Guildford Crescent Baths
{{Short description|Former swimming building in Cardiff, UK}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
The Guildford Crescent Baths, originally known as the Corporation Baths, was a public swimming pool building in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. It was demolished in 1985.
Background
The swimming baths in Guildford Crescent, Cardiff, were originally opened by the Cardiff Baths Company Ltd in April 1862. They included a first class and a second class swimming pools, a Turkish bath with two hot rooms heated by dry air maintained at 110°F and 140°F,'A visit to the Turkish baths'. Star of Gwent. (31 May 1862) p.8 a Mikveh and a gymnasium.{{Coflein|num=415047|desc=Corporation Baths, Guildford Crescent, Cardiff|access-date=26 May 2019 }} The building was designed by T. Waring and cost £3,700 to construct. With a capacity of one million gallons of water ({{convert|1|e6impgal|e6l|abbr=off|disp=out}}), the facilities were located next to the Bute Docks Feeder canal.{{Citation|author=Simon Graham Allen |url=https://www.bathsandwashhouses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Simon-Graham-Allen-Disertation-Public-Baths-and-Wash-Houses-in-Cardiff-1846-to-1901.pdf |title=The Provision of Public Baths and Wash Houses in Cardiff and Their Effect on Public Health and Hygiene 1846-1901 |date=September 1998 |page=62 |publisher=School of Graduate and Continuing Education, Faculty of Education and Sport, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff |format=Masters dissertation |via=Bathsandwashhouses.co.uk}} The canal was culverted in 1949 and now flows under Churchill Way.{{cite news |last1=Lewis |first1=Ffion |title=Cardiff's canal quarter - how it looked in the past, what's there now and the exciting future |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiffs-canal-quarter-how-looked-20847746 |work=Wales Online |date=12 June 2021}}
Cardiff Borough Council acquired the baths in 1873.{{Citation|author=B. W. Row, F. G. Squire |title=Cardiff 1889-1974 - The Story of the County Borough |year=1974 |page=21 |publisher=The Corporation of Cardiff, City Hall, Cardiff}} Originally open-air, work began to add a roof to the baths in 1884 and took eight years to complete. The newly roofed and refurbished facilities were officially re-opened by in 1896 by Lady Windsor.{{cite news|author=Thomas Deacon |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/save-guildford-crescent-cardiff-1980s-15725890 |title=How campaigners first fought to save Cardiff's Guildford Crescent in the 1980s |work=Wales Online |date=28 January 2019 |accessdate=26 May 2019 }}
After the Empire Pool was opened in 1958, the Guildford Crescent Baths were given over exclusively for use by children.
The baths finally closed on 31 March 1984, despite a campaign to keep them open, which had gathered more than 10,000 signatures. The building was demolished in 1985{{cite news|author=Dan O'Neill |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Memories+of+all+the+happy+days+at+Guildford+Crescent+Baars.-a0160516128 |title=Memories of all the happy days at Guildford Crescent Baars |work=South Wales Echo |date=13 March 2007 |accessdate=26 May 2019 }} and, in the 2000s, an Ibis hotel was built on the site.
References
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External links
- {{cite web |title=Guildford Crescent Baths - Cardiff |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIkNOLrDYng |website=YouTube |publisher=ITV Cymru/Wales Archive @ National Library of Wales}} – Television news report shot in the baths, about the decision to close them
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Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Wales
Category:Demolished sports venues in the United Kingdom
Category:Sports venues demolished in 1985