Public Swimming Baths, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent

Public Swimming Baths, Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent

see The Campaign to Save Tunstall Pool from Closure

Tunstall's Victorian Swimming Pool in Greengates Street, Tunstall
opened in 1889 - one of the olded pools in the country still in regular use by the public

The Tunstall Arms on the Tunstall Pool Building

The seal probably came into being in 1866 when the Tunstall Burial Board was formed.

In the chevronel is the Stafford Knot and two scythes which are from the arms of the Sneyd family. The Scythe also appears in the Burslem arms.

The three vases represent the pottery industry and in the the upper left corner is a representation of two bottle kilns.

The interior of the Tunstall pool
showing the original poolside changing cubicles and a viewing gallery

photo: BBC Radio Stoke

Public Library, formerly Victoria Institute, and public baths, 1889. Brick with stone and terracotta dressings and plain tiled roofs.

3-storeyed, main elevation of 9 bays (4-1-4), with projecting central entrance porch with Jacobean detailing: round arched doorway with frieze in flanking stone pilasters, and coat of arms in shallow segmental pediment. Two large mullioned and transomed windows above, and pedimented gable with arms.

Outer bays of banded brick to ground floor, with stone dressings - continuous sills and hood moulds.

Terracotta frieze over windows reading "Free Library Public Baths. Art and Science Institute". Consoles carry pilasters articulating the first storey, and a projecting cornice beneath round arched arcade of windows in the attic storey.

4 bays to Greengates Street similarly detailed, and a massive hanging wrought-iron sign reading "Thomas Nash Peake gave this AD 1901" and on the obverse. "Tunstall Free Library. William Durose made this, AD 1901" in gothic script.

The Public Baths is a 2-storey brick building to Greengates Street, linked to the library via its rear courtyard range. A significant example of the provision of municipal facilities in the late 19th Century.

The Tunstall arms on the pediment

The 1889 date stone

1000 Year Swim comes to Stoke

Victorian Society Director, Dr Ian Dungavell made a big splash at Tunstall Pool to celebrate one of the oldest swimming pools in the country and highlight the importance of these historic buildings.

Tunstall Pool in Stoke-on-Trent is one of the oldest swimming pools in the country that is still regularly used by members of the public.

Altogether there are well over 50 Victorian and Edwardian listed pool buildings in the country but only 14 are still open. The rest have either been closed down or left to rot.

Tunstall Pool still retains many of its original features such as poolside changing cubicles and a viewing gallery.

In August 2008, a very special guest chose to commemorate the pool in a unique way. Dr Ian Dungavell (pictured right), Director of the National Heritage charity - the Victorian Society - swam over 100 lengths as part of his National 1000 Year Swim.

A lap for every year

Dr Dungavell aims to visit each and every one of England's 14 listed Victorian and Edwardian pools and swim a lap for every year they've been standing. He hoped his feat would highlight the importance of historic swimming pools.

Tunstall Pool was opened in 1889 so Dr Dungavell had to swim 119 lengths of the pool. He described the pool as a "significant example of Victorian municipal architecture".

Dr Dungavell went on to say: "It [Tunstall Pool] is a shining example of the role that historic pools can play in the twenty-first century. Stoke-on-Trent City Council must be congratulated for keeping Tunstall Pool in use."

BBC Radio Stoke web site - August 2008

Tunstall Pool

The Public Baths is a 2-storey brick building to Greengates Street,
linked to the library via its rear courtyard range.
A significant example of the provision of municipal facilities in the late 19th Century.

The view from Tunstall Memorial Gardens

contents: 2010 photos