Assessment of Significance
Haggerston Baths, Whiston Road, Haggerston E2 8BN
1.0 Contents
Section heading
Page number
1.0 Contents
1
2.0 Introduction
1
3.0 Executive summary
2
4.0 Former Uses
2
5.0 Conservation considerations
3
6.0 Methodology
4
7.0 Area by area analysis
6
8.0 Relevant literature
9
9.0 Sources of further advice and information
10
Appendix A Historic England Listing Description
11
Appendix B The historical use of the building
12
Appendix C Significant detail elements
17
Appendix D Area by area priority level assessment
18
Appendix E Colour coded plans
26
Appendix F Note of advice from Historic England on historic basement plant
30
2.0 Introduction
This document has been prepared by a Conservation and Design Officer in the Conservation, Urban Design and
Sustainability Section of Hackney Planning Department. The advice is prepared in the context that Hackney Council
Strategic Property Department are seeking Expressions of Interest for a leasehold of the building, which is freehold
owned by the Council (the intention is that the Council will retain the freehold)
The intention of this document is provide independent guidance for use by any and all interested parties. The
purpose of the document is to provide guidance on the relative heritage significance of different areas of the
building.
It is certain that, whatever the future of the building, changes will need to be made. These will require Listed
Building Consent and Planning Permission. These applications will be considered by the Hackney Planning
Department. Historic England will be consulted prior to the determination of any application, since Hackney Council
is required (under the terms of the Arrangements for handling heritage applications -Notification to Historic England
and National Amenity Societies and the Secretary of State (England) Direction 2015) to consult Historic England on
applications relating to its own buildings. Historic England have therefore been consulted, have visited the site and
have viewed a late draft and suggested amendments to this document.
This document has been prepared independently of the current disposal process and is issued by the Conservation,
Urban Design and Sustainability Section of Hackney Planning Department in its role as a regulatory body. It does not
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address the issue of the desirability (or otherwise) of the disposal of the building, nor does it seek to address the
merits (or otherwise) of any Expression of Interest received.
This document is intended as informal pre application advice. The comments made are officer guidance on a preapplication basis, do not bind the Council and are made without prejudice to the future determination of any
application. Any decision on future planning applications will be taken at the time on the basis of relevant national
and local legislation, policy and guidance, any other material considerations and the merits of the case. This
document is guidance only. Some areas of the building were inaccessible and available floorplans were slightly
incomplete.
3.0 Executive summary
The following areas have high significance, with a high survival of historic elements. Only limited, well justified
change with a low impact is likely to be acceptable. The general approach should be that these elements are
retained, historic features restored and the element preserved and repurposed:
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The main south block
The south and north elevations including the south “area”
The pool hall
The boiler and water heater rooms and the associated historic plant
The Women’s Second Class Slipper Baths
The south lantern
The chimney
The following areas have moderate significance, with some survival of historic elements. Some change is likely to be
acceptable, provided it is moderate in impact and well justified. The general approach should be that surviving
historic elements are generally retained, although the area may require remodelling to serve a new purpose:
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The basement Coal Stores, Pump Room, Workshop and Fan Room
The pool corridors at basement and ground floor levels
Assorted WCs
Areas with some modern alteration (see Section 7 below)
The second floor Caretaker’s Flat
The east elevation
Roof lanterns
Light wells
The following areas have low significance, with a low survival of historic elements. Substantial change, in a few cases
including demolition, is likely to be acceptable, provided it is well justified and proposed in the context of an
otherwise acceptable proposal:
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The back stairs and north eastern “area” and steps
The ground floor 1961 Laundry
The ground floor former Public Laundry
The first floor former Second Class Men’s Baths (north and west parts)
The west elevation (part of)
The ground floor 1961 disabled and former main entrances
The rooftop water tanks
The west “area”
4.0 Former Uses
The building is large and complex and has had at least three phases of alteration. The significance of areas within
the building can only be understood if their use and status is known. The historical use of areas of the building is
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explained in Appendix B. An analysis of how the use related to both the status of different areas and the detailed
internal finishes is given in Appendix C.
The term “slipper bath” dates from early examples which were a slipper shape. By 1904, the baths were similar in
form to modern domestic baths, although the slipper term was still used.
The table below gives an indication of the original (1904) provision:
Activity
Front of house activities
Swimming (in summer months)
Location
Quantum
Ground floor
Entertainment (in winter months)
Ground floor
Men’s First Class Slipper Baths
Men’s Second Class Slipper Baths
Women’s First Class Slipper Baths
Women’s Second Class Slipper Baths
Public laundry
Ground floor, south west
First floor, south west
Ground floor, south east
Ground floor, south east
Ground floor, west
Public meetings
First floor, south
A single pool (100 feet by 35 feet)
with shallow and deep ends
A stage to the north and seating for
540 in temporary seating and perhaps
as many again in fixed amphitheatre
seating (about 1,080 in total)
17 baths
49 baths
5 baths
19 baths
Waiting Room, 60 washers (shallow
sinks), 4 mangles, 3 ironing tables and
60 drying horses
Board room with associated
ceremonial balcony
Back of house activities
Plant
Basement, west
Establishment laundry
Basement, east
Caretaker’s flat
Other
Second floor, south
Various
Coal storage, pump room, Stokery, 3
boilers, chimney, 2 Green’s
Economisers, fan room, 2 water
heaters, engineer’s workshop and hot
air ducting
Conveyor belt, 3 washing troughs,
washing machines, hydros (spin
dryers), drying houses and mangling
room.
Four bedroom flat on second floor.
WCs, circulation, storage, lightwells,
access and emergency exits, roofs
Although the last use of the building was as a public swimming pool with gym, it can be seen that there were
historically other additional uses. These have included music, dancing, theatre, boxing, meeting rooms, offices and
residential uses.
5.0 Conservation Considerations
5.1 Designations
Haggerston Baths was designed in 1902 for the Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch by Alfred William Stephens
Cross (1858-1932), the leading public baths architect of the period, who literally wrote the book on the subject in
1906. The building was opened to the public in 1904, to public acclaim in the local and national press.
A digital copy of the original (1902) drawings is available on request.
The building is nationally listed by Historic England at Grade II (LEN: 1235838). The full listing description is at
Appendix A. The listing description focuses heavily on the south and north facades of the building, although internal
features are also noted. It is worth stressing that the protection of the listing includes all of the building (both inside
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and outside), including fixtures and fittings and any curtilage structures. Any significant changes to the building will
require Listed Building Consent. Many kinds of change will also require Planning Permission.
The building is on the Heritage at Risk Register 2014 with the following detail: “Poor condition, vacant and not in use,
priority category C (slow decay; no solution agreed).” It is therefore a priority for both Historic England and the
London Borough of Hackney to find a suitable use for the building which will bring it back into use, attract funds for
its restoration and provide a sustainable economic model for its future maintenance. Historic England is likely to be
involved in the consideration of any substantive scheme and will be involved in the determination of any subsequent
applications.
The Victorian Society will be involved as a statutory consultee in any application for Listed Building Consent. The
society has taken an interest in the building and wants to see public access as part of any proposals for the future.
Neighbours, local residents and local amenity societies will also be consulted on applications for Listed Building
Consent and Planning Permission. The building is a local landmark and there will be local interest and involvement.
The building is not in a Conservation Area.
5.2 Considerations for new development
Any new development would need to respond sensitively to the listed building. Proposals for new development will
be assessed on the following statutory criteria:
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whether harm is caused to the character of the listed building as a building of special architectural and
historic interest and
whether harm is caused to the setting of the listed building.
The normal expectation is that any new development attached or adjacent to a listed building should be subsidiary
in character to the host building.
