Report - Chadderton Art-Deco Swimming Bath & Sports Hall - September 2013.

[Ojay]

Chadderton Art-Deco Swimming Bath & Sports Hall

Ojay/The Lone Ranger

The Art Nouveau Chadderton Baths was a public swimming facility opened in 1937 and closed indefinitely in 2006 after a structural survey found faults which could have put the public at risk

Henry Taylor, the British Olympic freestyle swimming triple gold medallist and champion was an attendant at Chadderton Baths where many of his awards were once displayed

Known to many as 'Chaddy Baths' it stands empty awaiting the wrecking ball, it's a lovely building but sadly left to rot by the fuckwits that have been Oldham Council over the last decade and beyond

This from the Oldham Chronicle Oldham News | News Headlines | Baths demolition moves step closer - Chronicle Online


Henry Taylor, 1885 to 1951

Since learning to swim in the canals near his home in Hollinwood, Henry Taylor went on to become Britain's most successful swimmer

Born in 1885 to James and Elizabeth Taylor (his father was a coal miner) he was orphaned at a very early age

He had an elder brother William (Bill) and a sister Catherine however records then were very sketchy

It wasn't until he swam his first race at Oldham Baths at the age of 7, any notice was taken, it was a two length event for school boys, which he won

His elder brother took on the task of training him for the various events, altogether he won 35 Trophies and 300 medals in his swimming lifetime

The Mile Swim was recognised as the 'prestige' swim and the holder of this record was known to be 'Champion Swimmer of England'. Henry Taylor won this race in 1906, 1907 and again in 1911

His first major swimming success was in 1906 when he won the World Record 880 yards

In 1906 he also took part in the Interim Olympic Games, and won 1500m, for which he was awarded the GOLD Medal and was awarded a Silver Cup, and came Second in the 400m, awarded the SILVER medal

Main Entrance

Behind the facade

Chadderton Amateur Swimming Club

(And what looked to be some kind of old admin office)

Staircase leading to foyer which also leads onto the changing rooms and the pool itself

(Looking back down)

I was shat on by pigeons taking this shot, that's p00p right there on the lens!

Top Floor (Stripped)

Once office space/storage ?

Boiler House and associated plumbing/gubbins

Gents Changing Rooms

On with the pool, (30 yards) Hardly Olympic Sized

Chadderton Sports Centre, built onto the Baths, was closed and replaced by the Chadderton Wellbeing Centre in January 2010 (a multi-purpose facility) including a swimming pool, dance studio, library, gym, meeting rooms, and café

An application to demolish the Baths and Sport Centre was made in March 2011, at present it's been left to decay awaiting it's fate

Foyer/Reception

There really is piss all to see in here, I took these 2 pics before turning it in..

That's all Folks!
​

 

[vertstream]

Any idea whether the baths still exist or have they been demolished. Thanks

 

[The Lone Ranger]

They are still there.

 

[Lancashire lad]

nice report that man, love old art deco design bit like haslingden baths with the sky lights and that

 

[vertstream]

Any idea whether the baths still exist or have they been demolished. Thanks

Many thanks

 

[Esoteric Eric]

Ah, the art deco loveliness. Apparently in 2014 the building was sold to a training company to train cooks in a working restaurant. Did this ever happen?

 

[LoganMcrae]

I dunno if its true, but this looks like the pools they used in Sherlock. I may be wrong, the one in the episode was in much better nick

 

[Marsden1002]

In one word no.

The building still stands empty as it has done since 2011 ish.

 

[Northern Counties]

It was sold. I do some work for the guy that owns it. They got outline planning permission granted and are working on detailed plans that will be going to planning quite soon. They have a few groups play 5aside football in the hall as well in the mean time

 

[Nickindroy]

Plans Schmans.