Dive into Chester City Baths’ history

Jun 11 2009 by Claire Devine, Chester Chronicle

CHESTER’S City Baths are splashed across the pages of an historic book.

Great Lengths, by Dr Ian Gordon and Simon Inglis, explores the historic indoor swimming pools of Britain.

The book starts its coverage pre-1846 and City Baths, on Union Street, are included as a case study for the period 1870-1901.

The baths, of Tudorbethan black and white design, were originally planned by Harold T Burgess who won a design competition run by the council in 1895.

By the time the site had been secured in 1898 architect John Douglas, favoured by the Marquess of Westminster, had taken control.

The case study goes on to tell of the baths’ history, including how both its pools were found to be leaking when it was about to open in August, 1900.

It also chronicles the threat to the site by the development of the Northgate leisure centre and the fight by Chester ASC and Chester Dolphins – who united to form the Chester Swimming Association – to keep the site open.

Great Lengths, with a forward by Rebecca Adlington, is on sale now priced £19.99.