Proposals for new build elements or extensions on the site may not be acceptable if their height is greater than the
highest point of the historic building, unless a robust justification can be made. The maximum height of new
development will be governed by national, regional and local planning policies. The maximum height will be
assessed on the basis of any harm caused to the character of the listed building and its setting and in relation to the
local context of nearby building heights and the site location.
Proposals which include enabling development will be assessed in the light of Historic England advice contained in
Enabling Development and the Conservation of Significant Places (English Heritage, 2008).
6.0 Methodology
In Appendix D, the room numbers used are from Hackney Council drawings of June 2013. Room numbers -1/030,
0/43 to 0/46 are not shown on the 2013 drawings and have been created using the 1904 drawings. The survey in
Appendix D is not exhaustive but indicative: the absence of a feature from the tables does not indicate that it is
without significance.
Assessing significance is the means by which the cultural importance of a place and its component parts are
identified. It is essential for effective conservation and management: the identification of areas and aspects of
higher and lower significance, based on a thorough understanding of a place, enables proposals to be developed
which protect, respect and where possible enhance, the character and cultural values of a place. The assessment
can identify areas where only minimal changes should be considered, as well as locations where change might
enhance significance.
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) defines significance as:
The value of a heritage asset to this and future generations because of its heritage interest. That interest may be
archaeological, architectural, artistic or historic. Significance derives not only from a heritage asset’s physical
presence, but also from its setting.
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Historic England’s Conservation Principles, Policies and Guidance (2008) outlines an approach to significance that
takes account of how a building or place is generally valued and the associations which it carries. Historic England
describe four different values that broadly align with the interests described in the NPPF:
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Historical
Aesthetic
Evidential
Communal
At Haggerston Baths, associative historical interest resides mainly in the building as the work of the leading
swimming baths architect of the late Victorian and Edwardian period. There may be other associative historical
interest which has yet to be identified: for example that famous swimmers began their careers at galas in the
building, or that well-known boxers fought or well-known bands played in the building. Illustrative historical interest
is focused on the ways the building reflects the aspirations of the Council of the Metropolitan Borough of Shoreditch
for the improvement of local people and in the evidence the building provides of the history of sanitation, health and
fitness in the early twentieth century. Aesthetic interest derives mainly from the south and north elevations, the
pool hall and the high status areas in the main south block and is partially described in the listing description
(Appendix A). Evidential interest is normally more archaeological in character. The surviving historic heating and
ventilation plant at Basement level has evidential interest as a substantially intact set of early Edwardian swimming
pool heating plant. Communal interest is derived from the near century in which the building was a hub for the local
community, providing opportunities for bathing, swimming and washing clothes as well as listening to music,
spectating at boxing and participating in dancing. The building was long loved by local users and continues to be
held in affectionate memory.
At Haggerston Baths, the following surviving types of building elements are of significance (this list is indicative, not
exhaustive):
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Elements reflecting the work and design intentions of the original architect
Elements reflecting the original and early uses and functions of the building
Elements which have aesthetic appeal in terms of their design, material and craftsmanship
Elements of structural interest reflecting the design and methods of the original builders
Elements reflecting the original plant and servicing of the building
Elements which reflect the original layout, floorplan and circulation routes and the social and functional
priorities of the time
Elements which reflect the local communities’ long association with and use of the building.
The assessments made in Section 7 and Appendices D and E are informed by this approach.
The overall assessment of significance has taken into account the survival of historic elements and the capacity of an
area for change. For the purposes of this document and in the interests of simplicity and clarity three simple
classifications are used, with a traffic light system. Building elements and areas are classified in Appendix D and on
the coloured maps (Appendix E) using the following terminology:
Significance Colour
Level
3
Red
Meaning
2
The area has moderate significance, with some survival of historic
elements. Some change is likely to be acceptable, provided it is moderate
in impact and well justified. The general approach should be that surviving
Orange
The area has high significance, with a high survival of historic elements.
Only limited, well justified change with a low impact is likely to be
acceptable. The general approach should be that these elements are
retained, historic features restored and the element preserved and
repurposed.
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historic elements are generally retained, although the area may require
remodelling to serve a new purpose.
1
Green
The area has low significance, with a low survival of historic elements.
Substantial change, in a few cases including demolition, is likely to be
acceptable, provided it is well justified and proposed in the context of an
otherwise acceptable proposal.
A few specific areas of the building are modern and of no significance.
These detract from the building and demolition is likely to be acceptable,
provided there is adequate justification in the context of an otherwise
acceptable scheme.
Some other specific areas have been previously damaged, removing most
of their significance. Substantial remodelling and, in certain cases,
demolition, may be acceptable provided there is adequate justification in
the context of an otherwise acceptable scheme.
7.0 Area by area analysis
The table below summarises the significance level of each area. It relates to both the Area by Area Significance Level
Assessment given in Appendix D and summary of this table given in the Colour Coded Maps in Appendix E, using the
methodology outlined in Section 6 above:
Significance Level 3 Areas (colour coded red)
Area
Commentary
Priority
level
Main south block
This element includes Basement rooms -1/001, 002, 003, 022, 028,
023, Ground Floor rooms 0/038, 037, 036, 041, 002, 042, 001, 003,
004 and 006 and First Floor rooms1/008, 007, 006, 004 and 016.
These rooms form the highest status rooms in the building and sit
just behind the most elaborate façade. They have high significance
and form an almost processional route (discussed below in Appendix
B).
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Colour
code on
maps
Red
Pool hall
This element includes an area in the basement, Ground Floor areas
0/013, 014 and 012, and First Floor area 1/013. This is the most
significant single large volume in the building. The ceiling and
associated steel and plasterwork are an early example of their type
and of high significance. The pool lining is generally original, as are
the surviving windows and wall plate cornice. The current finish of
the balcony and the pool deck at ground floor level is modern and of
low significance.
3
Red
Boiler and water
heater rooms
This includes Basement areas -1/007 and -1/011. Expert advice has
been sought from Historic England (see Appendix F) and their view is
that the Lancashire boilers with their chain driven automatic stokers
and the Green’s economisers (in room -1/007) and the west water
heater (in room -1/011) are of high significance.
3
Red
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The plant on the Stokery apron (in room -1/007, in front of rooms 1/006 to 009) is modern and of low significance.
Women’s Second
Class Baths
This area is on the First Floor in area 1/009. This is an area of high
significance since the survival of the cubicles and associated baths
and other fittings, particularly on this scale, is unique in London and
rare nationally.
3
Red
It may not be necessary to retain the entire suite of 19 baths and
cubicles. A representative number (perhaps half) should be retained
and restored to their original form, using the surviving elements
from those removed.
South lantern
This is hexagonal and located at Second Floor level, above First Floor
rooms 1/020 and 021. This has high significance as the most
ornamental and unusual of the various roof lanterns.
3
Red
Chimney
This element was designed to an original height of 90 feet and is
ornamented at the top. This element has high significance.
3
Red
South elevation
Of high significance and comprehensively described in the listing
description. This elevation is highly ornamental and survives largely
as built. The “area” to the south elevation is also of high significance
since it is lined with Portland stone ashlar, sensitive to change and
provides lighting to historic basement windows to high status areas.
3
Red
3
Red
2
Orange
The gilded ship weathervane is an icon for the building and of high
significance.
North elevation
(Not including the 1961 Laundry part of the north elevation to the
west: see below)
Of high significance and comprehensively described in the listing
description. This elevation is highly ornamented and survives largely
as built. The gas lamp brackets are of interest. The central
emergency exit doors to the pool hall have been infilled to provide a
window and this infilling is of low significance.
