shampooing-rooms, cooling-rooms, and dressing boxes; Roman baths, slipper baths, and all the other requisites of a well-equipped establishment. In the rear of the building there are to be boiler house, laundry, towel-room, etc. The plunge baths are to have walls of buff-coloured brick, with dado of tinted enamelled bricks, and strings and ornamental panels of red Ruabon bricks. The sides and bottoms of the baths will be concrete lined with white glazed bricks. Alike in the first-class plunge bath and in the second-class plunge bath, there will be a gallery. In the first- class plunge bath are 14 dressing-boxes, attendants' room, and foot and shower bath; and in the second-class plunge bath 52 dressing-boxes, two shower baths and several troughs in which boys may wash themselves. The Turkish bath, which is to be over the laundry, will have dressing boxes in pitch pine, a shampooing-room 16 feet 9in. by 16 feet, two marble shampooing slabs, needle baths and douches, and a cooling-room 25 feet 9 in. by 2 feet. From the cooling-room a spiral staircase leads down to the first- class plunge bath, where the bather may finish off. All the inside walls, except those in the caretaker's house, are to be faced with bricks, for the most part glazed. The building, faced with red bricks and terra-cotta dressings from Ruabon, is set back about 3.5 yards from Ashton Old Road, and the boundary is to be formed by a low wall with wrought-iron gates and railings. The engineering work of the baths is being carried out by Messrs. Thomas Bradford and Company, Salford, and the general contract has been let to Messrs. Southern and Sons, builders, also of Salford, who are carrying it out under the superintendence of Messrs. Beaumont. The total cost is estimated at about £15,000. [British Architect 17 May 1889 page 367]

THE WHITWORTH BATHS, OPENSHAW, MANCHESTER - We illustrate today another of the munificent gifts to the public from the legatees of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth. The buildings, which form one of the best appointed baths in the provinces, were handed over to the Openshaw Local Board on Saturday 5 July, having been commenced in January 1889. Our sketches, which were taken from the building itself, together with the following description, will pretty fully illustrate the scheme which has been carried out with great care and completeness.

The several departments are entered from Ashton Old Road, a back entrance to the boiler house and laundry being arranged in South Street. The entrances to the first and second-class baths are placed one on each side of the ticket office where bathers obtain towels etc. and pass on through turnstiles to the baths. The first-class baths are approached through folding doors into a corridor 8 feet wide, from which access is obtained to the Roman and slipper baths, the plunge bath and Turkish bath. Four Roman baths are provided 7 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft.9 in. by 3 ft. 6 in. deep, in dressing rooms 10 ft. by 7 ft. 6 in., from which five slate steps lead down into the baths; they are all lined with mosaic tiles and supplied with hot and cold water and shower bath. Six slipper baths are provided in dressing rooms 7 ft. 6 in. by 7 ft., the baths are of glazed earthenware without any wood framing; the walls of the corridors, Roman and slipper baths are all lined with white and tinted glazed bricks, the floors are laid with mosaic tiling, and all are lighted from the roof with raised lights, the side sashes of which are hung on pivots and open with screw apparatus for ventilation.

The first-class plunge bath has a water area of 59 feet by 24 feet in a room 72 feet by 33 feet 6 inches; the walls are faced with a dado 4 feet 6 inches high of enamelled tinted bricks and along this with buff Aston Hall bricks with ornamental bands and strings of red and Ruabon bricks. The bath is lined both at the bottom and on the sides with white glazed bricks; the dressing boxes, 14 in number, are of pitch pine framing, each fitted with seat and lagged floor; the roof is constructed with steel principals filled in with panels of wrought ironwork, the pitch pine spars are all dressed and covered with dressed pitch pine boarding. The bath is lighted with raised roof lights with the side sashes hung to open for ventilation. A sunk foot bath 3 feet by 2 feet is provided at one end with shower bath over it, and conveniences and attendants= rooms are also provided.

The Turkish bath is reached by a flight of stone stairs from the end of the main corridor and consists of a cooling room, 26 ft by 25 ft, shampooing room 16 ft by 16 ft, and three hot rooms, one being 22 ft by 13 ft. 6 in., another 22 ft. by 11 ft., and the third 14 ft by 8 ft 6 in. The cooling room is an airy apartment with partially open roof in which are large ceiling lights filled with tinted glass, the walls are lined to a height of 7 ft. 6 in. with warm buff-coloured glazed bricks, with a band of three courses of grey bricks and above with ivory white glazed bricks. On one side are five dressing boxes of pitch pine divisions and fitted with curtains at the front; each is fitted with a brass couch and mattress;  other couches will be placed on the other side of the room; and in one corner is an attendant=s room fitted with counter and drawers and hot shelf for keeping bath slippers etc.. A spiral staircase leads down from the cooling room to the first-class plunge bath, so that a bather can finish off with a plunge. The shampooing room is reached by a flight of four marble steps from the cooling room, but separated from it by a shirt corridor, it is lined with white glazed bricks and lighted from the top; it is very well fitted up with two marble shampooing slabs, two needle baths and douches, lavatory basins and vapour bath. In the corridor is a drinking fountain and a shoot down to the laundry for dirty towels etc. The hot rooms are entered from the corridor and they are constructed with a view to retaining all the heat possible. The floors and ceiling are constructed of concrete carried on iron joists, and both these and the walls are lined with mosaic tiles of various tints and patterns. The windows are all double-glazed, in inside sashes being fitted with leaded lights of richly-tinted glass; lounging couches and chairs are provided for the comfort of the bathers.

