Smethwick is an industrial town in sandwell, west midlands, historically in staffordshire. Smethwick baths ballroom, smethwick the beatles bible. The interior walls of the decks were built and faced with white tiling, as well as the bath basins themselves. Birmingham englandsweet home70th birthday coachesfamily historybathsmemoriesfurniturelife. Thimblemill baths as a ballroom smethwick, birmingham england. Today galton valley is a nature area and of more historical interest than. Smethwick is listed in the domesday book, witnessed the dissolution of the monasteries and the loss of its abbey, and experienced horrific living conditions with foul water and a major small pox epidemic in 1883. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. Post world war i the thimblemill baths were built and opened on 3 march 1933 to provide a safe healthy environment as a seasonal swimming facility then an. Britains first genuinely modern baths following the popular art. Until the end of the 18th century it was an outlying hamlet of the south staffordshire village of harborne. History of smethwick baths smethwick is listed in the domesday book, witnessed the dissolution of the monasteries and the loss of its abbey, and experienced horrific living conditions with foul water and a major small pox epidemic in 1883. Built from reinforced concreate the dark tunnels act as a storage area, but their original purpose was for the storage of staging from the concerts and dances the baths used to hold during the winter season.
This was the only time they performed at each venue. The subways below the pools hold the most paranormal activity and even without the resident spooks looks like something from a horror movie. This book on smethwick is written by andrew maxam and david harvey. Smethwick swimming centre offers something extra special. Smethwick rolfe street baths 1888 birmingham lost lidos. Smethwick was recorded in the domesday book as smedeuuich, the d in this. Smethwick baths were known locally as thimblemill baths. The centre was featured on the bbcs the one show and presenter phil tufnell came down to report on the pool rules poster. Previously named thimblemill baths and opened in march 1933, the smethwick baths like many buildings of its age have seen changes since its opening including taking a big part during the second world war but throughout these changes, smethwick baths still maintained its art deco design, which was very popular at the time of its construction. Smethwick baths is a daunting location for an overnight ghost hunt. Smethwick baths, west midlands march 2017 haunted heritage. The first was at the smethwick baths ballroom on thimblemill road in bearwood, smethwick.
So why is this 85yearold building bursting at the seams with spirits and spectres. Thimblemill road baths are now 75 years old and are known are more recently. With its tall parabolic arches the design of the baths was clearly based on the royal. The grade ii listed building which was once a music hall playing host to the likes of the beatles and the rolling stones is steeped in history and offers that unique touch to your workout. Smethwick was recorded in the domesday book as smedeuuich, the d in this spelling being the anglosaxon letter eth. Smethwick is listed in the domesday book, witnessed the dissolution of the monasteries and the loss of its abbey. A brief history smethwick baths, as it was previously known, was britains. Smethwick baths, smethwick, sandwell history in structure. Designed by chester button and borough engineer roland fletcher, the building perfectly captures the spirit of the age.
Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of smethwick. With two separate gyms to chose from, home to highly qualified gym instructors to advise you whatever your goals, around 30 group fitness classes per. Rolfe street public baths were among the first public swimming baths in the. As in the other bath venues many of the local bands would appear here. The ghosts of smethwick swimming centre sandwell leisure trust. We have an extensive archive of old photographic images of birmingham, smethwick and other selected areas in the black. History and memories of monument road baths, ladywood and introducing the new. And after youve read this article maybe you could put your own theory into the. The ghosts of smethwick swimming centre sandwell leisure. Smethwick photos, maps, books, memories francis frith. The groups second show of the night was at the adelphi ballroom in west bromwich. Birmingham englandsweet home70th birthdaycoachesfamily historybathsmemoriesfurniturelife. Explore the haunted underground tunnels which were used as an air raid shelter during the war and a pool room where many concerts and brawls have taken place, there is such a long history still waiting to be uncovered. Smethwick baths is a great location for those who like their overnight ghost hunt to be.