The Public Library and Baths (grid reference SP078843) on Moseley Road, Balsall Heath, Birmingham, England form one of many pairings of baths and libraries in Birmingham, managed by Birmingham City Council.
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During discussions in 1890 to include the Balsall Heath district into the city of Birmingham, it was decided that public baths should be built as soon as possible for the area if Birmingham were to acquire the district. The Bill was passed and Balsall Heath was annexed into Birmingham on 1 October 1891. The City of Birmingham Baths Department were then instructed to find an appropriate site for the construction of public baths in the area.
Working in conjunction with the Free Libraries Committee (a library had also been promised to the residents of Balsall Heath as part of the deal which absorbed their district into Birmingham) the City of Birmingham Baths Department soon located a site on the Moseley Road close to the junction with Edward Road. A small cartway known as Midland Grove ran behind the site and the access this offered for the delivery of coal to the rear of the building was a key factor in the decision to choose this particular site.
The Free Library opened in 1895 and has a clock tower. It was designed by Jethro A. Cossins and F. B. Peacock. The Baths were added immediatley to the south and were opened on 30 October 1907, much later than planned owing to severe delays experienced in boring a well on the premises. They were designed by William Hale and Son of 83, Colmore Row and cost almost £34,000. As was common practice at the time, there were separate entrances for first class males, second class males and women.
Initially, only the 'slipper' bath departments were opened, with the pools coming into operation on 1 March 1908, the start of the municipal swimming season. On 21 November 1908, the First Class pool was floored over and the space used for social activities. It was one of several public baths to begin doing so in the winter months as there was little demand for the pools during this time of year.
Moseley Road Baths were used as a makeshift hospital in the early years of World War II. An additional entrance was created to facilitate this purpose, which was subsequently used as an emergency exit from Pool 2. By the end of 2010 a steel beam used to support the wall and roof above it had become severely corroded, leading to the pool's closure as this part of the building was in danger of collapse.[1]
Today, the library remains a functioning branch of Birmingham Library Services. The baths, also run by Birmingham City Council, reopened following extensive structural work during 2005. They stand opposite the College of Art and were given Grade II listed status as a single entity in 1982, upgraded to Grade II* listed status in 2004 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The baths building consists of two swimming pools (First Class - or Gala - and Second Class), three 'slipper' bath departments (Men's First Class, Men's Second Class, Womens) comprising a total of 48 private washing baths, a committee room which was primarily used for meetings of swimming clubs, a flat formerly used by the resident money-taker, a boiler house containing two 1950s coal fired boilers and a water filter room containing two filtration tanks dating from the 1930s. The boiler house has three levels: ground contains the boilers, first floor contains the laundry room, second floor contain a large cast iron cold water storage tank.
The building has three entrances, all of which led to a central booking desk. First Class Men's entrance led to Pool 1 and the First Class 'slipper' baths department. The Second Class Men's entrance led to Pool 2 and the Second Class Men's 'slipper' baths. The First and Second Class Women's entrance led to the Women's 'slipper' baths department.
Originally all bathers were supplied with a towel, soap and (for swimmers) a costume, collected from the Baths Attendant's kiosk. Towels and costumes were subsequently washed and dried in the steam laundry room located on the first floor of the boiler house.
Pool 1 is grand in its detailing and was originally the First Class pool upon opening. It contains 63 glazed brick cubicles, a three-sided spectator gallery, cast iron roof trusses and bowed, wrought iron 'balconettes'. Pool 2 is less ornate and was the Second Class pool. Pool 2 did not originally have cubicles and bathers changed on benches around the pool side.
The Second Class slipper baths were in continual use until October 2004. The entire building closed for emergency repair works in October 2004. Pool 2 re-opened in October 2005, however Pool 1 has been mothballed since August 2003. It is hoped that a bid of up to £5m will be submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund in 2012 to repair and restore parts of the building.
In November 2006 'Friends of Moseley Road Baths' was formed to campaign for the long-term future of the building as a fully functioning swimming facility. Since their formation numerous well attended community events and fundraisers have been held, including the Centenary on 30 October 2007 which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and swimmers past and present. In 2010 the Friends' were awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund 'Your Heritage' grant of £48,000 to document the building's history and to interview former and current users of the building. The Friend's also have a website (www.friendsofmrb.co.uk)
In late 2007, Liberal Democrat Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, Ray Hassall indicated that he believed it would be more cost effective to demolish the baths and build a modern facility. This is a view he reiterated at the full Council meeting in January 2008.In May 2009, Hassell was replaced by Councillor Martin Mullaney, who has taken a much more positive stance towards the building's future.
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