Former Municipal Baths

The Former Municipal Baths in Ashton-under-Lyne, built between 1870 and 1871 by Paull and Robinson, is now used as industrial and office units. This building is constructed of Flemish bond brick with a slate roof and stone dressings, showcasing an Italian Romanesque style. The large swimming hall features a tower at the northeast corner and additional accommodation to the east. The swimming hall has five bays, each with flat pilasters, a machicolated frieze below the eaves, and three round-headed windows with hoodmoulds and glazing bars in the upper storey of each bay. The other elevations are similarly designed.

A lean-to structure at the ground floor includes a central entrance with two arched door openings and several small arched lights beneath dripmoulds. The Lombardic tower has vent openings near the top, framed by bold machicolations, and a similarly styled chimney rises from the roof apex. To the left of the tower, an elaborate entrance surround leads to a two-storey wing with paired windows on the lower floor and eleven round windows on the first floor.

Inside, the swimming pool, which was once said to be the second largest covered bath in Europe, is now filled in but is surrounded by paired columns with moulded capitals that support semi-circular brick arches. The impressive hammer-beam roof remains intact, along with other fittings such as doors and staircases. This building is not only an important early example of a municipal swimming bath but is also exceptional for its striking architectural massing and stylistic features.