Birmingham – Northfield Baths
The following is taken directly from The City of Birmingham Baths Department 1851 – 1951. The work was written and compiled by J. Moth M.N.A.B.S Birmingham 1951 and is presented here.
Following the erection of Sparkhill Baths, the Committee gave its attention to the erection of baths to cater for the increasing population of the newly developed areas on the outskirts of the City, and chose a well-placed site in the Bristol Road South at Northfield for this purpose.
For such areas, there was no longer the necessity to provide washing bath facilities as each home had its own bathroom.
Northfield Baths was opened on 8th May, 1937, and the accommodation consists of two swimming pools, the main swim measuring 100ft. by 35ft., together with a learners’ pool 21ft. 6in by 33ft; the main swim varies in depth from 3ft. 3in to 10ft. 2in at the deep end.
The building has an imposing elevation, and is provided with a spacious entrance hail in which the ticket office is situated. Dressing rooms for both sexes are ranged on both sides of the ticket office, and bathers on leaving the dressing rooms have to enter the swimming hail by passing through pre-cleansing rooms. On the ground floor are scholars’ rooms for communal changing, and on the upper floor is a spacious cafe overlooking the swimming hall. The site is an extensive one, and there is ample space for car parking. Northfield Baths has also recently been modernised by the installation of improved lighting, and the application of acoustic treatment in both Swimming Halls.
Well, Northfield Baths was wonderful place for swimming. I still remember going there with the school in 1999. I remember enjoying swimming and playing with my friends. I only stopped going swimming in Northfield Baths when I finished Year 9 at school in 2001. It was sad when I finished Year 9. In Year 10 and 11 I never been swimming and I missed it. However, after I left school in 2003, I didn’t cross my mind about swimming again at Northfield Baths, it only in 2005 when I finally decided to go swimming, but I only went to Handsworth Leisure Centre as I live in Handsworth Wood. In fact, in 2007, I finally decided to go back to Northfields Baths. When I came to Northfield Baths, it was pretty much the same as before, I still remember coming here with the school. I still remember the chagang rooms and the pool. I remember siting by the pool waiting to jumping. It brought back memories. I did enjoy that place and I never forgotten that. I remember when disaster hit, after I finished swimming, I was going home, so I went to the lockers to get my swim bag to get changed. When I opened the door, my bag was not there, I panicked and told the staff to help me, the staff tried to find my bag but couldn’t find one. So I was worried about how to get home, when I only wearing my swimming trunks. I asked the staff to call my parents and they contacted my dad and I explained what happened. He told where I was. He told me to wait and he said don’t worry, I pick you up. So waited, I said the staff how did they get my bag, the staff explained that they must been watching you putting the codes for the locker and how they broken to there locker and took your. When dad arrived, I was relieved. My dad got the clothes from home. The staff explained to dad about what happened. My dad was worried and I said I am fine. I got the clothes which dad gave my and I got changed. After that, the staff came with my bag. I am surpried and dads was laughing. So checked the bag to make its all there, but my IPOD Classic is missing. The staff said they must stolen it. My dad said don’t worry. But I was worried as the IPOD Classic got all my music, but the good news, I got a back up music in my laptop at home which a relieve and must importantly I got my bag back. I finally went home with dad. Those memories I never forget. After that event, I went to Northfield Baths despite what happened because I love to swim in Northfield Baths. Northfield Baths is a great place for swimming. I will come again soon and I can’t wait.
I sometimes resumed diving training here when Woodcock Street was out of action (not often!) I dived from 3m springboard and 5m firmboard and 1m springboard. I was quite happy training there as the deep end was 10 feet or so as opposed to diving from 5m into 8ft 6ins at Woodcock!
I was trying to find a picture of the diving boards at Northfield Baths which from memory featured 10 foot and 20 foot static boards plus about a 6 foot spring board.
From recent photographs it appears that they have modified the roof and removed the boards. Such a shame as it was a serious challenge to dive off the top board and great fun on the spring board.
[…] marks were removed with the rubble of the old Northfield Baths seen here still intact in July […]