"Much loved" Newcastle site named as one of England's most endangered buildings
A hugely impressive Newcastle building has been listed in the list of the top endangered buildings by the Victorian Society.
The group say the Gibson Street Baths, which sits on the corner of New Bridge Street and Gibson Street is a ‘proud but crumbling’ Edwardian building in dire need of support.
Opened in 1907, was the fourth such facility built in Newcastle under the 1846 Public Baths and Wash-houses Act which forced cities to build public bathing facilities in areas where working class people were struggling to find clean water to clean themselves.
Following its opening, it was described as the most complete set of baths for their size in England.
During WWII, the baths’ reservoir served the National Fire Service. In later decades, as private bathrooms and washing machines became widespread, demand for municipal facilities declined, and Gibson Street Baths was eventually adapted for badminton.
Griff Rhys Jones OBE, President of the Victorian Society said: “I have lost count of the number of public bath houses that we see in decline, but people truly love these local amenities. There are passionate groups standing by to save their water pools and services, but here bureaucracy has wound them in a skein of ‘strings attached’.
“Please let the local supporters get to work and raise the funds and find a good new integrated use for what was once a prime example of public concern and welfare and an illustration of Victorian-Edwardian values at their best.”
Fresh from its opening, the baths include stunning tiling designs from the era, which the Victorian Society describe as “exquisite”.
Another panel lists the 15 members of the Baths and Wash Houses Committee, as well as the architect and builders, beneath Newcastle’s coat of arms.
The site is currently owned by Newcastle City Council, who have previously claimed the “significant funding” required to repair the site is not available.
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