Just a short but sweet report, it's certainly nothing epic to look at particularly but i think it warrants a report on here mainly because of its history as the only surviving georgian bath house/open air pools in england.
Nicked some history from the cleveland pools trust website
Hidden away in Bathwick, on the banks of the River Avon, are the Cleveland Pools – the country’s only surviving Georgian open-air pools, named after the Duke of Cleveland who laid claim to the Bathwick Estate through the Pulteney family line.
The 'great and the good of Bath' played a major role in the original creation of the river-fed pool following an advert in the Bath Chronicle newspaper on 20th July 1815 asking for subscriptions from those gentlemen wishing “...to provide a place in connection with the River, where those who swim and those who do not will be alike accommodated ". Contributions poured in and the pool and buildings were constructed within two years.
Built in the shape of a small crescent, it was one of the earliest examples of a ‘Subscription Pool’ – built with private money for public use. For decades the formerly-named ‘Cleveland Pleasure Baths’ were a favourite summer destination of generations of people from Bath and beyond. By 1861 this glorious open-air venue had become so popular that the Victorians added a children’s upper pool.
Sadly the Pools closed in 1984 after public funds had been re-directed to the new Sports and Leisure Centre, but now the Cleveland Pools Trust - in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, English Heritage and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) - is finally making headway with its campaign to restore the Grade II* baths and reclaim them for outdoor swimming.
literally just flew around the place with a phone for pics as had to dinghy it over the river so thought id reccy it before risking get camera gear wet, unfortunately the building was sealed with that filthy metal shuttering. as i say the reports more for the history side of a cool bit of english heritage+i got a fair bit of family in bath and surrounding areas who will probably be interested.
KIDS POOL
Ta for looking
Nicked some history from the cleveland pools trust website
Hidden away in Bathwick, on the banks of the River Avon, are the Cleveland Pools – the country’s only surviving Georgian open-air pools, named after the Duke of Cleveland who laid claim to the Bathwick Estate through the Pulteney family line.
The 'great and the good of Bath' played a major role in the original creation of the river-fed pool following an advert in the Bath Chronicle newspaper on 20th July 1815 asking for subscriptions from those gentlemen wishing “...to provide a place in connection with the River, where those who swim and those who do not will be alike accommodated ". Contributions poured in and the pool and buildings were constructed within two years.
Built in the shape of a small crescent, it was one of the earliest examples of a ‘Subscription Pool’ – built with private money for public use. For decades the formerly-named ‘Cleveland Pleasure Baths’ were a favourite summer destination of generations of people from Bath and beyond. By 1861 this glorious open-air venue had become so popular that the Victorians added a children’s upper pool.
Sadly the Pools closed in 1984 after public funds had been re-directed to the new Sports and Leisure Centre, but now the Cleveland Pools Trust - in partnership with the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Prince’s Regeneration Trust, English Heritage and Bath & North East Somerset Council (B&NES) - is finally making headway with its campaign to restore the Grade II* baths and reclaim them for outdoor swimming.
literally just flew around the place with a phone for pics as had to dinghy it over the river so thought id reccy it before risking get camera gear wet, unfortunately the building was sealed with that filthy metal shuttering. as i say the reports more for the history side of a cool bit of english heritage+i got a fair bit of family in bath and surrounding areas who will probably be interested.
KIDS POOL
Ta for looking
