Phase one to restore Manchester’s Edwardian baths is nearing completion

The prestigious bath complex designed by Manchester’s first city architect Henry Price has undergone the first wave of restoration, following its illustrious return to glory.

Victoria Baths in Chorlton-on- Medlock near Longsight in Manchester, was designed as a prestigious baths complex by Price, and opened by Manchester Corporation in 1906.

The Baths was closed in 1993 and local people have been working to save it for public use ever since. In September 2003, Victoria Baths won the BBC’s landmark series Restoration with a massive 282,018 votes. As a result of the win, the Heritage Lottery Fund earmarked £3m and the BBC’s Restoration Fund raised nearly £500,000 for the restoration of the Turkish Baths at Victoria Baths.

English Heritage has also supported the project.

Work finally started on Restoration Phase one in March 2007 and has been commissioned by Manchester City Council as owners of the building.

Restoration Phase one was the first step towards bringing Victoria Baths back into use as a public facility. It has involved the full external restoration of the front block of Victoria Baths and internal structural repairs to the Turkish baths. This includes the restoration of many of the building’s ornate architectural features – stained glass windows, decorative terracotta and mosaic floors – as well as extensive renewal of roofs, rainwater goods and brickwork. The main contractor is William Anelay, conservation specialists based in York and Manchester.

The project is overseen by a steering group consisting of: Manchester City Council, The Victoria Baths Trust, Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and The Restoration Fund.

The public have also contributed directly to Restoration Phase one by donating money to the Trust’s Building Appeal Fund.
This has been used to restore the Angel of Purity Stained Glass Window.

The facade of the building now looks wonderful, with newly reslated roofs, repaired terracotta, repointed
brickwork and renovated rainwater goods. All the windows have been restored and the stained glass windows are beautiful.

The formal celebration of the completion of Restoration Phase one takes place on 17 September 2008. The front block is on view to the public at all its open days from 3 August until the end of the year.