St Pancras Baths

These were my mum’s local baths as a kid in the forties. There were two pools – it cost 2d to swim second class and 3d for first class (in a different pool with better facilities). You were only allowed half an hour before the whistle was blown for you to get out. There were no hair dryers, she remembers, but you were provided with a towel (“hard as a wash-board”, she recalls). She remembers cadging rags from her mum and neighbours to take to the rag shop in Castle Road, and the 6d she made was enough for her and a friend to go for a swim. Happy days!



Frontage onto prince of Wales Road

Occupying a corner plot between Grafton Road and Prince of Wales Road, St Pancras Baths (also known variously over the years as Kentish Town or Prince of Wales Baths) date from the Edwardian era. Enjoying Grade II listed status since 1974, it is still an impressive structure, with Gothic turrets and pointed gables. Designed by Thomas Aldwinckle, it cost £80,000 to build and the foundation stone was laid on May 17th 1900.



Original slipper bath

When it opened in October 1901, St Pancras Baths was less a leisure facility and more of a public service. The building at that time housed four bathing pools with separate areas (naturally!) for men and women, and entrance was via a class system – second class men didn’t get a towel or soap! In addition, there were 129 cubicles containing personal “slipper” baths.




Washhouse entrance

At a time when many homes lacked their own facilities, the washhouse at the baths (50 washing sinks with mangles, irons and drying-horses) provided everything necessary for the family wash, helping to maintain the health and hygiene of the people in this area. There was even a crèche provided for mums doing their weekly laundry.

Drying racks

The Public Hall part of the building was used for regular community events and on Saturday nights during the winter boards were put over the baths so that dances or boxing matches could be held. We know that a cinema operated in the Public Hall around 1910.



The Willes Pool c. 1901 used as a meeting room



Darby and Joan Club Xmas party 1958

Although well used in the first fifty years of their existence, the baths fell into gradual disrepair from the 1970s and finally, in 2006, it was announced that they would close. A public outcry ensued and loud protests came from the Victorian Society. Thankfully, a new Liberal Democrat-run council later that year announced a £25.3m project to revitalise the building, with a council grant that would be offset by the proceeds of developing flats on part of the site.

Despite much damage being done during the clumsy refurbishments of the 1950s and 60s, the new building work has included the salvaging of key Victorian features, including the red brick and ornately-carved terracotta facades (700 new pieces of terracotta had to be approved by the Victorian Society and English Heritage before they were put in place), the slate roofs, chimneys and roof lanterns, and the impressive 33m-long Willes pool on the east side of the site, with its vast vaulted plaster ceiling, public gallery and roof lights. The attention to detail on the facades even extended to repainting all the lettering over the ladies’ and mens’ entrance signs with gold leaf.



The newly-refurbished Willes Pool
 

And so the building, which re-opened in 2010, now has a new lease of life as the Kentish Town Sports Centre. Thankfully, local youngsters no longer have to sell rags to afford to use the facilities!

References:

Camden Town and Kentish Town Then & Now Marianne Colloms & Dick Weindling (2012)

Website: http://www.kentishtowner.co.uk/2012/04/04/wednesday-picture-prince-of-wales-baths-kentish-town-sports-centre-if-you-must/

Website: http://www.constructionmanagermagazine.com/features/lengths-we-went/