Camberwell Public Baths

Last updated

Camberwell Public Baths
Camberwell public baths 1.jpg
The Baths in 2005
51°28′28″N0°05′26″W / 51.47435°N 0.09056°W / 51.47435; -0.09056 Coordinates: 51°28′28″N0°05′26″W / 51.47435°N 0.09056°W / 51.47435; -0.09056
AddressCamberwell Leisure Centre, Artichoke Place, off Camberwell Church Street
PostcodeSE5 8TS
Opened1 October 1892
Operated byEveryone Active
ArchitectSpalding & Cross [1]
StatusGrade II listed (1993) [2]
Website Official website
Facilities
Exercise studio, swimming pool, gym

Camberwell Public Baths (also Camberwell Baths and recently Camberwell Leisure Centre) opened in 1892 and has been in continuous operation as publicly funded community baths and more recently as a public leisure centre.

Contents

Description

Originally the Camberwell Public Baths, the building is now known as the Camberwell Leisure Centre. The facilities include a gym and swimming pool. The baths are managed by Everyone Active in partnership with Southwark Council. As well as swimming sessions, the centre offers swimming classes, badminton, personal training in the gym and caters for children's parties.

One of the original two pools is boarded over and is now used as a sports hall. The remaining pool has been converted into two pools, the main pool which is 25 metres long and a shallow pool which is 10 metres wide and is used mainly for teaching lessons. [2] The pool has male and female changing rooms as well as a dedicated family changing room.

The baths have undergone extensive refurbishment and reopened in early 2011. The Flemish Renaissance style facades are Grade II listed. [3] [4]

Currently the leisure centre is open between 06:30 and 22:00 on weekdays, 07:00 and 18:00 on Saturdays and 07:00 and 22:00 on Sundays. The swimming pool and gym is free to use for residents of Southwark Council all day on Fridays and after 14:00 on weekends as part of their free gym and swim initiative across the borough.

Campaign

Friends of Camberwell Baths was formed in 1998 to defend against closure. From May 2006 until October the Council planned that the Baths would receive £5m to £6m for full refurbishment. [2] In January 2007 the Council had decided to "provide up to £1.5 million capital funding to ensure that the Centre stays open with its current facilities." [6] [7]

Modern renovation

View from the balcony of the swimming pool after refurbishment completed in February 2011 Camberwell Baths balcony view 2011.jpg
View from the balcony of the swimming pool after refurbishment completed in February 2011

Funding of £1.45 million was confirmed on 31 March 2009 for improving the centre with the total refurbishment budget from all sources amounting to £4.7 million. Additional funds came from the Southwark Investing in Leisure programme of more than £2 million and the Youth Capital Fund allocated £576,000 in May 2009 for a council managed youth programme within the site. The building was closed from Wednesday 25 November 2009. [8]

The pool and learner pool reopened on 28 February 2011 with an opening event in Artichoke Place on Saturday 12 March 2011. The entrance, reception and café area have been renovated and include wheelchair access. [3]

Renovations include:

The gym underwent refurbishment and was due to reopen as a larger capacity gym in 2016. [8]

History

Seven Commissioners were charged in 1887 by the Vestry of Camberwell with the task of establishing three Public Baths and Wash-houses in the Parish of Camberwell, one in each of the parliamentary divisions of North Camberwell, Peckham and Dulwich. [9] Dulwich Public Baths had been opened on Saturday 25 June 1891. [10] In 1903, Warm Baths would open on Wells Street, closely followed in 1905 by the Old Kent Road Swimming and Warm Baths and Wash-houses, with its own Turkish Baths. [11]

Old Camberwell Baths on Wells Way Groundwork Trust Offices, And Attached Chimney.jpg
Old Camberwell Baths on Wells Way

Camberwell Public Baths officially opened on 1 October 1892. [8] [12] The baths were built, at a cost of £28,575, with two large swimming pool halls, one behind the other. [2]

The original facilities at the baths in 1892 were:

The original pay box remains in the building entrance. Camberwell was one of the first baths with electric lighting, powered with its own generator. There was an apartment at the rear of the building for an engineer who also served Dulwich Baths. [2]

By 1903 the baths were officially reported as failing to achieve their goal of being self-sufficient, being in deficit by £7,000. [13]

In 2001 there was national press interest when lifeguards at the baths refused to support nude swimming sessions of the Gay London Swimming group. The group agreed to provide their own lifeguards. [14]

