A South Manchester heritage swimming pool has been newly restored and open thanks to local samaritans.
Withington Baths, a swimming pool and leisure centre, was built in 1913, and for two years the Love Withington Baths Group battled to save it from closure.
The group fought and have since received a one-million-pound investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the baths to its former glory which saw refurbishment begin in January 2022.
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The most notable restoration is the swimming pool’s iconic roof, which boasts views of the sky above and brings natural light into the pool hall, featuring the same glazing system originally installed when the place was built.
The stained-glass windows are also a much-anticipated component of the restoration project. The Love Withington Baths Group worked with a local artist, known as Amy of the Orange Ladybird, to create a fresh vision for their iconic stained-glass window in the pool hall that embodied the project's spirit of heritage and regeneration, the city of Manchester, and the Withington community.
On Saturday, the Love Withington Baths Group invited the local community to enjoy the newly restored leisure centre with an afternoon of food and drinks.
As part of the celebrations, a barbecue and bar was provided by local business Burton Road Brewery. Free face painting for kids and a children’s entertainer also provided family entertainment, which was a great opportunity for both members and non-members to enjoy the completion of the latest phase of restoration and celebrate 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.”
