The Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths received an early Christmas present this week when Carlisle Council approved an application to list the City’s 137-year-old Public Baths as an Asset of Community Value.
Community groups can apply for any building to be listed as an Asset of Community Value provided its main use further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community. The Friends Group believe the Public Baths could be transformed into a flagship Health and Wellbeing Centre, with the existing 10m teaching pool used for hydrotherapy and the 20m pool becoming part of the Turkish Baths, allowing visitors to swim, steam, and de-stress.
Commenting on the listing, Vice-Chair of the Friends Group Lynn Graham said: “The decision to list the Baths is a step forward for our campaign. Although it won’t stop the building being sold-off to a developer to convert it into flats or a hotel, it would allow us to trigger a six-month moratorium on the sale, during which time we and any potential partner could put together a bid to buy the Baths so that they remain in public use.”
The Friends group applied to add the Baths to the Community Asset list earlier this year, after Conservative Councillors refused to support a Council motion that would have ensured the 1884 Public Baths building would remain after the planned demolition of the 1970s pool.
Christmas Fair
News of the listing came the week before the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths celebrate ‘Christmas at the Baths’ with a special Festive Fair on 11 December. The Fair will be held in part of the building that was until recently used as a storage area. But thanks to the hard work of volunteers the 1920 block – built as the Ladies Waiting Room and Slipper Baths – has been cleared and cleaned from top to bottom, and visitors to the Fair will have an uninterrupted view of the stunning art deco skylight on the second floor.
Visitors to the Fair will be able to enjoy seasonal refreshments, find handcrafted gifts and take a spin on the tombola for the chance to over 30 prizes including tickets for Lake Windermere Cruises, the Panto, and the Lakeland Motor Museum. The Friends are also hosting special ‘Christmas Turk(ey)ish Baths Talks’ during the Fair, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the Grade II listed Turkey Baths, one of only 12 still in operation in the UK. Tickets are available on the carlislebaths.co.uk website.
‘Christmas at the Baths’ takes place at the James Street Public Baths, Carlisle. 11am-3pm Saturday 11 December
