Woodcock_Street_Baths

Woodcock Street Baths

Woodcock Street Baths

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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]

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The pool is open to students and staff of the university, and to the public.[2]

History

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

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

  1. [1]
    Historic England. "Former City of Birmingham Public Baths, now Aston University Sports Centre (1211513)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. [2]
    "Swimming Pool" Aston University. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  3. [3]
    "Sir Doug Ellis Woodcock Sports Centre, Birmingham" Historic Pools of Britain. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  4. [4]
    "Woodcock Street Baths: Guided Tour & Swim" Birmingham Heritage Week. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  5. [5]
    "Sir Doug Ellis had died" BirminghamLive, 11 October 2018. Retrieved 13 October 2020.

Media related to Woodcock Street Baths at Wikimedia Commons
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