History - From Victoriabaths.org.uk
Victoria Baths, near Longsight in Manchester, were designed as a prestigious baths complex by Manchester's first City Architect, Henry Price, and opened by Manchester Corporation in 1906. In their design and construction no expense was spared. The facade has multi-coloured brickwork and teracotta decoration, the main interior public spaces are clad in glazed tiles from floor to ceiling and most of the many windows have decorative stained glass.
For 86 years Victoria Baths provided both essential and leisure facilities. Private baths and a laundry were housed there along with three swimming pools and the Turkish Baths. The main swimming pool was floored over in the winter months to hold dances. In 1952 the Victoria Baths installed the first public Aeratione in the country.
Victoria Baths was closed in 1993. The building is now in very poor repair and yet remarkably intact with most of the stained glass and original tiling remaining. the Victoria Baths is listed grade II* on the List of Buildings of Architectural and Historic Interest.
The Visit
I am not sure if this is exactly UrbEx as it was an open day at Victoria Baths, but its a facinating place and thought that people may want to see some images on progress with the building since they won Restoration a couple of years ago.
As I am currently limited as to where I can go, I thought I would post this to start my active participation in NWEX.
As part of Heritage Weekend I found out that this place was going to be open, so decided to take a trip down there, I got there shortly after opening time and managed to get some nice pictures without to many people getting in the way.
Hope you like the pics, if its deemed the report is not up to standard or not for this site feel free to delete.
Pictures
[1] The First Class/Gala Pool
[2] The First Class/Gala Pool
[3] The Second Class Pool
[4] View of First Class Pool from gallery entrance booth
[5] View of First Class/Gala pool from balcony
[6] First Class Entrance
[7] Second Class Staircase
[8] Tile work in First Class Entrance Hall
[9] Taps in the Superintendent's Flat
[10] Some random art display which was going on as part of Heritage Weekend