The campaign to restore the Grade II listed victorian swimming pool complex on Hathersage Road take a colossal step forward in September when it won first prize in the BBC's "Restoration" programme. The baths won most public votes in the "Fame Academy" for historic buildings, landing itself a handy £3.5million. This will be used to start renovating the 97 year old building. First work will be to bring the Turkish Baths back in to public use and, in the longer term, to open the main swimming pool. The Turkish Baths suite contains amazing stained glass windows, the entrance hall has mosaic floors and floor to ceiling tiling.
Gerald Kaufman, MP for Gorton, who has been involved in the campaign to save Victoria Baths, commented, "This is a fantastic achievement for a group of local people who have never for one minute given up."
The Friends of Victoria Baths, knowing there will be "significant" ongoing costs, are hoping that Manchester City Council, who closed the complex in 1993, will re-consider subsidizing it as a business. Apparently the Lord Mayor who opened the building in September 1906 described it as a "water palace" of which "every citizen of Manchester was proud", let's hope it will be so again.
Friends of Victoria Baths ((0161 224 2020 (day), 0161 224 8437 (eve), victoriabaths@aol.com)
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