Public Baths (former), Smith Street, Rochdale

TOWN AND BOROUGH OF ROCHDALE. TO BUILDERS - PUBLIC BATHS - The Corporation of Rochdale are prepared to receive Tenders for the erection of Public Baths, plans and specifications of which may be seen at the Town Clerk's Office, Packer Street, Rochdale, and any further information had from Mr. Macdougall, Architect, Rochdale, on and after the 8th August instant. Tenders to be sent, to me at the above office, marked "Tender for Baths," on or before the 21st August instant. By Order, Zach Mellor, Town Clerk. Rochdale, 3rd August, 1866.

PUBLIC BATHS FOB ROCHDALE - On Saturday, public baths which have been built by the Corporation of-Rochdale at an expanse of about £8,000, were formally opened, with great ceremony, by the Mayor, Mr. C. Whittaker, and the chief promoter, Mr. Alderman Moore. The building is situated in Smith-street, and is two storeys in height it is built of brick, with stone dressings, and over the centre compartment are the Corporation arms. The swimming bath is 44 feet long by 28 feet wide. The private baths are fitted up with hot and cold-water apparatus. The first-class swimming bath, on the right, is 66 feet long by 39 feet wide, and is capable of holding 44,000 gallons of water. During the evening between 400 and 500 persons availed themselves of the boon conferred on the town. [Manchester Guardian 29 June 1868 page 3]

PUBLIC BATHS - This institution, which owes its existence to the praiseworthy efforts of the late Mr. Alderman Moore and others, is in Smith Street, near the corner of John Street, and was erected in 1868, at a cost of £9,500 from the designs and plans of Mr. E. N. Macdougall, architect, of Rochdale. The building, which is in the Italian style of architecture, of brick with stone dressings, has a facade 113 feet long, of two storeys, the principal entrances being of stone, with plain moulded heads. The department for the ladies is on the left of the entrance, and quite distinct from the remainder of the building, being entered from Smith Street. [The History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster page 47]

THE PUBLIC BATHS - The baths were designed by Mr. E. N. Macdougall, the contractors being Messrs.J. Parker and Son, and have cost £9,500. They are built, in the Italian style of architecture, of brick, and stone dressings, having a facade of 113 feet long, of two storeys, the principal entrance being of stone, with plain moulded heads. The baths appropriated to the ladies are on the left, and those to the gentlemen on the right of the entrance. There are two large swimming baths, 65 feet 6 inches by 39 feet, and 38 feet high. The water is kept tepid by means of steam. In the galleries surrounding the swimming baths are slipper baths. In addition to the above, there are excellent and peculiar Turkish baths, which were made after a plan arranged by Mr. Milligan, the manager of the bathe. The peculiarity of these baths is that the bather can breathe a cool atmosphere whilst the body is enclosed in hot-air, so that the most susceptible may take the baths without danger. In the year 1868, the total number of bathers visiting the Rochdale Baths amounted to 33,849; in 1869, the number increased to 35,266; in 1870, the number decreased to 31,832; in 1871, to 31,435; but increased, in 1872, to 34,114; in 1873, decreased to 33,016, but at the end of September, 1874, being six months from April 1st, they numbered 32,437. [Robertson, W, 1875 The History of Rochdale Past and Present, Rochdale page 48-49]

Reference    Rochdale Observer 4 August 1866 page 1 - tenders
Reference    Manchester Guardian 29 June 1868 page 3
Reference     Edward Baines: The History of the County Palatine and Duchy of Lancaster page 47
Reference    Robertson, W, 1875 The History of Rochdale Past and Present, Rochdale