Significance Level 2 Areas (colour coded orange)
Basement Coal
Stores, Pump
Room, Workshop
and Fan Room
This element includes Basement rooms -1/006, 008, 009, 010 and
012. These areas are of moderate significance. The plant in these
rooms is modern and of low significance.
The machinery in the Workshop (room 012) is of low significance.
Pool corridors
This element includes Basement rooms -1/013 and Ground Floor
rooms 0/011, 009, 010, 016, 015, 021 and 020. These are areas of
moderate significance and Ground Floor west areas have been
heavily altered.
2
Orange
Assorted WCs
These areas include Basement rooms -1/005 and 024 to 27 and
Ground Floor rooms 0/039 and 040 and First Floor rooms 1/012,
2
Orange
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013, 014, 015, 017, 018, 023 and 024. These areas are of moderate
significance.
Areas with some
modern
alteration
These areas include Ground Floor rooms 0/005, 006, 007, 043, 044,
034 and First Floor rooms 1/020, 021, 022 and the south part of 019.
These areas are of moderate significance.
2
Orange
Caretaker’s Flat
These areas include Second Floor rooms 2/001 to 020. These areas
are of moderate significance. The priority at this level is to retain
the massing, form and detailing of the roof externally and reinstate
appropriate sash and dormer windows.
2
Orange
East elevation
A plain elevation, which was historically hidden by other buildings.
The part of the elevation which relates to the Women’s Second Class
Baths is more sensitive, but elsewhere, especially to the north, this
element, including the steel fire escape, is of moderate significance.
2
Orange
Other roof
lanterns
The building features multiple roof lanterns (a long rectangular one,
a medium sized hipped one and a small hipped one to the ground
floor and another long rectangular one to the first floor). These are
of moderate significance.
2
Orange
2
Orange
1
Green
The roof lanterns are currently enclosed within grey painted,
opaque, ventilated fibre glass sheds. These have preserved the
features well and prevented leakage into the building but they make
the building dark. The glass fibre sheds are of low significance.
The pool hall original featured a delicate and ornamental terra cotta
hung roof lantern of great style and beauty. The current corrugated
sheet material supported by angle irons is of low significance.
Internal light
wells
The building features two internal lightwell (a slim rectangular one
to the east and a larger square one to the west) which are of
moderate significance.
Significance Level 1 Areas (colour coded green)
Back stairs and
This area includes Basement rooms -1/017, 018, 016, 019, 015 and
north eastern
020 and Ground Floor rooms 0/022, 023, 032, 033 and First Floor
area and steps
rooms 1/003 and 004. The doorways to the east and west of the
main north elevation are of moderate significance. The additional
pairs of doorways to the east and west of the main elevation and
their associated stairs and other spaces are not felt to be a strong
design element and are of low significance.
The area to the north east of the site is accessed down a flight of
steps and formed a historical service access, with a decayed
conveyor belt. This is not felt to be a strong design element and is of
low significance.
1961 Laundry
This area includes Ground Floor rooms 0/024 to 027. This part of
the building is of very low significance.
1
Green
Former Public
Laundry
This area includes Ground Floor rooms 0/017, 018, 046, 045, 008
and is currently configured as a suite of pool changing rooms.
1
Green
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Although part of the 1904 building, this area has been heavily
altered. The only elements of historic interest remaining are the
cast iron columns supporting the floor above and the lantern
rooflights. Overall this area is of low significance.
Former Second
Class Men’s
Baths
This area includes the north and west parts of First Floor room
1/019, currently arranged as a trim gym. Although part of the 1904
building, this area has been heavily altered. The only elements of
historic interest remaining are the lantern rooflights. Overall this
area is of low significance.
1
Green
West elevation
The disabled entrance (room 0/027) and the 1961 main entrance on
this elevation are of very low significance.
1
Green
The west elevation, except for the south section bounding the main
south block, is of low significance since it was always plain and
historically hidden by other buildings.
Tanks
The iron rooftop water tanks are historic and date from 1904,
although they are of a once common pre-fabricated type common
on railways, a number of which survive. The tanks are of low
significance although capable of being dismantled and repurposed
elsewhere on the site (for example as refuse or bicycle storage
screens).
1
Green
West area
(external
lightwell to
basement level)
The narrow area to the west is lined with white glazed bricks and
provides light to historic windows to the boiler room. It is of low
significance, particularly the modern high wall around the perimeter
of the “area”.
1
Green
Internal walls
(specific)
All subdivisions of internal spaces indicated in Appendix D as
modern (typically timber stud or blockwork) e.g. all of the
subdivisions in room 0/045 are of low significance.
1
Green
8.0 Relevant literature
1902
Original drawings for the building by Alfred William Stephens Cross (1858-1932) in the London
Metropolitan Archive GLC/AR/BR/19/1281 (15 plans)
1903 onwards Building Acts case file in the London Metropolitan Archives GLC/AR/BR/07/1281 (correspondence)
1904 onwards Theatre licence case file in the London Metropolitan Archives GLC/AR/BR/22/BA/022163
(correspondence, certificates and some plans)
1988
Historic Buildings Report, London Borough of Hackney
2005
Haggerston Baths, Hackney: Conservation Statement (AHP)
2006
Feasibility Study (Hackney Council)
2008
Enabling Development and the Conservation of Significant Places (English Heritage).
2009
Great Lengths by Dr Ian Gordon and Simon Inglis (English Heritage)
2013
Property Condition Survey (CIPFA)
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2013
Structural Survey Report (NPS)
2013
Structural Survey Report on Water Tanks (NPS)
2013
Floorplans (Hackney)
2013
Title plans (Hackney)
2013
Asbestos Air Test (for Hackney)
2013
Property Condition Survey (Hackney)
9.0 Sources of further advice and information
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Hackney Council Planning Service; Conservation, Urban Design and Sustainability Section
Historic England
Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service
The Victorian Society
Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society
Tim Walder
Conservation and Design Officer
Planning and Regulatory Service Division
London Borough of Hackney
2 Hillman Street
London E8 1FB
Tel: 020 8356 4813
Email: [email protected]
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Appendix A Historic England listing description
“Public baths, 1904 by A.W.S. Cross for Shoreditch Borough Council in Edwardian Baroque style. Soft red brick in
English Bond, with Portland stone dressings, slate roofs. Single swimming pool, men's and women's slipper baths,
some removed, annexed laundry and chimney.
Impressive south elevation. Central pedimented section of 5 bays, 3 bay wings, slightly set back, to left and right; 4
bay wing arranged 1:2:1 to left, the central section set forward and emphasized by sweeping concave quoins. Two
storeys, cellars and attics. Stone quoins, moulded stone entablature with dentil cornice, central pedimented section
has ashlar basement with central round-headed window with eared architrave and a bay-leaf drip mould, flanked by
men's and women's entrances. Each an open pedimented doorway with cartouche bearing lion motif in relief. Doors
now blocked. First and fifth bays have cellar openings from pavement level with scrolled keystones and metal grilles
above which are oculi with fancy scrolled architraves. Stone string course between ground and first floors. First floor
loggia, distyle in antis of paired columns with Ionic capitals; first and fifth bays defined by stone quoins abutting
pilaster with Ionic capitals flanking loggia. To left and right, windows of similar proportions to those in the wings,
have stone architraves incorporating bracketed cills and margin glazing bars with central side hung openings. Full
height glazed openings with stone architraves set in brick screen wall behind loggia. Central opening has door under
shallow bracketed stone hood. In tympanum, round-headed window with eared architrave in stone, flanked by stone
relief panels with reclining female figure. Shallow balcony railings. Cupola with Ionic columns and leaded dome, set
on square tower to rear of pediment has gilded ship finial. Flanking wings have sashes with glazing bars, gauged
cambered heads with stone keystone, moulded stone cills above plain brick aprons. Entrance beneath small 3 x 3
light glazed window with similar head, to left bay of each wing. 3 lead checked dormers, with casements replacing
former sashes to each wing. Brick stacks with oversailing caps above. Similarly detailed wing to left has some altered
brickwork. Tall parapet to central section.
