Northwich Brine Baths, 1915 - 1991
The Northwich Brine Baths, 1915-1991.
The Northwich Public Baths was constructed following subsidence of the Verdin Park swimming pool.
The project was sanctioned on 16th September 1913 with a budget of £11,732 [payable over 26 years]. It was insured for £10,500.
Brunner Mond & Co sanctioned the supply of 10,000 gallons of brine per week.
London architect, Mr Franck, who had considerable experience in public baths construction [Mr J Ernest Franck was architect in the constructed Hammersmith Baths, Lime Grove, 1907, now a block of flats], was handed the reigns of project management.
A great mass of running sand underneath the construction site was discovered and the architect advised that it was necessary for the construction of a ferro-concrete raft under the whole site, at an additional of £3,000.
Unforseen circumstances delayed the opening; World War 1 had presented difficulties to the contractors and they had experienced their own troubles as well as the Council.
The Grand Opening Gala took place on Saturday 28th August 1915.
The "pond", [as it was often referred back in 1915], was covered over in the winter months, allowing the hall to be used as a public hall, for concerts, dances and other purposes.
It was assured that no money was wasted in the build as design had been made from utilitarian point of view and the baths had been constructed for use and not ornament.
In his opening speach, Councillor T Whalley, said " .. that Northwich would have every reason to be proud of it's brine baths, which were second to none in the country". He also made reference to the sentimental reasons allowing thoughts of the 'old institution' as many young men who were serving at that time in the blue waters of the Aegean or in the rivers of Northern France had learnt to swim in the Verdin Baths.
The 18 slipper baths were not completed in time for the opening, but it was planned that they would be over the forthcoming weeks.
The Opening Gala
The opening gala comprised of a number events for under 12's to adult handicap races. Lieutenant Lutyers provided an exhibition of high diving [from the 8ft board], turning somersaults in the water, walking on hands in the water, swimming porpoise style and diving from the highboard with his hands by his side [into 6'6" of water !!!] and underwater swimming.
The starter & handicapper was Mr J Malam and many Councillors acted as timekeepers and judges
In the early weeks of operating, the total staff weekly wages amounted to £6-15s-6d, [£6.77].
Mr Edge was the first Superintendent.
It must be noted that many residents experienced water supply problems to their homes due to the greatly reduced water pressure when filling the pond.
The Build
The pond was reported to measure 75ft x 18ft but this seems unlikely as it measured 75ft x 30ft [25yds x 10yds] in 1975! It was 3ft in the shallow end and 6ft 6ins in the deep end under the diving platform
The building was constructed from Rustic brick with elevations facing Princes Avenue, with the main entrance comprising of Doric Pillars to the front on Victoria Road.
Entrances and waiting rooms for men and women respectively, a ticket office and the Superindendent's office were negotiated before entering the pool hall. Changing facilities were provided by means of collapsable cubicles positioned alongside the length of the pool [as illustrated in the photograph available through Cheshire Archives].
18 slipper baths arranged so that they could be easily controlled by the attandant and four of the first-class baths could be converted from ladies to gentlemen, should that be necessary. Some of them had two dressing rooms [as did the newer portion of the Verdin Baths] to each slipper bath. The walls of the slipper baths were faced with marbrestuc, a material which gave a fine polished surface and was easily cleaned. Two needle and shower baths and a shower bath [at the shallow end of the swimming pond] were provided.
Two emergency exit doors, at the deep end, were installed as the baths was used in the winter months for various functions.
In 1921 the Northwich Urban Council spent £945 on a floor to cover the pond.
The baths also had a fine establishment laundry, a bolier house and drying rooms.
Provision had also been made to utilise the under-poolside passage as a shooting range at the merely nominal expense of fitting a staircase
Originally three coke-fired boilers were installed by Berry & Jones and were not without initial leakage problems. Boiler 1 had fractured by February 1916 after just 6 months of use. As it became necessary to heat the pool water the boilers were replaced in April 1933 with coke fired boilers supplied by Cochran & Co [Annan] Ltd, at a cost of £813. It was also necessary to raise the chimney by 5 feet. Both were converted to gas firing in April [main boiler] and December [reserve bolier] during 1970 due to difficulties in obtaining smokeless fuel.
The water purification plant was installed and commissioning was in June 1950. Prior to this the water was changed three times a week with fresh towns mains.
In the early 1960's, many of the slipper baths were removed and the area used as an extension to the male changing rooms. Likewise the area that housed the laundry facilities was converted to the ladies changing rooms
Prior to building the Learner Pool [1972] a new filtration plant was installed by Bell Brothers of Manchester, costing £6121, comprising of two air-scoured sand filters, requiring a normal twice-weekly backwash. Water chemistry was chlorine gas and soda-ash, with addition of alum [to aid coagulation]. The pool was closed between 10th January until 28th February 1972 to allow the work to take place.
The learner pool was opened on Wednesday 30th April 1972 by Councillor Owen R Walmsley. Thomas Ashley of Hartford was awarded the contract for £18,239.07.
In the early spring of 1977, the old Cochran boilers [now 45 years old] were removed and replaced with a more modern designed boiler together with improved heating and ventilation. The pool closed on 20th May 1977 and re-opened 19th July 1977 whilst the improvements were made. The cost for the work being £30,408. Additional work costing £14,785 was also required for essential repairs, though only £9585 was initially granted leaving £5200 for renewing the tiling to the hall plus painting.
The new Moss Farm pool [at a cost of £1.75 million] eventually replaced the Brine Baths which closed its doors on 23rd January 1991. The scheduled closure date was 23rd December 1990 but heating problems at Moss Farm delayed closure.