The Victoria Baths

Today we went to visit the Victoria Baths in Manchester. They only open on to the public on the 1st Sunday of the month from March to October. As we drove up we were a little concerned as the whole frontage is swaddled in scaffolding and sheeting but a little sign with arrows soon reassured us that it was open as promised. For the grand sum of £1 per adult (children go free) we were able to visit the 1st class Men's pool, the 2nd class Men's pool and the Female pool and see what restoration has been done - and how much there is still to go.

As the pictures show, it was really fascinating. There is something intriguing about seeing a building in such disrepair and a surprising beauty in the cracks, the peeling paint and the broken glass. If they do manage to put it all right it will be gorgeous - but in some way all the more gorgeous for having gone through such a period of decay. The light that comes into the pool halls is beautiful and could only have been the more so when they were filled with water.

It opened in 1906 and closed in 1993. We couldn't do the full tour (also free!) as we felt it might be asking a little too much of the junior Braithwaites, but they all enjoyed the children's treasure trail and say they will be happy to go back another time to see the outside and the Turkish bath bits that we couldn't see today.