Rear elevation, relates to central pedimented front elevation. Brick with stone dressings, similarly detailed to front,
with repaired brickwork. 5 bays beneath pediment. Ground floor, first, third and fifth bays of ashlar, the outer two
with paired panelled doors beneath stone keyed heads. Three plain stone roundels in shallow relief above. Central
entrance now blocked to cill height as window, beneath bracketed open pediment which breaks through stone string
course between storeys. First floor. Central bay has full height metal-framed window with eared architrave and
divided with an upper light; flanked by a pair of stone pilasters with Ionic capitals, between which is a tall recessed
brick panel beneath blind oculus and all beneath a segmental pediment containing rectangular opening with stone
architrave, the pediment breaking forward from the main cornice. First and fifth bays breaking forward at upper
storey, defined by stone quoins. Second and fourth bays have window similar to that to centre. All have shallow
railings.
Single storey additions to left and right, that to west containing laundry with glazed north light roof. Tall brick
chimney to north west, with banding and stone brackets at top.
Interior
Single bath now divided to form small learning pool at north end. 8 bay steel-framed roof of curved members
between which are 3 panelled sections to each side of longitudinal top-lit glazed roof. Original amphitheatre seating
with changing cubicles above was replaced probably 1960's. Slipper baths, replaced 1930's survive to women's
section to right. Men's baths removed to create training area. Former foyer reordered, removing ticket office. 1980's
refurbishment to left. Original panelled doors survive to upper floors. Old Lancashire boilers-remain in basement,
now superseded, with former adjoining workshop. Historic Buildings Report, London Borough of Hackney, 1988.”
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Appendix B The historical use of the building
1904 to 1923 arrangements
All swimmers
At this time swimming was both a form of sport, an exercise as part of general well-being and a means of keeping
clean. The building was referred to as Haggerston Baths and this reflected the cleanliness priority. Some users
would have been unable to swim and would have used the swimming pool for relaxation and cleanliness.
Haggerston was aimed at sports education too and it is likely that from 1904 local schools visited. The provision of a
Swimming Club Room and the amphitheatre seating (and a 100 foot pool) suggests that serious sporting competition
(galas with some bunting, ceremony and medals were common) was part of the intention.
Water was unchlorinated at first and appears to have been unfiltered at Haggerston. It was normal to change the
water once a week (prices were lower in many pools on the day before the change). The pool water was heated, to
about 20◦ Celsius, considerably lower than the modern norm (28 to 30◦ Celsius). Fears of catching a chill and the
costs of achieving even this temperature meant that pools at this period were boarded over using temporary trestlesupported boards during the winter months and used for entertainment purposes. This was intended at Haggerston
(the 1903 original drawings show the pool boarded and with temporary seating) but problems with acquiring a
licence for music and dancing may have prevented this use until 1923.
Haggerston appears to have an excessive amount of storage space at basement level, especially in the doubling up of
the corridors around the pool (-1/013). It is likely that this was used for the storage of the trestles and timber
boarding and temporary seating for the winter use of the pool, which would have been bulky.
Male swimmers
Once the roller shutter was raised, men would enter through the south elevation west door (0/001) into the west
half of the black and white stone tiled entrance hall (0/002), buying their ticket from a ticket booth to the north once
the staff had emerged from their staff room (0/042). They would then go down the Men’s Stairs (0/003 and 004),
passing through a high quality glazed teak fire door into the Men’s Cloakroom (-1/003) to shed their coats and
perhaps boots. If they needed the toilet they could pass through another teak door to a Lobby (-1/004) and the WCs
and Lavatory (room with wash hand basins, -1/005). Men would then collect their towel from the Towel Store (1/029). They would then go back up the Men’s Stairs (1/001) to the first floor, passing onto the raised balcony
(1/002) where the Changing Boxes (cubicles were located around the perimeter). They would descend to poolside
on flights of steps past the amphitheatre seating. This seating was in teak with flip up seats concealing a box for
small items such as goggles. They would then enter the single pool, with the shallow end to the north and the deep
end to the south.
Female swimmers
Women could only swim on one day a week. The route followed was a mirror image to that for men, entering
through the south elevation east door (0/041), using the Women’s Stairs (0/036, -1/022 and 1/007), the Women’s
Cloakroom (-1/023) and WCs and lavatory (-1/024 and 026 and 027).
Club swimmers and children
It seems likely that schoolchildren and swimming clubs would have used the Club Room (0/034) which was fitted
with a bench and under-bench storage around the perimeter and had access via a Lobby to its own WC (0/043).
They would have crossed the Corridor (0/011) and gone up the short flight of steps to the south east of the pool.
All slipper bathers
The concept of public baths for private washing is now remote. It was claimed that “scarcely one” local home had a
bathroom (Hackney and Kingsland Gazette, 1904); certainly they were rare. In the year 1902-1903 Shoreditch
Borough Council’s other baths at Pitfield Street, Hoxton (1899, demolished) saw 263,002 bathers and 49,860 people
washing clothes. A cold bath cost 1d and a hot bath 2d and came with a towel (but soap only in first class). Baths
12
were probably a weekly event for local people. With improvements in local housing, it is easy to imagine that this
service might have faded away in the 1950s, but baths could certainly still be taken at Haggerston in 1961 and
probably as late as 1985.
Male First Class slipper bathers
Male bathers entered the building like male swimmers. They would then have used the basement Men’s Cloakroom,
WCs, Lavatory and Towel Store before returning to the ground floor and turning west, through a teak door into the
Men’s First Class Waiting Room (0/006), which had a coal fire. They passed through another teak door into the
slipper bath suite (0/005 and 007), with the chance to use two WCs and giving their ticket to the attendant in the
first cubicle to the south of the entrance.
Female First Class slipper bathers
Female bathers entered the building like female swimmers. They would then have used the basement Women’s
Cloakroom, WCs, Lavatory and Towel Store before returning to the ground floor and turning east, through a teak
door into the Women’s First Class Waiting Room (0/037 and 038), which had a coal fire. They passed through
another teak door into the slipper bath suite (0/039, 040, 043 and 044), with the chance to use a single WC and
giving their ticket to the attendant in the first cubicle to the east of the entrance.
Male Second Class slipper bathers
Male bathers entered the building like male swimmers. They would then have used the basement Men’s Cloakroom,
WCs, Lavatory and Towel Store before returning to the first floor and turning west, through a teak door into the
Men’s Second Class Waiting Room (1/016), which had a coal fire. They passed through another teak door into the
slipper bath suite (1/0017, 019, 020, 021 and 022), with the chance to use two WCs and giving their ticket to the
attendant in the first cubicle to the south of the entrance.
Female Second Class slipper bathers
Female bathers entered the building like female swimmers. They would then have used the basement Women’s
Cloakroom, WCs, Lavatory and Towel Store before returning to the first floor and turning east, through a teak door
into the Women’s Second Class Waiting Room (1/008), which had a coal fire. They passed through another teak
door into the slipper bath suite (1/009), with the chance to use a two WCs and giving their ticket to the attendant in
the first cubicle to the east of the entrance.
Public laundry users
These would probably have been women. Entrance was to the rear of the building through the eastern set of paired
doors on the west side of the north frontage in Laburnum Street. The women would have passed along the Corridor
(0/020), buying their ticket from a booth just inside the door and then waiting their turn in the Waiting Room (0/046)
before entering the main laundry (0/045). Washing of clothes was done by hand in shallow sinks, assisted by early
washing machines in the form of power driven dollies in tubs. It would then have been mangled in the Ironing Room
(0/017) and then dried on the drying horses (which were probably heated, see Plant, below) and ironed on the
tables in the Ironing Room.
