Ashton Swimming Baths (Hugh Mason House) - June 2011
Visited with Oldskool & Host
Firstly a big thanks to Thenewmendoza for the tip off. Secondly a big thanks to Host & Oldskool for a great day out, despite the hi-hop in the car.
This place might not look like much, but it stands prominent and almost anyone and everyone entering Tameside will see it at some point. It has a remarkably prominent tower and it's Victorian structure is slightly creepy and intimidating in it's own way.
I actually managed to visit this about 5 years ago when it was a little more open, but as a kid I just wondered around it for 5 minutes and then left without a thought for the history behind those blocked doors. The place has been well and truly sealed for the past few years, and given it's closure for almost 40 years it's actually pretty good although stripped inside.
Yes, we did climb the tower and it was the most disgusting ascent's ever made by myself. 40 years of dust falling onto you does not fare well from above. Oldskool got some great shots of the inside, I was less inspired...
The History...
The Corporation Baths at the Henry Square end of Stamford Street were opened in 1870 at a cost of £16,000. It was one of the first and largest municipal swimming baths.
The building is constructed almost entirely of brick, with some stone decoration. It was built in a Byzantine style and has a 120 feet high tower which housed the flues from the steam boilers and heaters.
Sixty per cent of the building was occupied by the main Swimming Bath. The pool was 100 feet long and 40 feet wide and was used mainly by male bathers, with a three hour period on Thursdays for ladies.
In the eastern section of the building was a smaller pool, 27 feet long and 15 feet wide, for the use of female bathers. During the winter months, when the main bath was closed, the smaller pool was used by men and women at different times. There were also private bathrooms and Turkish baths. Part of the building was used as a police station and a station for one fire engine.
Cheers
Visited with Oldskool & Host
Firstly a big thanks to Thenewmendoza for the tip off. Secondly a big thanks to Host & Oldskool for a great day out, despite the hi-hop in the car.
This place might not look like much, but it stands prominent and almost anyone and everyone entering Tameside will see it at some point. It has a remarkably prominent tower and it's Victorian structure is slightly creepy and intimidating in it's own way.
I actually managed to visit this about 5 years ago when it was a little more open, but as a kid I just wondered around it for 5 minutes and then left without a thought for the history behind those blocked doors. The place has been well and truly sealed for the past few years, and given it's closure for almost 40 years it's actually pretty good although stripped inside.
Yes, we did climb the tower and it was the most disgusting ascent's ever made by myself. 40 years of dust falling onto you does not fare well from above. Oldskool got some great shots of the inside, I was less inspired...
The History...
The Corporation Baths at the Henry Square end of Stamford Street were opened in 1870 at a cost of £16,000. It was one of the first and largest municipal swimming baths.
The building is constructed almost entirely of brick, with some stone decoration. It was built in a Byzantine style and has a 120 feet high tower which housed the flues from the steam boilers and heaters.
Sixty per cent of the building was occupied by the main Swimming Bath. The pool was 100 feet long and 40 feet wide and was used mainly by male bathers, with a three hour period on Thursdays for ladies.
In the eastern section of the building was a smaller pool, 27 feet long and 15 feet wide, for the use of female bathers. During the winter months, when the main bath was closed, the smaller pool was used by men and women at different times. There were also private bathrooms and Turkish baths. Part of the building was used as a police station and a station for one fire engine.
Cheers
