The Victorian Society declares Manningham Pool a heritage crime scene
The Victorian Society protests at the closure of Manningham Baths as the Grade II-listed Edwardian pool finally closes its doors to swimmers. On Friday afternoon the The Victorian Society will...
Give Manningham Pool one last chance!
That’s the plea from the The Victorian Society in response to Bradford City Council’s announcement that Manningham Pool will close on Friday 8th July. The council claims that the pool...
Saturday free for all at threatened Bradford pool
Swimmers will have the opportunity to step back in time on Saturday at Bradford’s historic Manningham pool when the The Victorian Society offers them a chance to swim for free....
Historic London pool restored
Camberwell Baths in south London will officially re-open to the public this Saturday after the completion of the first stage of a £4.7 million restoration project. ‘This is a victory...
Council urged not to close historic Staffordshire pool
England’s oldest listed public swimming pool in which it is still possible to swim is at risk of closure under plans proposed by Stoke-on-Trent Council. Tunstall Pool on Greengates Street...
Campaigners fight on for London’s longest-serving pool
Local residents running a petition against the demolition of a Victorian pool in Lewisham have once again been backed by the The Victorian Society, the national charity campaigning for the...
Grand finale of 1000 Year Swim
Last week Dr Ian Dungavell successfully completed his challenge to visit all of the listed Victorian and Edwardian pools still open for public swimming in England and swim a lap...
What people have been saying about the 1000 year swim challenge
The 1000 year swim challenge has really captured people’s imagination. Wherever I have swum, local people have thought it a great idea, and local media have turned out to cover...
When? It’s all over!
Ian began his challenge, which amounted to a total of 1543 lengths or just over 22 miles, at Bramley Baths in West Yorkshire on Thursday 24 July 2008. Over the...
St Luke’s pool, Brighton
Many schools in the early 20th century had their own swimming pools, but this is the first one I’ve been in. The poor physical state of the nation’s young men...
Queensbury pool, Bradford
Like much else in Queensbury, the baths were given by the local mill owners, the Foster family, whose firm is very much in business still today. Victoria Hall, Queensbury Sand...
Manningham baths, Bradford
This is the most exceptional of the baths I have visted so far. Not because it has elaborate decoration, stained glass and very high quality finishes. It doesn’t. Its interest...
Health Hydro, Swindon
What an amazing thing the Swindon Health Hydro is. And it’s a hidden gem: passing it on Faringdon Road you get no sense that the building is open, and it...
Batley baths
Batley is a beautiful town and Batley baths, designed by local architect Walter Hanstock, are a most suitable adornment to it. Cambridge Street, Batley, West Yorkshire. Opened 1893. Listed Grade...
Bramley baths, Leeds
Well, this was a great start to the 1000 year swim! There has been so much interest in the event from national and local media, and people are keen to...
Beverley Road baths, Hull
Beverley Road Baths is an impressive monument to turn-of-the-century civic pride. A central square tower topped by an octagonal cupola marks out the entrance, and another smaller cupola with a...
Camberwell baths
Camberwell Baths is apparently the earliest surviving public baths (1891) by Henry Spalding and Alfred WS Cross who came to specialise in this building type. Artichoke Place, Camberwell, London. Opened...