Manchester’s last remaining Edwardian pool has been restored to its former beauty

One of Manchester’s last remaining heritage swimming pools has been restored to its former beauty after receiving a £1 million investment.

Withington Baths, an Edwardian pool and leisure centre in South Manchester, has been freshly restored and reopened thanks to a group of residents.

The historic pool was built in 1913 and was earmarked for closure, but after a two-year battle Love Withington Baths Group managed to successfully save the local treasure so it can remain open to the public.

Campaigners signed a petition to save the Burton Road swimming pool and after a lengthy battle, the group received a £1 million investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the baths to its former glory — with the refurbishment beginning in January 2022.

The stand out feature from the restoration is the building’s glass roof, which boasts views of the sky above, allowing natural light to pour into the pool hall. 

Amazingly, the iconic roof also features the same glazing system originally installed when the place was built.

In true Edwardian style, stained glass windows and beautiful tiles are also main components of the restoration project.

The Love Withington Baths Group worked with a local artist, Amy of the Orange Ladybird, to create a fresh vision for their iconic stained-glass window which features in the pool hall.

The piece was the embodiment of the project’s spirit of heritage and regeneration, the city of Manchester, and the Withington community.

On Saturday (July 1st), the Love Withington Baths Group opened its doors and invited the local community to enjoy their newly restored leisure centre with an afternoon of food and drinks.

A barbecue and bar was provided by local business Burton Road Brewery as well as free face painting and a children’s entertainer for families to celebrate and enjoy the entertainment.

The opening event offered a wonderful opportunity, for both members and non-members, to have a chance to appreciate the completion of the latest phase of restoration of a piece of their local history, while bringing together the community.

Paul Smith, Managing Director of Withington Baths said: “Our 8th birthday celebrations were a huge success, we really enjoyed celebrating the progress we’ve made since the takeover in 2013. 

“The restoration project means so much to us as an organisation, and we’re thrilled to see what a positive impact it has had on our community already.

“The restoration was all made possible thanks to The National Heritage Lottery Fund grant, a loan from Manchester City Council and support from the local community.

“Through the good times and the tough, it’s the local community that has always been there for us.

“Now, because of them, we can continue to serve our community as a not-for-profit hub where generations learn to swim and enjoy a range of gym and leisure facilities alongside their community members.”