Blackfriars
Road Baths
In March of 2013, when I took
the image above, 31 Blackfriars Road was home to
OMI-architects. When the building was opened
in 1880, at the cost of £2,310, it was the
Blackfriars Road Baths. Apparently, the
building featured two swimming pools, 3 slipper
baths and one vapour bath, although it seems hard to
imagine how they fitted all of that into a building
of that size. It was designed by the Borough
Engineers Brockbank & Wormall.
English Heritage has listed the building as GradeII and they described its features as follows: "Brick with terracotta dressings and part-glazed roof. Facade expressed as 2 storeys, with central pedimented feature over entrance in wide gable. Moulded 4-centred arched doorway with pilasters sprung from corbels each side, carrying continuous string course. Grouped arched windows each side, in 2 pairs. Paired windows to each side above, and central paired windows with mullions and transoms. Pedimented centrepiece has decorative terracotta panelling and pilasters each side which continue as finials. Gabled glazed roof structure behind." Close Window |