A building worth fighting for

For more than a century, Withington Baths has been part of everyday life in south Manchester.

Built between 1911 and 1913, it is the last operational Edwardian public bathhouse in the city and remains a much-loved local facility. Following a successful community campaign to prevent its closure, the building found a new future in community ownership. But years of underinvestment had left it in a poor condition, with significant repairs needed to keep it open and secure its future.

seven architecture was appointed to help Love Withington Baths understand the scale of the challenge, develop a practical plan for the building’s recovery and support their bid for National Lottery Heritage Fund investment.

What followed was a carefully planned programme of restoration work that protected the building’s heritage while making sure it could continue serving the community for many years to come.

Building a case for investment

The first step was understanding what needed protecting and what needed repairing.

Working closely with the client and wider consultant team, seven architecture prepared a Conservation Management Plan and Maintenance Plan, helping to establish clear priorities for investment and future care. These documents provided the foundation for a successful National Lottery Heritage Fund application and a shared vision for the building’s future.

The repair programme included work to the roof, clerestories, terracotta gables, historic glazing and decorative tiling, alongside a number of structural repairs hidden beneath the surface. Wherever possible, original materials were retained and repaired rather than replaced.

Keeping the doors open

One thing was clear from the outset: closing the baths for an extended period was not an option.

The building plays a vital role in the community, from children’s swimming lessons and fitness classes to activities that help tackle loneliness and improve wellbeing. Keeping those services running was just as important as repairing the building itself.

To make this possible, the project team developed a sealed crash deck above the live swimming pool, allowing major repairs to take place overhead while the facility remained open below. It was a challenging approach that relied on close collaboration between the client, contractor and design team, but it meant the community continued to benefit from the baths throughout the works.

“We very, very early on decided we had to stay open during the works. We had a commitment to the community. It had been a lot cheaper and easier for us just to shut the building, but we made that commitment to the community.”

Dave Payne, Project Coordinator and Board Member, Love Withington Baths

Protecting heritage, supporting community

The project was about much more than repairing an historic building.

Throughout the programme, opportunities were created for people to reconnect with the story of Withington Baths. Heritage workshops, educational activities, interpretation displays and community-designed stained-glass artwork helped celebrate the building’s past while creating new connections for future generations.

This reflects what makes the baths so special. It is not simply a heritage asset. It is a place where people learn to swim, meet friends, improve their wellbeing and feel part of something bigger than themselves.

A future secured

Today, Withington Baths is once again a building people can be proud of.

The completed works have repaired longstanding defects, restored important historic features and improved the building’s performance and comfort. The baths remain busy, well-used and financially sustainable, with growing membership and strong community support.

The project has since been recognised with a RICS North West Award for Refurbishment/Renovation and a Highly Commended accolade at the Civic Trust Awards. More importantly, it has helped secure the future of a building that means so much to the people who use it every day.

For seven architecture, Withington Baths demonstrates the value of taking a collaborative, conservation-led approach. By listening carefully, understanding what matters and working closely with stakeholders, heritage buildings can continue to serve their communities long into the future.