Torquay Marine Spa

Last updated

Torquay Marine Spa
Living Coasts showing the Marine Spa foundations.jpg
The spa foundations below Living Coasts
Devon UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location within Devon
General information
Town or city Torquay, Devon
Country England
Coordinates 50°27′27″N3°31′28″W / 50.457568°N 3.524378°W / 50.457568; -3.524378
Opened1857
DemolishedStarting 27 September 1971

The Torquay Marine Spa was a swimming bath and entertainment complex situated on a promontory overlooking Beacon Cove in the town of Torquay, Devon, England. The buildings included a ballroom, concert hall, sunlit conservatory and private bathing facilities. There was also a large public swimming bath open to the sea below these.

Contents

History

Early 19th century

In 1817, Dr Pollard built a swimming bath adjacent to Torquay Harbour, which was known as the Bath House, taking advantage of the popularity of sea bathing, but by the 1850s demand exceeded the capacity of those baths, and a new company was formed to build a new facility on Beacon Hill. [1]

It was planned that there would be a large swimming pool, with a large saloon or hall and private bathing facilities. [1] In order to achieve this, under the direction of Lawrence Palk, 1st Baron Haldon, large parts of the beacon promontory hill were cut away, with spoil being used to being the Haldon Pier enclosing 10 acres of the harbour. [1]

Opening and early years

The Marine Spa baths were opened on 3 August 1857. [2] The building was in the Italian style, [2] and the complex included two large halls, one used as a ballroom and the other as a roller rink, [3] along with reading rooms. Charles Dickens conducted a number of two-hour long readings from his popular stories in the reading rooms. [1]

The main pool was 45 feet (14 m) by 43 feet (13 m) in size, with a depth between 3 feet (0.91 m) and 7 feet (2.1 m) and had open arches to the sea, where a ladies' bathing cove with a breakwater was located. This breakwater was washed away by a storm in 1859. [2] The spa area had separate men's and women's areas with hot, cold, plunge, douche, and shower baths. [2]

Despite the status, the project was in almost immediate financial difficulty, resulting in the a sale in 1862 and bankruptcy in 1863. [1] The baths then passed into the ownership of Baron Haldon. [2]

New swimming bath

In 1910, Torquay decided to build a new swimming bath on the site of the spa. The original baths were described as "dark and sunless" and the repeated destruction by storms meant it was costly. The amount of £15,000 was set aside, with a contract signed for £14,912. The onset of World War I delayed the building and by the end of 1915, costs had risen to between £17,000 and £20,000. [1]

The new swimming pool finally opened in late 1916, but following a very short use by the local lifesaving and swimming clubs, was requisitioned for the sole use of the armed forces. This use lasted for nearly 4 years, and the damage and wear required significant remediation, and the baths did not open to the public until 1920. [1]

The new pool took water from the sea below, and was initially heated to 65 °F (18 °C). The sunlight through the roof allowed seaweed to grow and the pool required frequent emptying, with filtration not introduced until 1934. [1]

Incidents and closure

The pool had two serious incidents related to the outflow pipe which returned water to the sea directly below, the second of which directly led to the closure and demolition of the pool.

On 1 September 1930, a tourist girl, 15-year old Phyllis Bastin, jumped into the pool as the emptying pipe was opened, and was sucked through a 12 inches (30 cm) pipe, travelled around 40 yards (37 m) through the pipe, [4] and out onto the beach below. [5] The pipe was covered in corroded metal and barnacles, tearing her swimming costume from her body, [6] and causing her serious injuries [7] and subsequent septicaemia led her to spending an extended period in hospital, [8] where she was visited by King George V's personal physician Farquhar Buzzard. [1]

As a result, the pool was redesigned, with the outlet vent Bastin was sucked through being removed, and replaced by a similar diameter pipe in the floor of the deep end of the pool, and covered with two strong steel bars. [1]

Torquay's Medical Officer of Health raised concerns over the health and safety of the pool between 1959 and 1965, saying that "many other aspects in which the bath falls short of present day standards of health, safety, and convenience. The reconstruction and modernisation of the baths is long overdue" and he recommended that the site be redeveloped. [9] [10]

The second serious incident came over 40 years after the first, on 13 July 1971, when three children from St Vincent's Children's home were at an evening swimming session in the pool, and challenging each other for who could sit on the bottom of the pool for the longest. When the pool was cleared at 8pm, it became clear that 11-year old John Moran was missing from the group, and all of his clothes still in the dressing cubicle. The alarm was raised, and Torbay Fire Brigade were summoned to help empty the 90,000 imperial gallons (410,000 L) of water, whilst the local sub-aqua club tried to locate the body. The divers were able to see the boy's feet deep in the pipe, but were unable to attach a rope to them. [1]

