Historic Health Hydro to re-open next year after months of delay
After months of delay, Swindon’s historic Health Hydro – home to the UK’s oldest operating Victorian-style Turkish baths – is set to reopen early next year with total funding for the restoration project rising from £6.5m to £8.6m.
Since the closure of the Grade II* listed building two years ago, works have been progressing to make the site safe and to refurbish the former Washing Baths Hall, changing rooms and plant areas.
Once complete, the first phase of works will create an accessible route through to the newly-restored changing rooms and the main pool hall, which houses the 33m-long pool – the longest in Wiltshire.
Due to the age of the Grade II listed building, investigations revealed a series of challenges which have had to be overcome by redesign as well as the discovery of asbestos.
Additional money has been made available through a grant from Historic England, reallocated government Towns Fund money and S106 funding from developers, to ensure the first phase of works is completed and the site reopened as soon as possible.
The Health Hydro was built in 1891-92 by the GWR Medical Fund Society – essentially the ‘sick club’ for the huge nearby Swindon railway works – which was funded by subscriptions from employee’s wages.
The building included a dispensary and consulting rooms for doctors, dentists and ophthalmology, chiropody, psychology and physiotherapy departments.
But as well as treating sick GWR workers, in a far-sighted move it also sought to improve their health and that of their families.
The washing baths were built in 1898-9, Turkish and Russian baths were added six years later, with further additions made in 1911.
Thamesdown (now Swindon) Council took over the building after the NHS relocated its services based there and, following a refurbishment, it was relaunched as the Health Hydro offering complementary treatments such as acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy.
Cllr Marina Strinkovsky said: “Like many residents, I am desperate to see this beautiful building reopened to the public. The Health Hydro is a nationally significant heritage site and the story it embodies of workers self-organising to provide services to their community is one that should make all Swindonians proud.
“The Health Hydro also has a lot of engineering complexity, so while I am as disappointed as everyone else that the refurbishment is taking longer than originally planned, it’s important that the work is done thoroughly and with care and attention.”
She said the council was working closely with Swindon construction firm Beard and lead consultant Fourth Street on regenerating one of the town’s most historic and important buildings.
“When the Health Hydro does reopen, I know it will be welcomed by the Swindon community and I look forward to everyone being able to enjoy the work so far,” she added.
