Saving Heath Town Baths
Heath Town Baths is infuriating. It's a subjectively beautiful building, with a grand, arching roof and fine Victorian frontages. It was built as a fantastic public asset and yet it has been left to literally rot for decades. Now, finally, something is being done with the building to save it for future generations.
It hasn't been easy and certainly hasn't been without its problems. The last time the council inspected the site they found that masonry and stonework had been pushed off the roof and squared up onto pallets ready for an industrial operation of theft from what is a public asset. Unfortunately this may have compromised what is already an unstable building.
You'll have to bear with me because I am about to put some very strong rose tinted specs on.
Picture credit: Birmingham Mail
As the Mail show, we are talking about an incredibly derelict structure. But the sweeping arches of the vaulted roof are stunning in their own right and are pretty unique as structures go. Refurbished this would be a fantastic space and offer some great views.
Birmingham Mail
So what is to be done with the building?
Finally, after decades of nothing, a private scheme backed by the council has surfaced that will see the building turned into a conference, banqueting and events centre, a growing sector, as seen by the new builds going up around the city such as the rather boxy new banqueting hall at Fighting Cocks. I think we can all agree that this will be a much more glamorous setting for a get-together.
In my mind this use keeps it as a community asset even if it is entering private hands. Perhaps this is the only viable use for the building after all.
Importantly, Mayor Andy Street's 2040 transport plan includes the revival of the Wednesfield tram extension which will have a stop nearby to this building, giving it some credibility. It also keeps a beautiful building alive in what is an impoverished and downtrodden area of the city.
