Victoria Baths hit the headlines in 2003 by winning the BBC's Restoration competition. This magnificent complex was described on opening as "the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country". It houses a wealth of beautiful tiling, stained glass, mosaic flooring and other decorative detail. After a decade of disuse, the work of bringing it back to life is beginning.

While campaining to save the Baths, the Friends of Victoria Baths researched its history. Ths book is the result, telling of how the Baths were conceived, their construction on 1903-6, and variety of uses of 87 years. The richest information source has been the memories of people who swam, bathed, danced and worked here over the years. They shared their memories and stories with Prue Williams, and the resulting book adds much to the social and architectural history of a great industrial city.

Gill Wright, Project Manager of the Victorian Baths Trust, tells of the campain to save the building, and Restoration presenter, Griff Rhys Jones, provides a forward.


To order this book:
  • If you are in North America please Click Here for US$ pricing and orders through the David Brown Book company in Connecticut.
  • If you are in Britain, Europe or elsewhere please Click Here for GB £ sterling pricing and orders through the Oxbow Books office in Oxford, UK.