It’s an iconic Newcastle location, but when was our archive photograph taken?
WE’RE looking at Newcastle’s City Pool and Turkish Baths on Northumberland Road in 1928, the year that the venue first opened, with swimmers getting ready for a dip.
The Grade II-listed building is due to reopen next year after a £5 million redevelopment by Fusion Lifestyle, but many new bathers will be unaware of the 180-year history of the site.
The Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths opened for public use in 1928.
But the history of baths on this site goes back even further, to when famous Newcastle son, John Dobson, built private baths in 1838 at a cost of £9,500.
Back then the baths faced east on to College Street, and had a strip of gardens at the entrance.
Much later, during the 1940s – 60s, the pools were covered over in winter and played host to a range of events including dances, exhibitions and even boxing matches.
The baths were closed in April 2013 but a community campaign by Re-open Newcastle Turkish Baths Group drew attention to the building and Fusion Lifestyle saw the opportunity to add the building to is impressive UK portfolio.
Fusion Lifestyle ploughs all profits from its operations back into the business to provide affordable health and fitness facilities for all.
The redevelopment will bring the pool and Turkish Baths back into operation, as well as seeing the introduction of a new spa, treatment rooms, fitness suite, exercise studios and café.
Peter Kay, Chief Executive of Fusion Lifestyle, said: “We’re so lucky to have rediscovered the amazing past of the baths and we’re proud to give this historic building a proper future for people in the North East.
“We are going to ensure that we honour this building’s history through a sensitive redevelopment, as well as making it fit for modern life.”
Since Victorian times there have been more than 600 Turkish Baths operating in the UK, but the new Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths will be one of only 18 left in operation.
We look forward to a new beginning for the City Pool next year.