Public meetings
The board room (1/006) was primarily intended for meetings of the Baths Management Committee, but it seems
likely that this space may have been publicly rentable and it benefits from double stair access to the Entrance Hall,
adjacent WCs and Lavatories (1/012 to 015) and a ceremonial balcony.
Plant
On a cold winter Monday in 1904 the demands on the plant would have been industrial in scale. Water heating was
required for the pool and for hot water supply to the Public and Establishment laundries, as well as 90 baths (with
changes of water up to every 4 minutes). Air heating was required for the Drying Houses in both Laundries and for
13
the building in general. Shoreditch Borough Council toyed with powering the whole operation electrically, using
their new electricity station nearby. The architect, A W S Cross, persuaded the Council that more traditional coal
powered heating would be more economic, however, all lighting in the building was electric. Electricity was the
power source for the ventilation fan and the laundry machinery. There is no trace of a steam engine to provide
power or to drive a dynamo and it therefore appears that all motive power was electric: a modern arrangement at
the time.
The Caretaker would have descended the Men’s Stairs to the basement Corridor (-1/013) and then accessed the
Stokery (-1/007) through the doors in the lightwell (the steps from room -1/005 are later). Water was stored in
surviving large cast iron tanks on the west elevation at roof level. Coal was delivered to the front of the building and
dropped down into a Coal Store (-1/006 and 008). It would then have been shovelled across the Stokery (cement
apron) and into three Lancashire boilers of huge proportions (7 feet in diameter and 28 foot in length). These
featured chain grate overfeed stokers to deliver the coal into the furnaces. The boilers are described in The Builder
of 1904 as featuring feed and condense pumps, steam injectors and suction and delivery pipes. Air intake was
through the six furnace mouths to the south (two to each boiler). In each boiler, each furnace was a large cylindrical
tube sitting within an outer steel casing which was partially flooded with water. The water was heated directly by
the furnaces and from the outside of the casing. The latter was achieved through the redirection of flue gases from
the burning coal through ducts in the brickwork mounts under and to the side of the boilers.
Flue gases were then directed into a brickwork tunnel with a number of centrally pivoted flaps. These were
controlled by the caretaker using a system of weights, cables and pulleys located at the rear of the Stokery. Flue
gases could be allowed to pass directly to the chimney or into two large brick structures to the north. These survive
and consist of two Green’s New Patent Improved Economisers. The Economisers consist of two chambers, each with
a large apparatus of coiled pipes. The intention was that new cold water about to enter the boiler to become steam
was pre-heated by the hot exhaust gases heading for the chimney. Pre-heating of the feed water in this way
improved fuel economy (like filling a kettle with hot water): the Green Company claimed coal savings of up to 25%.
The flue gases contained soot and this tended to build up on the pipes in the Economisers, reducing efficiency. To
address this, the tubes were fitted with chain-driven scrapers to remove the soot and this elaborate mechanism
(presumably electrically driven) survives on top. Ash was removed from the boilers through the lower central door.
The boilers could also be drained of “mud” through large-bore pipes into the trough around the front and could be
entered for maintenance through a man hole at the top. Flue gases passed up the chimney after their route through
the Economisers.
Steam was pumped around a closed circuit between the three boilers and the two Water Heaters (in room -1/011),
providing indirect heating for the various hot water demands including the pool, radiators and hot water taps.
The building also featured an elaborate hot air system. This had a large electrically-driven fan (in the Fan Room, 1/010). This appears to have sucked air through a brick duct running around the base of the chimney (which was
presumably very hot in use) and then out through ducts running across the ceiling of the Fan Room and across the
ceiling of the Workshop (-1/012). Historical sections indicate the duct running in a 2 foot diameter pipe in the floor
of the Corridor (-1/013) around the pool, the aim being to reach the Drying Houses (-1/030) to dry the towels in the
Establishment Laundry. The entry point in this area survives, as does the exit point of the hot air into the north east
“area” of the building. It is likely that hot air was also directed to the drying horses in the Public Laundry (0/045)
above. Documentation from 1923 indicates that the amphitheatre seating in the pool hall also featured a hot air
grille beneath each seat. There is no sign of trunking on this scale and it is therefore possible that the space heating
of the main pool hall used the basement Corridor itself as a giant hot air trunk, with openings below seats. The
strange curved southern corners of the basement and ground floor Corridors may have been dictated by the
avoidance of right angle bends both in the buried hot air pipe to the Establishment Laundry and the Corridor itself,
to enable a smoother airflow.
1923 to 1961 arrangements
As far as is known, the swimming, bathing and laundry uses continued as before.
14
The licensing authority for music and dancing had (possibly well grounded) fears about the use of the building by
over 1,000 people and raised questions about the adequacy of means of escape, the containment of smoke, the
potential of boiler explosion and the provision of WCs. The successful 1923 application for a music and dancing
licence, replaced in 1930 by a licence for public boxing matches, resulted in the provision of two additional front
emergency exits and the roller shutters to the Men’s and Women’s Entrances on the south elevation and the
provision of turnstiles. The two front exits are quite incongruous once noticed (they are cut down windows with
steps bridging the “area”). It is likely that the doors from the pool hall at ground floor and balcony level date from
1923 since they differ from those shown on the 1903 plans.
In 1941 the local area was bombed. Houses to the west and east of the baths in Laburnum Street were damaged
and later demolished, as were buildings to the west and east of the baths on the Whiston Road side. The building
was originally tightly packed in amongst houses: the west side was never intended to be on public view (as now).
The baths suffered “general blast damage” and it is possible that the lantern light over the main pool was lost at this
time. As late as 1957 the Council were receiving “war damage payments” for the building.
Three additional tanks were fitted (into room -1/006), possibly in the 1930s to 1950s. It is likely that these are
associated with filtration and the addition of chlorine. It is assumed that otherwise the life of the baths continued
broadly as before until 1961.
1961 to 2000 arrangements
In the period 1961 to 1964 the building was altered as follows:






A new element was added on the north west corner of the site (to replace the houses destroyed in World
War II). This is of a fairly good matching red brick, but basic construction and design, with an industrial saw
tooth roof with north lights. It appears to have been a launderette-style laundry (0/026), a storage and
delivery area (0/025) and a plant room (0/024).
The south entrances were disused. The building was re-oriented towards Swimmer’s Lane to the west. A
new external entrance canopy and steps and a small exit block to the north west (0/027), near the chimney,
were created. The former Men’s First Class Baths (0/005) was converted into the main entrance hall and
circulation area. The former Men’s First Class Waiting Room (0/006) was converted into the Office.
In the basement, the 1904 plant was abandoned and rooms -1/006 to 012 appear to have been unused since
1961. The remainder of the basement appears to have been put to various low grade service and storage
uses with a much reduced establishment laundry function in room -1/030.
On the ground floor, the floor to the Public Laundry (0/045) was renewed and this area was entirely
reconfigured internally to provide a poolside maze of Men’s and Women’s Changing Areas with associated
footpaths, WCs, showers, changing cubicles and saunas. The former Laundry Waiting Room (0/046) was
absorbed into this area as were parts of the pool corridor (0/020) to become additional WCs. The poolside
itself was remodelled. The height of the floor deck appears to have been raised by about 300mm, the teak
Dressing Boxes were swept away, along with the steps down to the pool and the teak amphitheatre seating.
