PRESS RELEASE May 2017
Historic Swim at Victoria Baths Makes a Splash
Victoriabaths.org.uk @victoriabaths
Victoria Baths held an historic swim in its Gala pool on 14 May, the first in 24 years, in a one off event that has shown the huge appetite there is across the nation for one of the country’s leading heritage restoration projects.
Gill Wright, project development manager for Victoria Baths, says, “This was the most wonderful day Victoria Baths has known since its closure in 1993. We knew it would be a special event, but seeing the pool filled with people joyfully experiencing the opportunity to swim in this stunning setting, even though it was just for one day, it surpassed our expectations.
“From the moment that the tickets went on sale, the interest has been phenomenal with the historic public swim becoming the hot topic on everyone’s lips. What’s been clear throughout is the love there is for this building and the shared passion there is for securing its future, and being able to use Victoria Baths for swimming.”
It was an occasion that enabled people to relive memories and, for those whose visit to the Grade II* Baths was for the first time, to make new ones. Whilst some had swum in the Gala pool before, others had waited 24 years for this moment, and it didn’t disappoint.
Martin Peagan, who travelled from the North East for the swim event, said “It's not every day that you can swim in a pool that was used 100 years ago; so many of our wonderful old baths have disappeared, we really have to treasure those that remain. The swim event was fantastic, but I now want to see a time when Victoria Baths is available to everyone to use all the time – I would gladly travel 100 miles any time to just swim in this pool.”
Helen Antrobus who swam with her mum Alice Antrobus, said, “Our heritage helps to tell the story of who we are and gives an incredibly important focus for communities. For me this was a wonderful opportunity to share memories with my Mum, who learnt to swim at Victoria Baths whilst at school. Victoria Baths shows what an ambitious place Manchester was in the early 1900s and I hope that the city’s passion today can drive forward the support for this wonderful building, the like of which there is nothing comparable.”
Also taking the opportunity to swim was Ann Signol, the niece of Sunny Lowry, one of the first women to swim the English Channel and who trained at Victoria Baths. There were couples that had got married at the Baths who now joined in celebrations of a very different nature. And observing the swimmers, as he would have done on many previous occasions, was Harry Rea a pool attendant in the 1950s who travelled especially to be there for the day.
Jill Earnshaw, chair of the Victoria Baths Trust, says, “The excitement surrounding this swim, the unprecedented levels of interest, and the fact that Victoria Baths became part of the national news agenda has renewed the vigour we have for the vision of Victoria Baths.
“We were delighted to raise £3,000 towards the next stage of our plans, the restoration of the Turkish Baths, but even more delighted to get the nation talking about our project.”
Following works to the roof, exteriors and some interior work, the restoration of the Turkish Baths is the next step in Victoria Baths Trust’s plan, with the long term aim being to restore the whole building, including having a swimming pool for permanent public use.
To find out how you can play your part in the future of Victoria Baths by supporting its fundraising plans visit www.victoriabaths.org.uk/support-us/donations/
To get to know more about Victoria Baths, its history and future plans you can take part in a Wednesday Tour; these take place every week from5April to 25 October 2017 at 2pm.Entry is adults £6; under 16s and Friends of VB Free.
Victoria Baths’ next Open Day will be on Sunday 11 June, when there will be an Artisan Summer Fair as well as guided tours of the building and artwork on display. Entry is £4 for adults (£7 to include a guided tour); under 16s and Friends of VB Free. Full details at www.victoriabaths.org.uk/visit
ENDS
For further media information, media access to the public swim on 14 May, to set up interviews or to arrange a visit to Victoria Baths please contact: Laura Sullivan at Fido PR, / 0161 832 3588.
Notes to Editors
Victoria Baths
Victoria Baths in Chorlton-on-Medlock near Longsight in Manchester, was designed as a prestigious baths complex by Manchester's first City Architect, Henry 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 £3 million 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.
The Victoria Baths Trust is currently working on plans for the restoration of the Turkish Baths with its appointed leisure operator Fusion Lifestyle. Plans have been drawn up, public consultation has taken place and a programme of fundraising is underway which will include a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.
The Trust runs public Open Days at Victoria Baths on the second Sunday of each month from April to November (excluding August), and welcomes group tours by arrangement. There are free information packs for Group Tour organisers.
Other key public events at Victoria Baths include Vintage Home Shows and Vintage Wedding Fairs, the annual Gin Festival, periodic film screenings and the Independent Manchester Beer Convention.