Woodcock Street Baths
| Woodcock Street Baths | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Grade II listed |
| Architectural style | Edwardian |
| Location | Birmingham grid reference SP 078 876 |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 52°29′9.1″N 1°53′12.5″W / 52.485861°N 1.886806°W |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Website | |
| www2 | |
Woodcock Street Baths is a swimming pool, part of the Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre in Birmingham, England. The pool dates from 1902. It was originally a public baths; it is now part of Aston University and is operated by Sport Aston. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
The pool is open to students and staff of the university, and to the public.[2]
History
[edit]It is one of the oldest operating pools in Britain.[2]
Woodcock Street Baths was originally opened in 1860. It was Birmingham's second public baths after the passage of the 1846 Public Baths and Wash-houses Act. In 1902 an additional pool, the First Class Pool, was built. In the 1920s the baths were reconstructed; the 1902 pool was a part that remained from the earlier building.[1][3]
It was taken over by Aston University in 1980. There was further redevelopment in 2011,[4] and in 2013 the sports centre was named after Sir Doug Ellis.[5]
Architecture
[edit]The pool retains most of the original features. The long rectangular hall has white tiled walls with blue and brown banding; along the sides are cubicles with terracotta arches. The roof is supported by elliptic girders that are pierced with quatrefoil shapes.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Historic England. "Former City of Birmingham Public Baths, now Aston University Sports Centre (1211513)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ a b "Swimming Pool" Aston University. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre, Birmingham" Historic Pools of Britain. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
- ^ "Woodcock Street Baths: Guided Tour & Swim" Birmingham Heritage Week. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
- ^ "Sir Doug Ellis had died" BirminghamLive, 11 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Woodcock Street Baths at Wikimedia Commons
