A Summarised Record of the Provision and Development of Public Baths and Wash Houses, with Special Reference to Manchester | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Manchester and Salford Baths and Laundries Company | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Manchester’s Centenary Exhibition | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

ESTABLISHMENTS

Manchester Royal Infirmary Public Baths opened 1781. (Annals of Manchester Biographical, Historical, Ecclesiastical and Commercial from the earliest period to the close of the year 1839 C. H. Timperley p.57 and The Manchester Guide A Brief Historical Description of the Towns or Manchester and Salford The Buildings and the Charitable and Literary Institutions Printed and Sold by Joseph Aston 1804 p.155) Manchester – Royal Infirmary Public Baths 1781 – 1847 | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Medicated Vapour Bath Institution opened on July 28th 1831 (Teasdale)

Dolphin Baths opened 23rd May 1836. Manchester – Dolphin Baths Horrocks, Red Bank 1836 – 1858 | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Lady Barn Public Swimming Baths Withington opened Monday 15th May 1837 (The establishment may have opened before this date).

An advertisement appeared in the Manchester Guardian 13^th May 1837 relating to the Lady Barn Swimming bath. The establishment is advertised as having two swimming baths each 20yards long and 3ft to 6ft in depth. Each was supplied with a constant current of spring water insuring their freshness and purity. The baths were furnished with convenient dressing rooms and towels. The admission charge was 6d. Opening times were from five in the morning till eight in the evening and on Sundays from five o’clock until ten o’clock in the morning. Manchester – Lady Barn Public Swimming Bath, Withington – 1837 | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Miller Street Baths opened 8th September 1846. This building was funded from the proceeds of a fund raising ball at the Free Trade Hall and subscriptions.

Section of OS Map showing Miller Street Baths

The Opening of Manchester’s First Public Baths and Wash House in 1846 by Sylvia Kölling

Sycamore Street Baths, (Also referred to as Heywood’s Baths) Oldham Road, Miles Platting opened 1849. This building was designed by the joiner Marmaduke Bunnell and cost £2,000. The building was paid for by Sir Benjamin Heywood (Unitarian Banker). The establishment provided 23 Baths, 45 Washing Tubs and a small wooden bathing pool 27ft x 16ft. This Bath was at a later period (1864) rented to the Manchester
& Salford Baths & Laundries Company by Sir B. Heywood, but was finally closed down on September 29th 1869 on the grounds as stated in the Company’s Annual Report “that they were not likely to pay
the working expenses.” (Teasdale)

Constantine Baths Turkish Baths situated at the corner of Oxford Street and St. James Street
opposite the Princess Theatre. This establishment was opened in 1864 and finally closed down in 1915 upon the expiration of the lease. (Teasdale)

Herriotts Turkish Bath originally built in Stevenson Square, having been erected by Sir Bosain T.
Leach, a member of the City Council, the first Manager being Mr. Herriott. This Bath was later transferred to a building in the Parsonage, off Deansgate, and from there to  Sunlight House, Quay St. Manchester. The date of the original opening has not been ascertained. (Teasdale)

Royles Baths built by Samuel Royle, a member of the City Council and a most respected resident in
Rusholme. These baths were located at the rear of Wilmslow Road, between Monmouth Street -Claremont Road, and Moor Street ~ adjoining which was a skating rink. The date of opening is not known, but the premised were offered to the Manchester Corporation Baths & Wash Houses Committee on October 22nd 1889. The offer was not accepted, and eventually the establishment was closed
down sometime after the year 1901. (Teasdale)

Map showing locations of City of Manchester Baths and Wash Houses 1945

Mayfield Baths Opened 1856 by Manchester & Salford Baths and Laundries Company

Mayfield London Road, Manchester 1856 Built by the Manchester & Salford Baths & Wash-Houses Company and purchased by the Manchester City Council. The Council took ownership on the 29th September 1877. Manchester – Mayfield Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Leaf Street Stretford Road, Hulme 1860 Built by the Manchester & Salford Baths & Wash-Houses Company and purchased by the Manchester City Council. The Council took ownership on the 29th September 1877. Manchester – Leaf Street Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

New Islington Baths Baker Street, Ancoats. The foundation stone of the first public baths to be erected by Manchester Corporation in New Islington, Ancoats was laid in 1878 and the establishment opened 1^st May 1880. Manchester – New Islington Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Osborne Street Rochdale Road Manchester 11^th July 1883

Gorton Baths Hyde Road Gorton 20^th June 1890 Transferred to the City Council from the Gorton Urban District Council upon local authority amalgamation

Whitworth Baths Ashton Old Road, Openshaw 5^th July 1890. This establishment was erected and consigned by the executors of the late Sir Joseph Whitworth to the Openshaw Local Board. The building was transferred on incorporation with the City. Manchester – Whitworth Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Newton Heath Oldham Road, Newton Heath 21^st April 1891. This establishment was planned by the Newton Heath Urban District Council and was transferred to the Corporation upon amalgamation.

