Still Going Swimmingly!

Stirchley Baths ceremonial plaque 1910.
Image: stirchleybaths.org

Begun in 1910 and opened in mid 1911, Stirchley swimming baths (on Bournville Lane) was a popular local facility for nearly eighty years before it closed to the public in 1988. By this time the Edwardian building was in need of significant attention, as were many other swimming pools in the city, and it fell into even greater disrepair as the years passed.

But we can now see a renovated and refurbished building emerging from behind the hoardings as the major project reaches completion. 



A £4m project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the sale of the nearby site of the Stirchley Community Centre, has transformed the Grade II listed building into a community hub. The new facilities will include a variety of meeting and training rooms, a community hall with cinema space and a café.

Stirchley has many community-based groups and lots of local people have been active and involved in many aspects of this project. The project website at http://stirchleybaths.org/ includes details of current and previous initiatives and states “the fascinating history and heritage of Stirchley Baths will be celebrated and interpreted through an exciting three year programme of community activity”.

Stirchley Baths ceremonial key July 25th 1911.
Image: Birmingham Museums Trust

http://stirchley.co.uk/    

http://www.stirchleynews.co.uk/

http://stirchleycommunitymarket.co.uk/

Alison Smith