Uni to transform bathhouse
ABANDONED BUILDING TO BE TURNED INTO AN ART GALLERY AND CAFE
AN abandoned historic bathhouse will be converted into an art gallery and cafe by the University of Huddersfield.
Planning permission has been given by Kirklees Council for the university to revamp the 1955 built premises on Queen Street South, adjacent to the now demolished Broadbent’s industrial units.
The Grade II listed building – which was used as washing facilities for Broadbent’s foundry workers – was hidden from view by trees for years.
It is the last remaining building associated with the foundry, launched by Thomas Broadbent in 1864.
A heritage assessment of it describes it as “very rare, possibly unique example of a purpose built bath house for foundry workers”.
It reveals the interior of the building survives almost entirely intact, with original wash basins, shower and tap fittings, lockers, floor and wall surfaces, doors and light fittings.
The university acquired the building when it bought the Broadbent’s site to allow its campus expansion plan, which also saw it purchase the former Huddersfield Daily Examiner offices in 2011 to convert into a design studios for architecture students.
It now wants to clean up the outside of it and completely refurbish the inside.
The application documents say the project is intended to transform the building into a cafe and gallery space where students can exhibit and sell their work.
It says landscaping will create links to the new Barbara Hepworth Building, which is currently under construction, and to Queen Street South.
In its application the university said the proposal should go ahead as the “currently unused bath house is vulnerable to neglect and deteriora- tion and finding a sustainable use for the building should ensure its long-term preservation.”
The project is likely to be the next in university chiefs’ 10-year-long transformation plan.
It has seen tens of millions spent on new buildings across the campus as ambitious Vice Chancellor, Prof Bob Cryan, bids to modernise the facilities. Construction on the £30m Barbara Hepworth building has begun, following on from the £8m refurbishment of the Joseph Priestley building and the completion of the all-new £28m Oastler building overlooking Shorehead roundabout.