The four exits from the poolside were rationalised and provided with privacy screens. The former Women’s
First Class Baths were converted into staff accommodation including an Office (0/039), Kitchen (0/044), staff
showers and toilets (0/043 and 040). The Club Room became a Dance Studio (0/034) and corridor (0/035).
On the first floor, the Men’s Second Class Baths (1/019) was converted into a Gymnasium, with new
subdivisions for a Solarium (1/022) and Changing Rooms (1/021 and 1/020).
On the second floor, the fire break at the top of the stairs and the surviving kitchen equipment suggests that
the Caretaker was still in residence in 1961, but later this area appears to have fallen into low grade storage
use.
In the period 1985 to 1988 the building was altered as follows:



The current gas boilers, air handling plant and other equipment were replaced in room (0/024).
The pool was divided by a boom into a 25 metre main pool and a smaller teaching pool.
It appears that the Women’s Second Class Slipper Baths fell out of use at this time.
15
Concerns were expressed about the state of repair of the building in 1999 and it closed to the public in February
2000 on health and safety grounds.
16
Appendix C
Significant detail elements
Flooring
The relative status of rooms within the building in 1904 was marked by the use of different floor finishes. Black and
white stone flags in a checker pattern were used for the Entrance Hall. High status rooms were marked with parquet
(wood block) flooring. High status wet areas featured pink granolithic flooring. Low status and back of house areas
had a cement floor. Almost all of these finishes survive in the building, except the original pool deck treatment of
interlocking India rubber tiles.
Wall covering
Wall finishes were used in a similar manner. The Board Room featured wood panelling below the dado rail. Other
high status areas such as the Entrance Hall had plaster with a coved ceiling. High status wet areas had salt glazed
(brown) brick to a height of 4 feet in most areas and to a height of 6 feet six inches in slipper bath areas, with white
glazed brick above. More functional areas such as the Establishment Laundry featured only white glazed brick.
Glazed brick is a structural feature: these are not tiles. Low status and back of house areas had bare brick.
Internal joinery
The almost processional route through the building described in Appendix B above was marked by a particular
feature: heavy, teak, partially glazed, “fire” doors in a teak architrave. These high quality fixtures are at every turn in
the 1904 building: all the Cloakrooms, Waiting Rooms and Slipper Baths had these doors and they largely survive.
Other doors are simpler and those in back of house areas are simple timber types.
Windows
Apart from the dormer windows to the front of the second floor and the west elevation windows in the former
Men’s Second Class Slipper Baths (Trim Gym to first floor) which are uPVC, the historic windows survive in fair to
good condition. These are a mix of timber sliding sashes in the Baroque manner and steel windows. The steel
windows to the building are particularly progressive in design, with an almost Art Deco feel.
Structural elements
The huge weight, when full, of the rooftop water tanks led to some dramatic structural elements lower down the
building. The load was taken by the flank wall and the inset east wall at second floor level in the former Men’s
Second Class Slipper Baths (1/019). This east wall is in turn supported by a line of three elegant but chunky steel
columns in the former Public Laundry at ground floor. Because these do not align with the basement columns (of
similar design) there are some very substantial wrought iron riveted girders spreading the load laterally at basement
ceiling level. In the basement there are nine such columns, in three lines of three, taking the load to the
foundations. These structural elements are unusual and, the columns in particular, attractive, elements in the
building.
17
Appendix D Area by area significance level analysis: rooms on plans
2013 plan reference and
last known use
1904 area name and use
Basement -1
001 Stairs and 002
Cupboard
003 Storage/circulation
Men’s Stairs (primary
basement to ground)
Men’s Cloakroom
004 Storage and 005 WC
Lobby and Men’s Lavatory
006 Boiler room and 008
Storage and 009 Storage
006 and 008 Coals
009 Pump room
007 Boiler room
Stokery
010 Plant room
Fan room
011 Plant
Water Heater Room
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick
Historic: teak glazed doors to 001 and 004, architraves, six over six sashes,
parquet flooring, skirting, wall and ceiling plaster
Historic: teak glazed door to 005, window, glazed bricks in brown (bottom 4
feet) and white (above), concrete ceiling, tiled floor, timber doors to WCs 4
panel, Vacant/engaged locks x2
Modern: shower
Historic: brick walls, concrete ceiling, cement floor, rectangular plates for coal
delivery and railed apparatus with rails, possibly a lift for coal or ash.
Modern: timber steps and opening to 005, wall between 006 and 008 is
modern Flettons. The plant (pressurised tanks x3, gauges, pipes, small valves
or pumps, large pump, small pump in 009) is mid twentieth century and of low
significance.
Historic: Brick walls, cement floor, brickwork mounts for boilers and runoff
channel, boarded windows to light well, nine steel columns supporting the
floor above, brickwork mounts, weights and wires to operate flaps in air
control channels, stairs to rear of boiler, tunnel to steel pivot flaps are all 1904.
The large plant (3x Lancashire boilers, 2x Green’s Economisers) is also 1904.
The room and its contents are of high significance.
Modern: The ceiling was renewed in 1961. The smaller plant (various pumps
and valves mounted in the Stokery apron and the fork lift) are mid twentieth
century and of low significance.
Historic: brick walls, cement floor, chimney base and inlets, snake pipe. The
1904 fan has been removed, although there are parts in room -1/009 which
appear to be elements of it.
Modern: The ceiling in this area may have been renewed in 1961.
Historic: brick walls, cement floor. Two large water heaters. The water heater
to the west is mounted on glazed tile bases and dates to 1904. The water
Significance
level
Colour on
map
3
Red
3
Red
2
Orange
2
Orange
3
Red
2
Orange
3
Red
18
2013 plan reference and
last known use
1904 area name and use
012 Workshop
Engineer’s Workshop
013 Corridor
Outer perimeter is
“Corridor”, perimeter next
to pool wall is “Subway for
pipes etc”
014, 015, 016, 019 Storage
and 020 WC
017 and 018 Stairs
Store and WC
021 Storage
Stairs (secondary
basement to ground floor)
Mangling Room
022 Stairs and 028
Cupboard
Women’s Stairs (primary
basement to ground)
023 Electrical intake
Women’s Cloakroom
024 Storage, 025
Cupboard, 026 WC, 027
WC
029 Storage
Women’s Lavatory
030 Asbestos (No Access),
Establishment Laundry
Establishment Laundry
Towel Store
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
heater to the east is mounted on poured concrete bases and may be later and
less significant. Pipes for water in and out.
Modern: the ceiling in this room may have been renewed in 1961.
Historic: brick walls, cement floor windows to light well, three casements with
eight lights, plain historic door in poor condition, timber workbench and parts
storage rack. The machinery (a drill, lathe and pipe bending machine) are
electrically driven by belts from an overhead shaft. This may be a 1904
arrangement although the plant in this room is of low significance.
Historic: brick walls, piers and arches, the area near the Towel Store (-1/029)
still features wooden racks which appear to have been for towel collection.
More of these racks have found their way to room 2/ 007.
Modern: the ceiling in this room (particularly on the west side) may have been
renewed in 1961.
Historic: timber doors in poor condition. Not accessed.
Significance
level
Colour on
map
2
Orange
2
Orange
1
Green
Historic: concrete steps, brick walls
1
Green
Historic: formerly part of the Establishment Laundry. Cement floor, glazed
bricks in brown (bottom 4 feet) and white (above), concrete ceiling. Plain
doors from 013 and into 021
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick
Modern: nothing
Historic: teak glazed doors to 022 and 024, architraves, six over six sashes,
door, parquet flooring, skirting, wall and ceiling plaster
Historic: glazed bricks in brown (bottom 4 feet) and white (above), concrete
ceiling, tiled floor, WCs have timber doors 4 panel, cupboard door gone.