Cheetham Baths Manchester Opened 4th April 1894

Cheetham Baths Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester 4^th April 1894 Manchester – Cheetham Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Red Bank Axle Street, Red Bank Manchester 24^th March 1896

New Islington Municipal Wash-House Baker Street, Ancoats. This was the first Municipal Public Wash-House and opened 7th June 1902. The building was erected on the site of the female’s swimming bath. 

Pryme Street Municipal Wash House Chester Road, Hume 24^th December 1904

Victoria Baths High Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock 10^th September 1906 More information at Victoria Baths Manchester’s Water Palace Manchester – Victoria Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Moss Side Baths Broadfield Road, Moss Side 10^th September 1906. This building was planned by the Moss Side Urban District Council and transferred to the Corporation upon amalgamation. Manchester – Moss Side Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Bradford Baths Barmouth Street, Bradford 26^th August 1909 Manchester – Bradford Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Harpurhey Baths Manchester Opened 29th October 1910

Harpurhey Baths Rochdale Road, Blackley 29^th October 1910 Manchester – Harpurhey Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Harpurhey Baths – Memories of Irene Sylvester | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Armitage Street Hyde Road, Ardwick 5^th May 1911

Miles Platting Grant Street, Hule Hall Lane 5^th May 1911

Withington Baths Burton Road Foundation stone laid 1911 opened 1^st May 1913 Withington Baths Manchester – Withington Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

New Quay Street Deansgate, Manchester 6^th September 1914 Manchester – New Quay Street Baths & Wash House | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Levenshulme Baths Barlow Road, Levenshulme 10^th October 1921

Moston Wash House Dean Lane 13 October 1927

Chorlton Baths Manchester Road Chorton-cum-Hardy 19^th September 1929 Manchester – Chorlton Baths | Baths and Wash Houses Historical Archive

Clayton Bank Street, Clayton 17^th December 1931

Workesleigh Street Culcheth, Newton Heath 17^th December 1931

Broadway Baths New Moston 13^th July 1932

Sharston Baths (Originally Known as Wythenshawe Baths) opened 1961. The establishment closed in 1991.

Wythenshawe Forum Leisure Centre Opened 1971.

Abraham Moss Leisure Centre Originally to be known as the Cheetham/Crumpsall Centre. The foundation stone was laid 26th May 1972. Replaced by a new building 13th September 2023.

Moss Side Leisure Centre opened 1970’s. Refurbished and reopened 2018.

Gorton Tub Opened January 1988. Leisure Pool closed 2001. The building is now the home of the City odf Manchester Institute of Gymnastics opened in January 2004.

Varley Street Swimming Pools & Public Laundry also known as Miles Platting Pools. Opened 1978 Closed 30th September 2014. Fitness suite opened 1996 and closed 30th September 2014 

Manchester Aquatics Centre Construction started in August 1996, and was completed in July 2000. Officially opened by Queen Elizabeth 12th October 2000.

• A Summarised Record of the Provision and Development of Public Baths and Wash Houses, with Special Reference to Manchester
• Baths and Wash-Houses in Manchester & Salford The Builder 14th August 1858
• Harpurhey Baths – Memories of Irene Sylvester
• Manchester – Bradford Baths
• Manchester – Cheetham Baths
• Manchester – Chorlton Baths
• Manchester – Dolphin Baths Horrocks, Red Bank 1836 – 1858
• Manchester – Harpurhey Baths
• Manchester – Lady Barn Public Swimming Bath, Withington – 1837
• Manchester – Leaf Street Baths
• Manchester – Mayfield Baths
  • Mayfield Baths – Archaeological Excavations
  • Mayfield Baths – Archaeological Excavations Images from Salford Archaeology
• Manchester – Moss Side Baths
• Manchester – New Islington Baths
• Manchester – New Quay Street Baths & Wash House
• Manchester – Royal Infirmary Public Baths 1781 – 1847
• Manchester – Victoria Baths
• Manchester – Whitworth Baths
• Manchester – Withington Baths
• Manchester and Salford Baths and Laundries Company
• Manchester’s Centenary Exhibition
• The Opening of Manchester’s First Public Baths and Wash-House (Miller Street) in 1846