Proposed Public Baths for the Bradford District of Manchester

In 1904, the Baths committee generally approved plans prepared by Henry Price, city architect, for new public baths to serve the Bradford Ward of the city.

The new baths will be bounded by Victoria Street, Bedson Street, Grange Street, and Johnson Street.  The access from one portion of the buildings to the other will be obtained by means of a subway. By this plan the provision for males and that for females will be completely detached.   The first-class males' swimming bath will have a water area of 75 feet by 30 feet For convenience, presumably at swimming galas, special tiles will be inserted in the sides of the bath marking the distances of 220 yards, 440 yards, half-mile and one mile. - Along the gangways there will be 58 dressing-boxes. The second-class swimming bath will have an area of 75 feet by 35 feet. There will be 77 dressing boxes, and at one end of the bath there will be a dressing-room for children. Connected with each bath there will be the usual foot-baths and shower-baths. The wash-baths will be on the respective balconies, and there will be 24 first class and 26 second class. A further provision is a bicycle-room in the basement. which be approached by means of an incline way.  There will be one swimming bath for females, with a water area of 75 feet by 30 feet and fitted with 65 dressing-boxes and foot-baths and shower-baths. On the first door over the entrance there will be six first-class wash-baths, and on the balcony around the swimming bath 27 second-class wash-baths. To each set of wash-baths there will be a toilet-room.   The proposed provision also includes a public hall, 87 feet by 50 feet, with seating accommodation on the ground floor for over 800 persons, and extensive platform. The gallery will seat 81 persons. Adjoining there is what is described a crush and lounge hall, 75 feet by 21 feet. The large hall will have three extra exits at different parts, to prevent as far ae possible any congestion in one particular part whilst emptying. There will also be two ante-rooms. On the first floor there will be a room, 42 feet by 27 feet, which may be used for various purposes. One conspicuous feature, ornamental or otherwise, of the new buildings will be a chimney, 120 feet high.  [Manchester Guardian 3 September 1904 page 4]

PUBLIC BATHS MANCHESTER - Plans have been prepared by Mr. H. Price, the City Architect, for the proposed new baths which are to be erected on a site between Ashton New-road and Ashton Old-road, in the Bradford Ward, Manchester. The first-class males‘ swimming-bath will have a water area of 75 feet by 50 feet Along the gangways will be fifty-eight dressing-boxes. The second-class swimming-bath will have an area of 75 feet by 35 it. here will be seventy-seven dressing-boxes, and at one end of the bath there will be a dressing-room for children. Connected with each bath there will be the usual foot-baths and shower-baths. The wash-baths will be on the respective balconies, and there will be twenty-four first class and twenty-six second class. A further provision is a bicycle-room in the basement, which will be approached by means of an inclined way. There will be one swimming-hath for females, with ii water area of 75 feet by 50 feet, and fitted with sixty-five dressing-boxes and foot-baths and shower-baths. On the first floor over the entrance will be six first-class wash-baths, and on the balcony around the swimming-bath twenty-seven second-class wash-baths. To each set of wash baths a toilet-room will be provided. The proposed buildings also include a public-hall, 87 feet. by 50 feet, with seating accommodation on the ground door for over 800 persons, and extensive platform. The gallery will seat eighty-one persons. Adjoining there will be a crush and lounge hall, 76 feet by 21 feet. The large hall will have three extra exits at different parts. There will also be two ante-rooms. On the first floor there will be a room 42 feet by 27 feet, which may be used for various purposes. A conspicuous feature of the new buildings will be a chimney 120 feet high. [Builder 10 September 1904 page 277]

Reference    Manchester Guardian 3 September 1904 page 4
Reference    Builder 10 September 1904 page 277
Reference    British Architect 9 September 1904 Page 199-200

This scheme does not appear to have been progressed. See Barmouth Street Baths built on the same site and opened in 1909