2
Orange
3
Red
3
Red
2
Orange
Historic: unexpectedly large and high status area. Glazed bricks in brown
(bottom 4 feet) and white (above), concrete ceiling, cement floor, boarded
windows, timber pass doors, two steel columns.
Historic: Glazed bricks in brown (bottom 4 feet) and white (above), concrete
ceiling, cement floor, boarded windows, timber door to 021, plinth to the east
3
Red
1
Green
19
2013 plan reference and
last known use
1904 area name and use
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
Significance
level
Colour on
map
Modern: tiling to subdivisions to west, tumble dryers, toilet and washbasins to
north
Ground floor 0
001 Lobby
Men’s Entrance
002 Circulation
Entrance Hall
003 and 004 Stairs
Men’s Stairs (primary to
basement and first floors)
Men’s First Class Baths
005 and 007 Entrance hall
from 1961
006 Office
Men’s First Class Waiting
Room
008 Circulation
Public Laundry (part of)
009 Circulation, 010 WC,
016 WC, 015 Circulation
and 021 Store
011 and 020 Circulation
Corridor (part of)
012 Poolside and 019
Switch room
Amphitheatre seating
Corridor
Historic: The roller shutter is certainly 1923 and may be 1904, the double doors
with ogee pattern glazing to lower part are 1923. Oval steel window with
marginal lights to Entrance Hall. Unusual Lenscrete type light to ceiling.
Plastered walls.
Historic: 1904 black and white stone tiled flooring survives, plastered walls and
ceiling with simple coving, two sets of double doors to 011 are glazed teak with
carved ornamentation above
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick, oval steel framed window
Historic: Glazed bricks in brown (bottom 4 feet) and white (above), now
painted purple. Ceiling not seen. Pink granolithic floor may survive.
Modern: boarding to walls, false ceiling, division between 005 and 007, ticket
hall with 1961 hardwood doors (good of their time), turnstile, doorway breezed
blocked up, safe.
Historic: windows behind blockwork, plaster ceiling may survive as may
parquet flooring, mirror from women’s slipped baths.
Modern: subdivision between 005 to 006, modern false ceiling, blockwork to
windows
Historic: concrete ceiling
Modern: Subdivision between 045 and 008. Now lobby to 1961 changing
rooms with divide to Men and Women, timber 1961 hardwood doors (good of
their time)
Historic: Adapted historic timber door, vaulted concrete ceiling
Modern: wall tiling. These rooms were crudely adapted out of part of the pool
corridor.
Historic: cement floor, vaulted concrete ceiling, steel grille gate of unknown
purpose, 1923 timber doors to 012 Poolside
Historic: nothing
Modern: this area was remodelled in 1961 and 1985
3
Red
3
Red
3
Red
2
Orange
3
Red
1
Green
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
20
2013 plan reference and
last known use
013 and 014 Swimming
pools
1904 area name and use
Swimming pool and hall
023 Circulation and 033
Storage
024 Pool plant room, 025
Delivery and storage area,
026 Launderette, 027
Circulation and 028 to 031
WCs
034 Dance Studio and 035
Corridor
036 Stairs
037 Circulation and 038
Unclassified space
Colour on
map
Red
Modern: steel railing to balcony, tiling to small pool and the boom between the
two pools, the corrugated plastic skylight and its steel supporting structure, air
handling ducts, pool surround tiling, steps to four exits and privacy screens,
acoustic tiling to south wall
Historic: white glazed brick walls behind modern panels, concrete ceiling and
1904 steel framed hipped roof lantern, 1 and a half 4 panel timber doors from
bath house areas.
Modern: tiled floor, all cubicles and subdivisions from 1961 and 1985.
Historic: concrete steps, glazed brick walls
1
Green
1
Green
Historic: white glazed brick walls, cement floor, concrete ceiling
1
Green
Not present
Historic: this room was not part of the 1904 building.
Modern: 1961 building of poor quality and in poor repair, 1988 heating plant:
switchgear, four gas boilers, air handling equipment
1
Green
Club room
Historic: concrete ceiling, blocked up window, timber door to 043
Modern: flooring. The subdivision between 034 and 035 is modern, perhaps
1985
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick, oval steel framed window
2
Orange
3
Red
Historic: wood block floor, plaster walls and ceiling, windows, cast iron Art
Nouveau fireplace, teak glazed doors to 036 and 039
Modern: partition between 037 and 038
3
Red
Stairs (secondary ground
to basement)
WCs
Women’s Stairs (primary
to basement and first
floors)
Women’s First Class
Waiting Room
Historic: panelled and patterned plasterwork, white and light grey paint
scheme, steel arches plastered, 1960s lights, north end windows and
surrounding embellishments, the basic form of the balcony, coving cornice at
wall plate, glazed brick to pool floor, gulleys and handles to main poolside,
two sets of 1904 or 1923 timber doors to 011 and one set to 020 with some
door furniture.
Significance
level
3
017 Men’s Changing Room Ironing Room
and 018 WC
022 and 032 Stairs
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
21
2013 plan reference and
last known use
1904 area name and use
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
039 Office, 040 Toilet, 044
Staff Kitchen and 043 Staff
toilet and shower
041 Circulation
Women’s First Class Baths
2
Orange
Women’s Entrance
3
Red
042 Unclassified space
Staff Room
3
Red
045 Women’s Changing
Room
Public Laundry
1
Green
046 Women’s Changing
Room
Laundry Waiting Room
Historic: window to front, glazed brown brick (to 6 foot six inches) with white
glazed brick above, granolithic floor may survive
Modern: subdivisions between 039, 040, 044 and 043
Historic: The roller shutter is certainly 1923 and may be 1904, the double doors
with ogee pattern glazing to lower part are 1923. Oval steel window with
marginal lights to Entrance Hall. Unusual Lenscrete type light to ceiling.
Plastered walls.
Historic: Steel framed window
Modern: partition to rear of room is modern
Historic: six steel columns and associated beams supporting the floors above,
white glazed brick walls behind modern panels, concrete ceiling with elaborate
1904 roof lantern, boarded to lower slopes and then with opening ventilation
structure. Two slipper bath doors survive.
Modern: all the subdivision walls in blockwork, cubicles, hung ceiling, saunas,
showers
Historic: white glazed brick walls behind modern panels, concrete ceiling with
small 1904 steel framed hipped roof lantern
Modern: Women’s changing area, showers, toilets
1
Green
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick, oval steel framed window
Historic: the teak Dressing Boxes were removed in 1961, the form of the
balcony is historic, white glazed bricks survive beneath modern wall surface,
timbers doors to 1/007 and 1/001 are four light types with some furniture
Modern: steel railing
Historic: timber doors modern plating but with four lights as at 1/002, white
glazed brick with cast turquoise handrail, timber exit doors, concrete stairs
Modern lobby fire to roof fire escape
Historic: Architrave, semi circular fanlight, teak glazed door to 1/001. Ceiling
with coving. Partial picture rail, timber panelling to west part, partial green and
white veined marble chimney piece, north and east wall plaster missing. Metal
framed French doors to balcony (x2) with margin lights. Central timber door
with metal framed light above. Woodblock flooring.
