FORGOTTEN MANCHESTER: The city’s other abandoned Victorian swimming baths

While every bloke and his dog has heard of Manchester’s famed Victoria Baths, not many can say they’re aware of another abandoned swimming haunt in the city.

The famous Victoria Baths, found down near Victoria Park, gained nationwide fame after a multimillion-pound restoration project began in 2007. And, in 2009, the building was put on the English Heritage’s Heritage at Risk Register, ultimately making it a monument in its own right.

But believe it or not, Victoria Baths isn’t the only ancient swimming bath remaining in Manchester – enter, Greengate Baths.

While Victoria Baths has been hosting vintage markets, fairs and even weddings, the lesser known Greengate Baths has stood derelict and abandoned down Collier Street in Salford for decades, gradually becoming obstructed by scaffolding and overgrown foliage.

Victorian Society

Exploration Central

Despite its sorry state now though, the swimming baths’ history is just as extensive as its more popular cousin’s; Greengate dates all the way back to 1855, and was built by one of Manchester’s greatest Victorian architects – Thomas Worthington.

Salford-born Worthington is credited with a long list of architectural favourites in the city, including The Memorial Hall in Albert Square – known now as Albert Square Chop House – and the Minshull Street Crown Courts. 

And his Greengate Swimming Baths fared no differently, with it being a huge hit when it opened on August 27th 1856. In fact, the baths were even considered to be one of the finest pools in the whole country.

Greengate was reportedly used by 3,476 people in the first two weeks and was at the beginning of a golden age for public swimming, with it being used by an estimated 50,000 a year at its peak.

Exploration Central

Exploration Central

Rumour also has it that Mark Addy, who rescued more than fifty people from drowning in the Irwell, learned to swim there, so you could even credit the baths as the overall saviour of those fifty lives… Not something Victoria Baths could quite muster.

But sadly, Worthington’s legacy hasn’t remained intact with the Greengate Baths, which has been left to stand derelict, vandalised and slowly crumbling away – as the photos captured by Exploration Central demonstrate – despite it earning a Grade II listed status back in the 1980s.

But what does the future hold for the Greengate Baths?

Well, the area where the baths stand has caught the eye of a number of developers in recent years and is supposedly set to one day house a trio of huge apartment towers (as most historical buildings in Manchester tend to be doing these days).

And good news for the baths, building the towers is subject to the condition that Greengate Baths are restored.

A council report says, as per the Manchester Evening News: “Terms have been agreed for the conditional sale of a long leasehold interest in the site to RBL, subject to RBL agreeing terms for the acquisition of the leasehold interests and with an option for the Council to repurchase the site should development not be brought forward within an agreed timescale.”

“The subject site, when combined with the future arrangement of Rolla Street, offers a unique opportunity to enhance and secure the sustainable future of the historic Baths building.”

However, plans for Greengate Baths still remain uncertain, with The Victorian Society pointing out that although it would be impossible for it to become a pool ever again, that they will encourage a new use without destroying any of the building’s unique features.