Interview
The story of The Victoria Baths in Manchester could have ended so differently. Once an important, functional part of the local community, the Baths were described upon their opening as,“ the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country.” The building used the highest quality decorative materials costing more than double the price usually spent on constructing a public baths. However, after 87 years, the expense of running the building could no longer be justified and despite protests the Baths were closed in 1993. But the building had captured the hearts of local residents, and later that same year‘ The Friends of Victoria Baths’ and‘ The Victoria Baths Trust’ were established. The groups have fought hard in the years since to renovate the building. In 2003 Victoria Baths won the BBC’ s Restoration Program and to date around £ 4.5 million has been invested in the project. Even in its current partially derelict state it is a captivating space, with such a sense of history and memory the building holds great potential. The Baths has a special relationship with The Arts, having inspired a variety of creative projects. The building has been
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