The original Victorian Baths beside the Square in Saltburn. Opened officially by Arthur Pease Esq. on Monday 11th May 1891. The building faced (across Dundas Street West) the railway station with a central swimming pool which was filled with seawater from an inlet offshore close to the pier. The extensive facilities included massage facilities; private brine, douche, and electric baths. Now sadly gone; demolition of the baths took place in July 1976 by Blair and Co. of Stockton and the town is now served by the Leisure Centre on Marske Mill Lane. Callum Duff tells us: ”In relation to swimming pool facilities in the town, Saltburn Leisure Centre was never seen as a replacement for the demolished Brine Baths. The baths had been damaged by a bomb in WW2 (which also destroyed a row of adjacent shops) and had been closed for some time before they were bought by Keith Watson in 1956. The building remained empty and was heavily vandalised until the site was bought by Tarmac Ltd in 1976 and the baths building demolished. Saltburn Leisure Centre actually opened in 1974 with the building being finally completed in 1975. As a young boy I remember visiting the soon to be opened building with my parents. Once during the day with my Mum where we stood in the cafe and watched the 25 metre pool being filled (perhaps for the first time) and another time with my Dad, Grandad and Brother where we had a look at the indoor bowling green and squash courts. I remember being in the 25 metre pool and looking out through the window to see workmen cladding the rest of the roof.”
Image courtesy of Jean Hall and additional information courtesy of ’Saltburn-By-The-Sea Revisited’; thanks also to Callum Duff for the update.
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