Handsworth Grove Lane Baths – 1907 – 1970s
Handsworth Grove Lane Baths.
Handsworth Grove Lane Baths. An eighteenth century farmhouse was demolished when the Public Baths were built in 1907.
Original Frontage of Grove Lane Baths
Opened 28th January 1907.
The Baths were situated almost in lovely Victoria Park. On the corner of Grove Lane and Hinstock Road.
The building included a 1st Class bath Swimming Pool 100 feet by 35 feet and 60 dressing rooms. There was also a 2nd Class Bath 100 feet by 30 feet. There was an Eastern style Turkish Bath facility.
Inside the 1st Class Baths. Courtesy of Diana Harris 2007.
The swimming tanks were capable of holding 60,000 gallons of water obtained from a 500 feet deep well.
Learning to jump at Grove Lane Baths courtesy of Olwen Newbold
Teaching at Grove Lane Baths Handsworth. Courtesy of Olwen Newbold.
OUTCOME: Closed as swimming pools in 1947, please see comment below from Christine…and opened as an indoor bowls green on October 17th 1947 .
The baths must have been returned to the swimming facility – and judging by my sisters family pictures above 50s/60s the indoor bowling green must have been temporary, or perhaps just one of the two swimming baths? Will check. Today the building has been converted into residential apartments.
The Grove Lane Baths Building today. An Apartment building. Will enlarge + google earth
Read more…A personal memory here from Sue Bonner
Grove Lane Baths Site. Left geo reference 1888. Right geo reference 1892 – 14 . Will expand to full view.
Anyone give more info about these swimming baths. I wonder how the owners of these apartments feel living over this history
What a tragedy. So so sorry to hear this. Anne
I remember going to these baths via school lessons and my brother and I would walk there on a Saturday
Beautiful baths
Unfortunately some friends of ours lost their little brother to drowning there massive tragedy
Signed
Jane Tierney
What a tragedy. So so sorry to hear this. Anne
I enjoyed looking through your article – the old pools had so much
character and some were really beautiful buildings.
Brought back many memories of outings with my family as well as school
swimming lessons……
These baths were still open as swimming baths in the 1970s as I learned to swim there! They did not close in 1947……
Anne; Thank you for this info Christine.