Opening ceremony

On 1 October 1892, the Commissioners marked the opening of Camberwell Baths by inviting the Lord Mayor of London, accompanied by City Aldermen, the Chief Magistrate and a display of "brazen instruments, the prancing of sleek City horses, gorgeous equipage, ornately attired footmen, flags and banners". [15] A guard of honour was provided by the First Surrey Rifles as the visiting dignitaries entered Artichoke Row. Music was played by the 'P' Division band, including pieces such as "The Queen's Westminster Volunteers". Guests included MPs for the Borough, Members of the London County Council, the architects, Spalding and Cross as well as the builders, Balaam Brothers. [15]

The chairman of the Commissioners, James Tresidder Sears, said that he "sincerely trusted that better health, brighter homes and happier lives would be the outcome of the continued use of these establishments." After a speech by the Lord Mayor, the pool was opened with a first plunge taken by boys from twelve neighbouring Board schools. Miss Nellie Easton and her pupils were to give a "most interesting and pretty" display of swimming and floating. The crowd was further entertained with exhibition swims by W. Dale, 100 yards Amateur Champion of South London, and W. J. Stratton, 150 yards Champion of London. Finally, a water polo match was held between two teams from the Surrey County Water Polo Association. [15]

Civic events and meetings

The swimming baths were shut during the winter months, and floors were laid over them to convert them for use for other sports and entertainments. Camberwell used the space for indoor cricket and tennis, as well as dances, concerts and other civic events and celebrations.[ citation needed ]

By 1941, during the second world war, the only swims available in Southwark were in the First Class Swimming Baths at Camberwell and Dulwich. The swimming baths had been kept full of water to provide a static water supply for the Auxiliary Fire Service. [16] The dances resumed after the war, and new sprung floors were ordered during the 1950s as the Council initiated its own municipal dances on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and St Patrick's Day. [17]

The baths were a location for public meetings. Events included:

See also

Footnotes

  1. Gordon & Inglis 2009, p. 126
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gordon & Inglis 2009 , p. 91
  3. 1 2 "Camberwell Leisure Centre re-opening dates". Fusion. 16 January 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2011.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. Gordon & Inglis 2009 , p. 279
  5. "Campaigners Make Splash to Save Camberwell Baths". Southwark News. 24 September 2007. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2010.
  6. "Update on the Refurbishment of Camberwell Baths". Camberwell Baths Campaign. 12 May 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  7. Prendergast, John (7 September 2009). "Camberwell Baths plans go on show". Southwark News. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  8. 1 2 3 "Camberwell leisure centre – Southwark Council". Southwark.gov.uk. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2010.
  9. Bird 1993 , p. 7
  10. Gordon & Inglis 2009 , p. 86
  11. Donald, Robert (1908). "The London manual for ..." Edward Lloyd: 256.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. "Court Circular". The Times. 1 October 1892. p. 9.
  13. "The huge volume of statistical tables published". The Times. 23 September 1903. p. 7.
  14. Harris, Ed (5 October 2001). "Lifeguards urge nude gay swim club to throw in towel". The Evening Standard (London). p. 21.
  15. 1 2 3 South London Press, 1892
  16. Bird 1993 , p. 29
  17. Bird 1993 , p. 30
  18. Betts, Robin (1999). Dr. Macnamara, 1861–1931. Liverpool University Press. p. 341. ISBN   978-0-85323-873-7.
  19. "Woman Suffrage". The Times. 12 December 1908. p. 12.
  20. "Free Fights at Meeting in Camberwell; Lord Beaverbrook Howled Down". The Times. 8 March 1934. p. 18.

Related Research Articles

East Dulwich Human settlement in England

East Dulwich is an area of South East London, England in the London Borough of Southwark. It forms the eastern part of Dulwich, with Peckham to the east and Camberwell to the north. This South London suburb was first developed in the nineteenth century on land owned by the College of God's Gift.

Burgess Park

Burgess Park is a public park situated in the London Borough of Southwark, in an area between Camberwell to the west, Walworth to the north, Bermondsey to the east and Peckham to the south. At 56 hectares, it is one of the largest parks in South London.

Ponds Forge Pool and sport hall in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England

Ponds Forge International Sports Centre is a leisure complex in Sheffield, England, that contains an Olympic-sized swimming pool with seating for 2,600 spectators, family and children's pools, water slides and other sports facilities.

Victoria Baths Historical Bathing Venue

Victoria Baths is a Grade II* listed building, in the Chorlton-on-Medlock area of Manchester, in northwest England. The Baths opened to the public in 1906 and cost £59,144 to build. Manchester City Council closed the baths in 1993 and the building was left empty. A multimillion-pound restoration project began in 2007. As of 2009, the building is on English Heritage's Heritage at Risk Register.