Moran's body was bent double, and the force of the water had bent apart the metal bars which covered the 12 in (30 cm) pipe. The recovery operation took 26 hours to cut away the concrete end wall of the pool, [11] causing significant damage, which would have cost in excess of £25,000 to repair. With a new pool already planned to open in two years time in Paignton, the council decided to close the pool permanently. [12]

Use after closure

Coral Island

The pool complex was demolished, beginning on 27 September 1971. [1]

The site was subsequently redeveloped in as the Coral Island complex by Joe Coral, founder of Coral bookmakers, [13] opening in June 1977, [14] ahead of a sister site in Blackpool the following year. [15] This was a large concrete entertainment complex with music, gaming machines, and bars, as well as a small outdoor pool and sun terraces. [16] [17] The new attraction cost £15m, and the opening was delayed by repeated vandalism. [18]

Coral Island, by now owned by Bass Leisure, closed on 18 September 1988, [19] [20] having failed to attract visitors outside of the main tourist season, [16] and it lay unused before being demolished in April 1997. [17]

Following the demolition, the council proposed a new hanging gardens leading down to Beacon Cove, [17] to be open by 1998. [21]

Living Coasts

From 2003 to 2020 the site was occupied by Living Coasts, a coastal zoo. [22] Its permanent closure was announced on 16 June 2020 due to its high cost base, a need to make efficiencies and inability to afford required substantial maintenance. Homes were sought for the zoo's animals. [23]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torquay</span> Town in Devon, England

Torquay is a seaside town in Devon, England, part of the unitary authority area of Torbay. It lies 18 miles (29 km) south of the county town of Exeter and 28 miles (45 km) east-north-east of Plymouth, on the north of Tor Bay, adjoining the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay and across from the fishing port of Brixham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bathing</span> Washing or immersing the body with water

Bathing is the act of washing the body, usually with water, or the immersion of the body in water. It may be for personal hygiene, religious ritual or therapeutic purposes. By analogy, especially as a recreational activity, the term is also applied to sun bathing and sea bathing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thermae Bath Spa</span> Commercial spa in Bath, Somerset

Thermae Bath Spa is a combination of the historic spa and a contemporary building in the city of Bath, England, and reopened in 2006. Bath and North East Somerset council own the buildings, and, as decreed in a Royal Charter of 1590, are the guardians of the spring waters, which are the only naturally hot, mineral-rich waters in the UK. The Spa is operated by YTL Hotels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public bathing</span> Buildings with swimming pools or other facilities for bathing

Public baths originated when most people in population centers did not have access to private bathing facilities. Though termed "public", they have often been restricted according to gender, religious affiliation, personal membership, and other criteria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spa</span> Location where mineral-rich spring water is used to give medicinal baths

A spa is a location where mineral-rich spring water is used to give medicinal baths. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments, which are also known as balneotherapy. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are especially widespread in Europe and Japan. Day spas and medspas are also quite popular, and offer various personal care treatments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gellért Baths</span> Historic site in Budapest, Hungary

The Gellért Thermal Bath, also known as the Gellért Baths, is a bath complex in Budapest in Hungary. It is part of the famous Hotel Gellért in Buda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Széchenyi thermal bath</span> Historic site in Budapest, Hungary

The Széchenyi Medicinal Bath in Budapest is the largest medicinal bath in Europe. Its water is supplied by two thermal springs, their temperature is 74 °C (165 °F) and 77 °C (171 °F).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Playhouse, Cheltenham</span>

Cheltenham Playhouse is a community theatre in Cheltenham, England, UK. It opened in 1945 as the Civic Playhouse and was run by the Corporation of Cheltenham; it was taken over by volunteers in 1958 who continue to run the operation as a registered charity. It is housed in the former Montpellier Baths and the building dates back to 1806/7, making it one of the two oldest surviving spa buildings in the town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glossop Road Baths</span>

Glossop Road Baths is a building in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, which originally housed a swimming pool and Turkish baths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Birmingham Baths Committee</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baths of Agrippa</span> Ancient Roman bath, a landmark of Rome, Italy

The Baths of Agrippa was a structure of ancient Rome, Italy, built by Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. It was the first of the great thermae constructed in the city, and also the first public bath.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Kilda Sea Baths</span> Pool, spa, food and entertainment complex on St Kilda Beach, Victoria, Australia

The St Kilda Sea Baths is a pool, spa, food and entertainment complex on St Kilda Beach, Victoria, Australia. Numerous 'seabath' structures have come and gone on the St Kilda foreshore, the last built in a Spanish-Moorish style in 1931, which was demolished in the 1990s and replaced by the present structure, partly reconstructing the 1931 baths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Baths, Melbourne</span> Building in Melbourne, Australia

