Coventry Central Baths
Coventry Central Baths was a leisure centre in Coventry, England. It is located on Fairfax Street in the city centre, and was the main building of the Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre until its closure in February 2020.
| Coventry Central Baths, Coventry | |
|---|---|
 The north elevation of Coventry Central Baths, showing the unusual winged roofline | |
| Alternative names | Coventry Sports & Leisure Centre |
| General information | |
| Type | Leisure centre |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| Address | Fairfax Street |
| Town or city | Coventry |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52.4091°N 1.50452°W |
| Construction started | 1962 |
| Completed | 1966 |
| Opened | 23/04/1966 |
| Closed | 15/02/2020 |
| Owner | Coventry City Council |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Steel frame, brick cladding |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Coventry City Architect's Department (Arthur Ling, Terence Gregory), Michael McLellan principal architect, Paul Beney assistant in charge |
| Website | |
| http://coventrysports.co.uk/centres/coventry-sports-and-leisure-centre | |
History
Bombing in the Second World War destroyed four out of five of Coventry's swimming baths, leading to the council's decision in 1956 to build a large central complex to meet the city's needs. The building was designed by Michael McLellan of the Coventry City Architect's Department under Arthur Ling and Terence Gregory, who were also responsible for the Belgrade Theatre. Construction started in 1962, finishing in 1966.[1] The foundation stone was ceremonially laid by Alderman A.J. Waugh on 9 April 1963.[2] The baths were opened by Edwin Moody Rogers (Lord Mayor of Coventry) on 23 April 1966, who described them as the finest baths in Europe.[3][4] The complex was extended in 1976 with the completion of the Elephant, a dry sports centre straddling Cox Street to the east Central Baths.[5] A glass walled covered walkway connects the two buildings. The Central Baths building (but not the Elephant) was Grade II listed in 1997.[1]
In August 2014 the council announced that they planned to close the Central Baths, which at the time contained the region's only Olympic-sized swimming pool.[6] The final swimming session took place on the 15th of February 2020.[7] The future of the building is unclear, as the council have not yet announced plans for its redevelopment.[5] The Central Baths are viewed as a "Building at Risk" by the Coventry Society.[8]
Design
The Central Baths contained three swimming pools including a 165-foot main pool, later shortened to the Olympic regulation 50 metres.[1] Designed in the style of the Modern Movement the building was viewed as an architectural success at the time, the Architects' Journal of May 25, 1966 stating that "its best features are the main pool hall with its W-shaped roof and seven pitched lights over the three storey high glass wall overlooking the sunbathing terraces and gardens".[3]
References
- Historic England. "Coventry Central Baths (original part including sunbathing terraces), part of Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Non Civil Parish (1021930)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "New Baths Stone Laying". www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk. Coventry Evening Telegraph. 6 March 1963. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
- "Coventry Central Baths & Elephant – The Twentieth Century Society". c20society.org.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "Historic Coventry - List of Mayors & Lord Mayors". www.historiccoventry.co.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "The Forgotten Elephant!". Coventry Society News. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "Proposal to close Coventry's 50m Olympic pool approved". BBC News. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "End of an era as Coventry baths opens for final swim on February 15". Coventry Observer. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- "Coventry Swimming Baths - The Coventry Society". www.coventrysociety.org.uk. Retrieved 23 February 2021.