3
Red
2
Orange
1
Green
1
3
Green
Red
First floor 1
001 Stairs
002 Balcony
003 and 004 Stairs
005 Lobby
006 Unclassified space
Men’s Stairs (primary
ground to second floor)
Dressing Boxes
Stairs (secondary first to
ground floor)
Not present
Board Room
Significance
level
Colour on
map
22
2013 plan reference and
last known use
007 Stairs
008 Unclassified space
1904 area name and use
Women’s Stairs (primary
ground to first floor only)
Women’s Second Class
Waiting Room
009 Bath house and 010
and 011 WCs
Women’s Second Class
Baths
012 and 015 WCs and 013
and 014 wash rooms
WCs and Lavatories
016 Unclassified space
Men’s Second Class
Waiting Room
018 WC, 017 Circulation,
023 and 024 WCs
Attendant’s cubicle, Men’s
Second Class Baths (part
of)
019 Trim Gym (the part
above rooms 0/005, 020
and 021 Changing Rooms,
022 Solarium and WC
Men’s Second Class Baths
(south part of)
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
Modern: door to 1/007
Historic: Concrete steps, white glazed brick, turquoise hand rail in moulded
glazed brick, oval steel framed window
Historic: Pink granolithic concrete floor laid in squares with red dividers, partial
wall plaster, six over six sashed to front, plain ceiling, nine over nine rear sash
window, doors to 1/009 and 007 glazed teak door, teak architrave and semicircular fanlight
Historic: Concrete ceiling with steel rooflight with obscured glazing and
opening sides. Salt glazed (brown) glazed brick walls up to 6 foot six inches,
with white glazed brick above. 9 over 9 sash window to front. Flooring is pink
granolithic concrete with a long timber chute to establishment laundry. 19
cubicles for taking baths and one for the attendant, all in dark pink granolithic
concrete with an opening for the taps. Each cubicle featured a bath, a timber
bench on steel brackets, a timber framed mirror with a narrow shelf and a four
panelled (one panel above the other) unpainted hardwood door with number,
central bronze handle, engaged/vacant lock, folding hooks. Of these 19 baths,
19 benches, 18 doors with varying amounts of door furniture, at least 6 mirrors
and at least 8 set of hooks survive. There are no taps. WCs have four panelled
teak doors, cistern brackets, boarded window
Historic: These conveniences were to serve the Board Room. Four panelled
teak doors, room 1/012 has original cistern and brackets, downpipe and toilet.
Some not accessible.
Historic: Teak architrave and glazed teak doors to 1/001 and 1/017. Nine over
nine sash window to front and rear and good door to next room, chest height
dado rail, wall plaster, granolithic floor may survive
Historic: concrete ceiling, salt glazed (brown) glazed brick walls up to 6 foot six
inches, with white glazed brick above, window, WCs have four panelled teak
doors, cistern brackets, WC sign
Modern: sanitary ware and door
Historic: concrete ceiling, salt glazed (brown) glazed brick walls up to 6 foot six
inches, with white glazed brick above (now painted orange), rear blocked up
windows, to the south a hexagonal 1904 steel rooflight with coping around
Significance
level
Colour on
map
3
Red
3
Red
3
Red
2
Orange
3
Red
2
Orange
2
Orange
23
2013 plan reference and
last known use
019 Trim Gym (the
remainder)
Second floor 2
001 Stairs, circulation
1904 area name and use
Men’s Second Class Baths
(west and north part of)
Men’s Stairs (primary first
to second floor)
002 Circulation
003 Tank room
Landing
Tank Room
004 Unclassified space
and 007 Kitchen
Caretaker’s Living Room
005 Circulation
006 Unclassified space,
(part of kitchen)
008 Bedroom
Corridor
Box room
009 Bedroom
Bedroom
010 Bedroom
Bedroom
011, 012, 013, 014 and
015 Storage
016 Unclassified space
Cupboard
Bedroom
Caretaker’s Kitchen
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
Modern: subdivisions to form 020, 021 and 022 modern blockwork, openings
through walls and heaters, concrete floor, , plain modern skirting
Historic: to the north a large 1904 steel rectangular rooflight with coping
around
Modern: west windows uPVC, rear windows blocked with breeze blocks
Historic: white glazed brick (no turquoise handrail, this runs out at the Pool
Balcony mezzanine level on both staircases), steel handrail and bannisters,
steel gate with ogee pattern and Private sign from 1923, concrete ceiling
Modern: fire partition to Caretaker’s Flat is 1961
Historic: Concrete floor
Historic: steel tank, lath and plaster ceiling, six panel door and architrave,
concrete floor, plain skirting boards, wall plaster
Historic: Architrave, timber floor, fireplace, picture rail, ceiling with coving,
historic six panel door
Modern: the subdivision between 004 and 007, kitchen appliances and fittings,
suspended ceiling, uPVC to windows to front elevation
Historic: Architrave, six panel door, brick arch above, uPVC windows
Historic: Architrave, six panel door, floor boards, bare brick walls, timber
skylight
Historic: No ceiling, no plaster on walls, fire basket and opening and
mantelpiece, concrete floor, three light hopper type dormer window
Historic: Architrave, six panel door, no wall plaster, ceiling missing, partial
picture rail, broken fireplace, concrete floor
Historic: partial wall plaster, no ceiling, part skirting board, six over six sash to
rear, intact fireplace, six panel door and architrave
Modern: uPVC windows to front elevation
Historic: eaves cupboards, some with four or six panel doors and lath and
plaster ceilings
Historic: Part of ceiling missing, where present is lath and plaster, roof boarded
below slates, boarded historic windows, no skirting, wall plaster present,
historic six panel door, floor covering missing, concrete floor
Modern: windows to front uPVC, services modern,
Significance
level
Colour on
map
1
Green
2
Orange
2
2
Orange
Orange
2
Orange
2
2
Orange
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
24
2013 plan reference and
last known use
1904 area name and use
017 Circulation
Lobby
018 Cleaners store
Bathroom
019 WC
WC
020 Storage
Larder
Commentary including notes of surviving historic features
Historic: Bare brick walls, lath and plaster ceiling in poor condition, barred
possibly modern leaded light window
Historic: Concrete floor, lath and plaster ceiling in poor condition, boarded
door to roof.
Modern: tiling to walls, uPVC windows
Historic: boarded window, concrete floor
Modern: wall covering
Historic: bare brick walls, lath and plaster ceiling in poor condition, concrete
floor, historic sash window
Modern: skirting
Significance
level
Colour on
map
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
2
Orange
25
Appendix E Colour coded plans
Basement Plan
26
Ground Floor Plan
27
First Floor Plan
28
Second Floor Plan
29
Appendix F Note of advice from Historic England on historic basement plant
Note of telephone conversation between Tim Walder (TW), Conservation and Design Officer for Hackney Council and
Eric Branse-Instone (EBI), Designation Adviser, Designation Department, Northern Team, Historic England, Direct dial
01361 884958 Mobile 07889 808133
The call took place on Friday 4th September 2015. EBI was suggested as a contact by HE because he has experience
of steam related historic plant in listed buildings. TW had sent EBI photos of the Lancashire boilers, Green’s
economisers, water heaters, workshop, modern tanks and plant and pumps at Haggerston Baths.
The advice was as follows:
Lancashire boilers. Once a standard type and widely used wherever large amounts of steam required. Now
surprisingly rare since, when other sources of power came in, they were often scrapped. Of significance as a rare
example of a once common feature. The automatic chain driven stokers are thought to be unique: EBI had never
seen them before.
Green’s economisers. Once a standard type and widely used. Now surprisingly rare since, when other sources of
power came in, they were often scrapped. EBI had never seen a complete and intact example before. Of
significance as a rare example of a once common feature.
Water heaters. Thought to be unique and of special interest as part of a nearly complete set of historic water
heating plant for a swimming pool. Of significant special interest.
Tanks in former Coal Store (Room -1/006). Probably from the late 1940s. Not significant.
Modern pumps. Probably mid-20th century and not significant.
Workshop. Of some interest as a complete workshop environment with original (electric) power system. The
machinery itself (a lathe, a pillar drill, a pipe bending machine) is not unusual but dates from 1904. Not of special
interest because not unique to the swimming pool environment.
Tim Walder
8th September 2015
30