The City Baths, located at 420 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, opened in 1904 as public baths, with swimming pools and bathing facilities. Extensively renovated in the early 1980s, it is now considered one of Melbourne's most architecturally and historically significant buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ancient Roman bathing</span> Custom of ancient Roman society

Bathing played a major part in ancient Roman culture and society. It was one of the most common daily activities and was practised across a wide variety of social classes. Though many contemporary cultures see bathing as a very private activity conducted in the home, bathing in Rome was a communal activity. While the extremely wealthy could afford bathing facilities in their homes, private baths were very uncommon, and most people bathed in the communal baths (thermae). In some ways, these resembled modern-day destination spas as there were facilities for a variety of activities from exercising to sunbathing to swimming and massage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Pump Rooms</span> Historic site in The Parade, Leamington Spa

The Royal Pump Rooms is a cultural centre on the Parade in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. It was the most famous of several spa baths opened in Leamington between the late-18th and mid-19th centuries. People would travel from throughout the country, and indeed Europe, to benefit from treatments using the town's healing waters. When 'taking the waters' became less fashionable after the mid-19th century the Pump Rooms became Leamington's only surviving spa facility, later also being extended to include the town's public swimming pool. After a major redevelopment in 1997-99 the building now houses Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, a public library, a Tourist Information Centre, cafe and assembly rooms. It is a Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cleveland Pools</span> Oldest public outdoor swimming pool in England

Cleveland Pools located in Hampton Row, Bath, Somerset, England is a semi-circular lido built to designs by John Pinch the Elder in 1815. It is believed to be the oldest public outdoor swimming pool in the UK. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawkmoor Hospital</span> Hospital in England

Hawkmoor Hospital, originally known as Hawkmoor County Sanatorium, was a specialist hospital near Bovey Tracey in Devon, England, founded in 1913 as a pulmonary tuberculosis sanatorium as part of a network of such facilities, instigated by the Public Health 1912. From 1948, the hospital catered for patients with a range of chest ailments, as well as chest surgery, and mental disability patients. From 1973, the facility dealt solely with mental health problems until its closure in 1987.

Thermal baths or spas in Budapest are popular tourist attractions as well as public comforts for the city's residents.

Joe Coral was a bookmaker and entertainment businessman, most famous for founding Coral bookmakers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Pearce, Frank (2000). The Torquay Marine Spa. Newton Abbot: Orchard Publications. ISBN   9781898964407.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 White, JT. The history of Torquay. Toronto: Robarts. pp. 201–203.
  3. ↑ Moncrieff, Ascott Robert Hope (1902). Black's guide to Devonshire. London: A&C Black. pp. 69–70.
  4. ↑ "Sucked through a pipe". Portsmouth Evening News. 2 September 1930.
  5. ↑ "Girl's Ordeal". Daily Mirror . 2 September 1930.
  6. ↑ "Bather's Ordeal". Evening Herald (Dublin). 2 September 1930.
  7. ↑ "Baths Pipe Mishap Inquiry". Daily News. 3 September 1930.
  8. ↑ "Miss P Bastin". Uxbridge and West Drayton Gazette. 19 September 1930.
  9. ↑ MacTaggart, DK (1965). Report of the Medical Officer of Health. Borough of Torquay.
  10. ↑ MacTaggart, DK (1959). Report of the Medical Officer of Health. Borough of Torquay.
  11. ↑ Smith, Colleen (12 November 2022). "The horrifying story of how boy was sucked into swimming pool pipe and killed in Torquay". Devon Live.
  12. ↑ "Pipe killed swim pool boy". Western Daily Press. 1 September 1971.
  13. ↑ Oldfield, Edward (13 May 2021). "Living Coasts site on Torquay seafront up for grabs". Devon Live.
  14. ↑ "Coral Island post". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 11 July 1977.
  15. ↑ Moore, Robert (18 May 1978). "Fun palace fit for a king". Birmingham Mail.
  16. 1 2 Greaves, Paul (15 June 2020). "Living Coasts: From Victorian spa to 'Wildlife Wonderland' in Torquay". Devon Live.
  17. 1 2 3 George, Gareth (25 April 1997). "'Muncher' puts bite on bay's eyesore". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo.
  18. ↑ "Coral Island Completion Became a Race against vandals". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 1 July 1977.
  19. ↑ "Curtain down at Coral Island". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 17 September 1988.
  20. ↑ Lowe, Dave (15 September 1988). "Coral Island finale". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo.
  21. ↑ "Bay Eyesore Bites Dust!". Herald Express. 24 April 1997.
  22. ↑ "The history of Living Coasts". www.livingcoasts.org.uk. Archived from the original on 2 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2018.
  23. ↑ "Coronavirus: Living Coasts zoo to close due to lockdown". BBC News. 15 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.