Birmingham Baths Committee

The Birmingham Baths Committee was an organisation responsible for the provision and maintenance of public swimming and bathing facilities. Birmingham City Council funded, constructed and ran bathing facilities throughout the city. The movement to develop baths and wash houses in Britain had its impetus with the rapid urbanisation of the Industrial Revolution, which was felt acutely in Birmingham, one of England's powerhouses.

Warrender Baths

Warrender Swim Centre – traditionally known as Warrender Baths – is a swimming pool and fitness complex in Marchmont, Edinburgh.

Tepid Baths

The Tepid Baths is a public indoor pool complex in Auckland, New Zealand. The baths opened in 1914 on a site that had previously been occupied by a small drydock and were very well-received by the public, with the new baths attracting 30,000 visitors in the first two months after opening. In 2010 the baths closed for a major refurbishment, re-opening in mid-2012 after a two year re-build.

Forest Hill Pools

Forest Hill Pools is a leisure centre in Forest Hill, London. After being closed in 2006, it was rebuilt including two pools and a health and fitness suite and reopened in September 2012. It is located close to Forest Hill railway station, Forest Hill Library and Sydenham School.

York Hall Indoor sporting arena located in United Kingdom

The York Hall, officially known as York Hall Leisure Centre is a multi-purpose indoor arena and leisure complex in Bethnal Green, London and is situated on Old Ford Road. The building opened in 1929 with a capacity of 1,200, and is now an international boxing venue. The main hall also hosts concerts and other live events and other facilities also include a local gymnasium and a swimming pool.

King Alfred leisure centre

The King Alfred Leisure Centre, owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and operated by Freedom Leisure, is the largest wet and dry sport centre in the city of Brighton and Hove and is situated on Hove sea front.

Perth Leisure Pool is the main indoor public leisure and recreation centre in the city of Perth, Scotland, one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland and a major tourist attraction, which in 2006 was noted for receiving more than 700,000 visitors a year.

Oasis Sports Centre, London

Oasis Sports Centre is a leisure centre in Holborn, London, operated by Greenwich Leisure Limited on behalf of the London Borough of Camden.

Dulwich Public Baths

Dulwich Public Baths is a swimming pool and gym in Dulwich, South London. It opened in 1892, and is London's oldest public baths to have remained in continuous operation. The baths are listed Grade II on the National Heritage List for England.

Alfred William Stephens Cross (1858–1932) was a British architect.

Haggerston Baths

Haggerston Baths in Hackney, London, was opened in 1904 as public baths. The baths were built at a cost of £60,000. There was a single pool, 91 slipper baths and a 60 stall wash house.

Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre Swimming pool complex in Melbourne, Australia

The Harold Holt Memorial Swimming Centre is a public swimming pool complex located on the corner of High Street and Edgar Street, Glen Iris, Melbourne, Australia. Built in the 1960s by Australian architects Kevin Borland and Daryl Jackson, the Swimming Centre is considered to be a fine example of Brutalist architecture. Originally built as a municipal swimming baths, in 1927, the facilities were renovated in 1967 by Borland and Jackson to accommodate for higher swimming participation numbers. It is named in honour of Prime Minister Harold Holt, whose apparent drowning death was announced during its construction and who was the local member of parliament.

Public swimming pools in Hong Kong Hong Kong swimming venues

Public swimming pools in Hong Kong are managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). There are 44 public swimming pools in Hong Kong; 9 in Hong Kong Island, 13 in Kowloon, and 22 in the New Territories. LCSD manages public swimming pools according to Law of Hong Kong Chapter 132 sections 42 to 45.

Kowloon Park Swimming Pool Swimming pool in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

The Kowloon Park Swimming Pool, located in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, is one of the most heavily used swimming pool complexes in Hong Kong, serving over 2,000 swimmers daily. It includes four indoor heated pools, including an Olympic sized 50-metre main pool, two 25-metre training pools, and a 20-metre diving pool. There are also several outdoor leisure pools.

Portobello Swim Centre

Portobello Swim Centre is a multi-facility leisure venue in Portobello, Edinburgh. Built by Edinburgh City Architect Robert Morham in 1898, it comprises swimming pools, a gym and fitness studio, and Edinburgh's only authentic and publicly available turkish bath, one of three remaining in Scotland. The salt water baths were completed in 1901.

References

Further reading