The second class bathers pass through a turnstile into a large hall, 37 feet 6 inches by 12 feet, lighted from the roof, and containing a stone staircase up to the gallery which runs round the plunge bath. From this hall there are sing doors into the plunge bath, which has a water area of 76 feet by 29 feet, the bathroom being 90 feet 6 inches by 37 feet by 23 feet high to the springing of the roof. The walls are faced in a similar manner to those off the first-class plunge. A gallery formed of concrete 8 inches thick and wrought iron joists carried on wrought iron cantilevers, runs round the bathroom and on it are placed the second-class slipper baths, sixteen in number. The dressing boxes for the plunge baths have pitch pine divisions but no fronts; two footbaths, each 3 feet by 2 feet are provided, and a range of three washing troughs supplied with hot and cold water, for boys to wash themselves before entering the plunge bath. Conveniences are provided on each side of the bath. The slipper baths are in dressing boxes, each 6 feet 3 inches by 6 feet 3 inches, divided from each other by pitch pine framed divisions 7 feet high; the baths are all glazed earthenware without any wood framing.. Space is provided in the gallery for an extension of the slipper baths, if found necessary, by six on each side. The roof is of similar construction as the one over the first- class plunge bath.

To the right of the second-class entrance is the superintendent=s private office and committee room. The entrance to the caretaker=s residence is also in Ashton Old Road. This consists of a kitchen and pantry on the ground floor and large parlour and three bedrooms on the upper floor. The laundry and towel store are on the ground floor, facing South Street; the laundry is fitted up with the most modern machinery, driven by a 4 HP engine, a drying closet with twelve divisions, and ironing tables etc. In the cellar under these rooms there is a large boiler house with two oilers, Green=s economizer and Hive for heating the Turkish baths, and a fitting shop for the engineer. Subways extend under all the footways of the baths, with access to all water and steam heating pipes and drains.

The whole of the engineering work, including boilers, steam heating, hot and cold water supplies, fittings for Turkish, Roman and slipper baths, has been carried out by Messrs Thomas Bradford and Company, the well-known laundry and bath engineers of Manchester and London. The following brief description will, no doubt, be of interest. The steam for use in the various departments is generated by two high-class steam boilers fixed in the basement under the laundry and worked in conjunction with one of Green's economizers. The ingenious apparatus for supplying the hot air to the Turkish bath is also fixed in this basement; thus the firing is all done from one stoke-hole, and the ashes dirt etc, resulting therefrom are kept clear of every other department. The steam mains are carried along the subways provided for the purpose, and the valves on the steam, and indeed, all supplies are ingeniously arranged to be under the control of the attendants without the necessity of going into the subways. The cold water to the plunge bath is conveyed through large cast-iron pipes, special waste outlets with valves being connected to drains. The whole of the hot water supplies throughout the building are taken from large calorifiers placed in the basement; the service being in circulation, so that there is always a copious supply of heated water at the disposal of the bath attendants. The two large plunge baths are also provided with a specially-designed arrangement of diving stage; also with spittoons, ornamental handrail and spray pipe - which latter serves the purpose of cooling the temperature and freshening the water. The slipper baths are of the independent pattern, glazed inside and out, which obviates the objectionable casing and capping. The water supplies and wastes are fitted with Bradford’s improved valves. Showers are provided to first-class baths. The Turkish baths are complete in themselves and the heat is regulated by inlet and outlet air-valves. They are provided with lavatories ftted with latest improvements in vapours, needles sprays douches etc. The whole of the building is heated by steam. The laundry, which is placed to the rear, is perfectly arranged, having powerful steam engine, Bradford’s patent “Vowel” washing machines, boiling and rinsing apparatus, hydro-extractor, large and powerful drying closet, mangling machine etc and is, we are assured, quite equal to providing that regular supply of clean linen so essential to the comfort of the bathers.

The elevation of the building to Ashton Old Road is faced with deep red Ruabon bricks supplied by Mr J C Edwards in thin courses set in black mortar with undercut joints and with window jambs, strings ditto, of moulded terra cotta. The front is set back about 10 feet from the road and the forecourt is enclosed with brick and terra cotta boundary wall with wrought iron railings and gates. The whole of the roof lights are constructed of the patent system of glazing by Mr Shelby of Smethwick, which does away with the putty setting for the glass; the tiling throughout has been done y Mr Oppenheimer of Hulme and the lead glazing by Messrs Edmundson and Son of Manchester. The architects of the building are Messrs J W and R F Beaumont of 10 St James's Square, Manchester and Queen Victoria Street, London and Mr Hill has acted as clerk of works. The total cost of the building including the furniture of the Turkish bath and offices and towels, bathing drawers etc. has been about £15,500.

The general contractors for the whole building were Messrs Southern and Sons of Salford. Mr W Healy carried out the bricklayers’ and excavators’ work and Messrs Hindley and Company the concrete walls and foundations, whilst the masons’ work was executed by Messrs J Stevenson and Company and the slating by Mr Jas Barrow. Amongst other sub-contractors not previously named were Mr Edward Wood, structural ironwork; Messrs Joseph Cliff and Sons, Leeds, glazed earthenware and bricks; Mr Geo Wragge, ornamented ironwork, staircases and gas fittings; Mr J J Harwood, plastering and painting; Messrs Earp and Hobbs, carving; Messrs Jaffray, plumbing work; Messrs Clark Bunnett & Co, circular iron staircase; Messrs R Boyle & Co., ventilators; Messrs Dalton & Co., closets etc., Messrs Bailey, turnstiles

Wrought iron    George Wragge
Tiling        Oppenheimer of Hulme

Reference    Building News 18 January 1889 page 124
Reference    The Manchester Guardian Monday 13 May 1889 Page 8 with illustration
Reference    Building News 17 May 1889 page 708
Reference    British Architect 17 May 1889 page 367
Reference    Manchester Guardian Monday 7 July 1890 Page 8 Column 4
Reference    British Architect 11 July 1890 Page 23-24 and double page illustrations and plan