English Victorian bathhouse to finally reopen after 50 years as new free attraction
A HISTORIC Victorian bathhouse is getting a new lease of life after closing nearly 50 years ago.
Manor Place Baths in South London is a 19th century bathhouse that was once a huge swimming pool complex.
It later became a boxing venue before closing in the 1970s.
However, a new attraction is set to open inside the bathhouse, as part of a collaboration with Nike and Palace Skateboards.
Inside will be a thee ‘zones’ – The Park and The Cage, The Front Room, and The Residency.
A free to use skatepark is in the area where the men’s swimming pool use to be (having since been paved over).
The ‘world-class’ skatepark will be made of concrete, with ramps, ledges and benches.
There will also be an underground football cage which can be used for three-a-side.
The Front Room will be an art venue with workshops and pop ups, as well as having Nike clothing on sale.
And The Residency will be creative studio spaces, which will be on rotation every nine months.
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Events will include “skate jams,” women-only sessions and a number of others.
Opening from November 11, it will be free to visit and open six days a week.
Palace co-founder Lev Tanju said: “We had an idea of creating a large space for the community that would be about skateboarding and sport, and a space you could generally hang out in.”
Gareth Skewis, also co-founder of Palace, said: “I want Manor Place to be somewhere safe and friendly where people can skate, play football and discover new things.”
It has even been backed by English footballer Lenna Gunning-Williams.
She said: “Manor Place is important for the next generation because it’s so accessible.
“It’s going to be a place where people can connect — and it’s not just for footballers, it’s for skaters and creatives too.”
Another Victorian bathhouse in the UK is being turned into a new attraction as well.
Kings Hall in Clapton, previously called Hackney Public Bath is undergoing a £71million upgrade.
With a new swimming pool and sauna, it hopes to reopen by 2028.
In Manchester, there is a Victorian swimming pool that only opens to the public every few years.
Or you can stay in a converted bathhouse – here’s how.