Taking the plunge at Tunstall

by Mervyn Edwards

THE large swimming bath in the Jubilee Buildings at Tunstall had first been suggested by John Nash Peake.

It was opened, partly complete, on July 28th, 1890, the ceremony being performed by the Chief Bailiff, Mr. Charles Pyatt, with speeches being made by T. G. Booth (the ex-Chief Bailiff) and Pyatt, his successor.

The architect of the new baths was A. R. Wood, and he was honoured by being the first person to plunge into the new pool. Following the conclusion of the ceremony, various swimming entertainments took place, including a scratch race open to Tunstall residents only, diving competitions, exhibitions and polo matches.

Tunstall bath was 72 feet long by 28 feet wide. Its depth sloped from 6 feet 6 inches to 3 feet 6 inches. The pool was lined with white glazed bricks with borders of blue ornament and held 61,000 gallons of water. Numerous dressing boxes were provided, and a gallery able to accommodate 700 spectators ran around the room. There were also eight private baths and Turkish and vapour baths. A laundry, boiler-house and caretaker’s apartments were also incorporated. By 1907, the baths were reserved for ladies on Tuesdays.

The baths were often used by the Tunstall Otter Swimming Club for galas. These attracted great crowds. At the gala held in November, 1899, spectators were much amused by the greasy pole and obstacle events.

By March, 1904, the whole of the interior of the baths had been renovated. The hot air bath had been dispensed with and five additional slipper baths provided.

The baths were closed temporarily in 1986, re-opening in August 1988 after two and a half years of renovation work. The facelift cost £220,000 and brought the Victorian pool up to modern standards. A new heating and ventilation system was installed and the roof replaced, enabling Tunstall baths to continue as a much-loved community facility.