krela
Well-known member
So this is a report with a bit of a difference, because it's not strictly urbex, it's about a group of passionate volunteers taking license of an empty and derelict Edwardian building to re-open it to the public in a useful way until redevelopment is ready to start. The aim was to ensure the security of the building, to make good the damage from 7 years of disuse and neglect, to stop it from deteriorating any further, and to give the local community access to the wonderful space rather than let it lay empty.
The building was commissioned in 1912 as part of a string of municipal pools in Bristol, making this it's centenary year. It was completed in 1917 and almost immediately requisitioned for war purposes. It opened as a pool post war. During the winters the pool was too cold to bathe in, so in the years between the war, every late autumn the pool was boarded over and the building was used as a cinema, then the boards were removed in late spring turning it back into a pool. In more recent years the pool was run by Bristol City Council, but for various reasons, and much to the anger and disappointment of the local community, it was shut in 2005. It has lain empty ever since.
The building is Grade II listed, and the current plan is to convert it into a new community health centre, maintaining many of the original features. Development is due to start in the next month or so, but has already been delayed multiple times over 5 years, so who knows. Until development starts the building is being looked after by "The Deep End" project, who after doing a huge amount of work on the building to make it suitable for public entry ran a number of events in May, including an art exhibition, film nights, and a fashion show.
I have 2 sets of photos for the project on flickr, one set from before the project with the building as it stood derelict, and a set from the art exhibition.
Externals:
1.
IMG_1892 by krela, on Flickr
2.
IMG_1878 by krela, on Flickr
3.
IMG_1905 by krela, on Flickr
4. Main entrance before
IMG_1934 by krela, on Flickr
5. Main entrance after (check out the polished granite floor)
IMG_2423 by krela, on Flickr
6. Foyer before
IMG_1926 by krela, on Flickr
7. Foyer after (check out the polished granite floor)
IMG_2409 by krela, on Flickr
8. Main staircase before
IMG_1929 by krela, on Flickr
9. Main staircase after
IMG_2417 by krela, on Flickr
10. Foyer again, before
IMG_1932 by krela, on Flickr
11. Foyer again, after
IMG_2418 by krela, on Flickr
Pool area before
12.
IMG_1736 by krela, on Flickr
13.
IMG_1720 by krela, on Flickr
14.
IMG_1737 by krela, on Flickr
15.
IMG_1752 by krela, on Flickr
Pool area after
16.
IMG_2251 by krela, on Flickr
17.
IMG_2217 by krela, on Flickr
18.
IMG_2266 by krela, on Flickr
19.
IMG_2215 by krela, on Flickr
20.
IMG_2226 by krela, on Flickr
There's loads more before and after photos on flickr.
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed it as it is a little bit different from the norm. It just goes to show that with determination and hard work good things can happen.
The building was commissioned in 1912 as part of a string of municipal pools in Bristol, making this it's centenary year. It was completed in 1917 and almost immediately requisitioned for war purposes. It opened as a pool post war. During the winters the pool was too cold to bathe in, so in the years between the war, every late autumn the pool was boarded over and the building was used as a cinema, then the boards were removed in late spring turning it back into a pool. In more recent years the pool was run by Bristol City Council, but for various reasons, and much to the anger and disappointment of the local community, it was shut in 2005. It has lain empty ever since.
The building is Grade II listed, and the current plan is to convert it into a new community health centre, maintaining many of the original features. Development is due to start in the next month or so, but has already been delayed multiple times over 5 years, so who knows. Until development starts the building is being looked after by "The Deep End" project, who after doing a huge amount of work on the building to make it suitable for public entry ran a number of events in May, including an art exhibition, film nights, and a fashion show.
I have 2 sets of photos for the project on flickr, one set from before the project with the building as it stood derelict, and a set from the art exhibition.
Externals:
1.
IMG_1892 by krela, on Flickr
2.
IMG_1878 by krela, on Flickr
3.
IMG_1905 by krela, on Flickr
4. Main entrance before
IMG_1934 by krela, on Flickr
5. Main entrance after (check out the polished granite floor)
IMG_2423 by krela, on Flickr
6. Foyer before
IMG_1926 by krela, on Flickr
7. Foyer after (check out the polished granite floor)
IMG_2409 by krela, on Flickr
8. Main staircase before
IMG_1929 by krela, on Flickr
9. Main staircase after
IMG_2417 by krela, on Flickr
10. Foyer again, before
IMG_1932 by krela, on Flickr
11. Foyer again, after
IMG_2418 by krela, on Flickr
Pool area before
12.
IMG_1736 by krela, on Flickr
13.
IMG_1720 by krela, on Flickr
14.
IMG_1737 by krela, on Flickr
15.
IMG_1752 by krela, on Flickr
Pool area after
16.
IMG_2251 by krela, on Flickr
17.
IMG_2217 by krela, on Flickr
18.
IMG_2266 by krela, on Flickr
19.
IMG_2215 by krela, on Flickr
20.
IMG_2226 by krela, on Flickr
There's loads more before and after photos on flickr.
Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed it as it is a little bit different from the norm. It just goes to show that with determination and hard work good things can happen.
