Proposed Baths, Bolton
TO BUILDERS - BOLTON BATHS - All Persons desirous of Contracting for the erection of the above Baths are requested to send Sealed Tenders for the same, endorsed "Tender for Bolton Baths," to the Honorary Secretary. at his office, Fold-street. Bolton. on or before Friday, the Thirtieth day of May instant. Plans, Specifications. and Conditions may be examined on application at the Office of the Architect, Mr. James Whittaker, Bridge-street Bolton. The Director: do not bind themselves to access the lowest Tender. By order of the Directors, THOS. ANDREWS. Honorary secretary Bolton. May 12th, 1845.
THE BOLTON BATHS - We are enabled to present our readers this week with engraving of the elevation the proposed Public Baths; it will be a very neat building and reflects credit on the architect, Mr. Whittaker. The Baths, as most of our readers are aware, have been long in contemplation. Early in last year several gentlemen had remarked on the necessity that existed for such an aid to the healthy condition of the people and began to agitate” the matter. As a result, preliminary meetings were held, and meeting called advertisement on the 1st July 1844, the Rev. J Slade, Vicar, in the chair, at which a committee was appointed to forward the design “as speedily as possible," and it was confidently expected that the whole amount would be raised in a very short time. At another meeting on the 3rd of August, John Hick, Esq., the chair, among other resolutions, the following moved Mr. Mallett and seconded by Mr. Martin was carried unanimously, “That it is desirable that Public Baths be erected in the town of Bolton; that a joint stock company formed for their establishment, and that such Company be called the Company of Proprietors of the Bolton Baths." A Committee of Management was also appointed. “Circumstances unforeseen and over which they had control” as the Committee stated, prevented them from calling the Shareholders again together till December 7th, when the Rev. J. Slade being in the chair, Mr. Whittaker’s elevation (No. 2), of which is a copy, and a ground plan were adopted, and it was determined that as soon as the Directors were in possession of the necessary funds they should proceed to enter into the necessary contracts. A continuation of the "unforeseen circumstances," and the disputes that irritated the two political parties in the Borough unfortunately interfered with the much-desired consummation, and it is only within the last few weeks that the Directors have found themselves in a position to proceed with the work. It is now, however, set about in earnest, the various contracts having been already entered into.
The building will be 90 feet wide, and 138 feet deep. It will contain two entrance halls; two towel rooms; a ladies' and a gentlemen’s waiting room; ladies’, workwomen’s, workmen’s, and gentlemen’s private baths and tepid baths; ladies and workwomen’s plunge baths; workmen’s swimming bath, 44 feet by 19 feet; gentlemen’s swimming bath, 49 feet by 18 feet; all with dressing boxes: boiler house; bathkeeper’s room; and other conveniences. There will be” ample room and verge enough” to accommodate all classes, and both sexes, and we do not doubt that the means of increasing cleanliness, and consequently health, being placed within the reach of all by the low charges for admission, they will be resorted to with the utmost avidity. No one can more highly estimate the advantages of public baths than we do, and those who represent us as unfavourably disposed to them because we write the truth, are much mistaken. It is unfortunate for Bolton that party feeling is intruded even into works of admitted public utility, and as we have hinted on a former occasion (and been abused for so doing) we believe if this matter of erection of Public Baths had been kept clear of party, the list of subscribers would have been long since filled up; and by the bye we should be happy to learn how it is that the architect who was considered capable of forming the designs is not allowed to superintend the erection of his own work? how is it that radical ts at the last moment put forward for that purpose? is it on the score of superior ability, or is it anything but the result of the party feeling of a clique We should be glad to hear that we are misinformed. [Bolton Chronicle 13 September 1845 page 3 with illustration]
