Public Baths

PARK ROAD SE 0824 NE 679-/18/10052 (West side) Public Baths II Public baths. 1859. Engineer Geo Wilson Stevens, possibly designed by Paxton and Stokes. Donated by the Crossley family. Coursed stone with ashlar dressings, slate roofs and a single tall ashlar chimney stack. Classical Revival style. Ground floor is articulated with pairs of Doric pilasters which stand on a rusticated base, and support a full entablature. The upper floor is articulated with slightly projecting piers with panels above the pilasters, and above a moulded cornice. The main, east front-has 13 bays arranged 7:3:2. The projecting 2 storey 3 window section has 3 round headed windows with moulded eared and shouldered surrounds. Above 3 plain sashes in similar flat headed surrounds. To the left the single storey facade has a doorway in a round headed similar surround with double doors and a plain fanlight, eitherside are single Ionic columns. The 6 bays beyond each have a blind window with a similar flat headed surround. To the right 2 similar bays, the first with an inserted C20 entrance, the other with a similar blind window. At the corner a similar curved and canted bay, and beyond on the north front a similar bay. The projecting north end of the 2 storey pool block beyond has a central bay with single curved side bays, all with similar fenestration, though the central blind opening contains a commemorative marble plaque. The upper floor has no windows, and the centre is decorated with a coat-of-arms inscribed PUBLIC BATHS, AD 1859. The south front has 5 bays arrange 3:2. The 2 bay single storey section to the right has 2 narrow blind windows with similar surrounds, and to the left the 2 storey section has 2 similar very narrow windows and a blocked doorway. The upper floor has no windows. The baths are lit by set back clerestorey windows. This important early example of a public baths was given by the Crossley family to the people of Halifax, like the neighbouring People's Park.

Listing NGR: SE0862524791