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KENT STREET BATHS

postie

postie

The buck stops here
Staff member
In 1851 Birmingham opened its first public baths in Kent Street..‚.. .‚.. .‚.. (c).‚.. Birmingham museums & art gallery.
 
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Quite an futuristic frontage. I dived in competitions there once. I remember it was the Coronation Year of Queen Elizabeth and I won an engraved red, white and blue silver medal. Still treasure it today. Are the baths still there?
 
HA!!!!!!!!!!!!! i learnt to swim at Kent Street!!! My dad threw me in!!! It was still there c.1975 if thats any good?
 
I belonged to the Birmingham Ladies Swimming Club at Kent Street baths. I learned to swim there and was awarded a medal for swimming quarter of a mile (I was only 10 at the time). Anyone else remember this club?
 
Kent Street Baths.

Same Baths different Club. I was a member of the Severn Street Swimming Club. We met at Kent Street and was still thriving in the early to mid 1960's. and run by Stan and Nora. There were inter club competitions and and an annual mile race in the River Avon at Twinning Fleet.

I remember if you went behind the scenes at Kent Street it was possible to look into the remains of the main Baths hit by bombs in WW2. It was being used as a bus garage.
 
Public Baths,

if any one is interested I have a 1940 newspaper report about the air raid on Kent street baths as refered to in the Tozer thread
 
HELLO every one i had two uncles worked at moseley bath,s ned nicholl ,davey kane. we never used that bath,s as it alway,s made our eye,s sore so 6 days aweek, it was kent st. the whole gang was into every competition i wish there was film footage or photo,s of us. i knew molly may she worked on the ticket office 1970,s & the chippie on the corner for our scratching , i have some photo,s only of bath,s outside ok, christy
 
If anyone want's more information about Kent street send a personal message to Dorothy H. Her uncle ran it for years. I was not a member of the club but used to train on Wednesday evening with Bert Owens. Met some one the other called Barry Townsend. She would be only too pleased to help. Bye for now. Jean.
 
hi, jean many thank,s for getting back & yes i would like some more info on KENT, ST please from DOROTHY,H ALSO THERE MOST BE FILM FOOTAGE &PHOTO,S TAKEN THERE WERE SO MANY COMPETITION,S AT THE BATH,S,IHAVE A GROUP PHOTO OF PEOPLE FROM THE BATH,S I KNOW MOLLY MAY IS THERE ,PLEASE GET IN TOUCH. CHEERO,, CHRISTY
 
hi, jean, my name is chris, delaney, i do have a photo of poor children in 1910 in kent st they floor boarded the swimming area [christmas-party] molly may was a witness when my granny got married in 1940, molly was seen in the kingsheath area a few year,s ago she would be well in her 80,s ,bless her,cheero, christy i,e sorry there was to many chris,s for this site, so thats why i had christy
 
Spent a lot of time there in late fifties, early sixties. Even won a medal once as part of a relay team. Gave the medal to a girlfriend, haven't seen it (or the girl) since.
 
gg jean, has dorothy h any photos of kent st baths or film footage, we was there every day in 1970,s,,...cheers.....christy.
 
I will e.mail her Chris. She is very helpful as Robert found out. I trained there on Wednesday evening with the Birmingham squad under a Mr Bert Owens from Woverhampton. He put us through our paces ok. Jean.
 
Just came across this when sifting through my never ending pile of photo's. HOPE YOU CAN READ IT. Jean.
 
they bring back memories, jean..free-pass,..we always keep loosing ours, swim a lenth to get yours,..it was worse when you left in your back pocket to go swimming, great times,..take care,,,christy,..
 
Was having a meal on Thursday evening before the darts and domis match when I met an old member of the Birmingham squad by the name of Barry Townsend and wonders if anyone out there remembers him. He told me to tell you he is on facebook if you would like to contact him. Oh bye the way the meal was luvverly. Jean.
 
Following quotes from 28dayslater:
adders-
I'm gutted I missed this. :( Looks like such an amazing building.

Went to take a look at the old Kent Street baths the other night, but got there to find out they're demo-ing the building, and apart from the brick tiles on the wall and the ironwork ceiling supports it's all been "modernised". The roof's been taken away already, and I believe they're completely knocking it down apart from the frontage.

800px-Kent_House%2C_Birmingham.jpg


Photo off wikipedia. We didn't take any whilst there as it was near impossible lighting conditions.

Reply:
bubblehead-
Apologies for the thread hijack, but i drove past kent house today, all of the pool area is gone, bar a fraction of the beautiful ironwork still pertruding skywards.

And adders i wouldn't have said the lighting was the problem the other night, more the fact of the rent boys and drug dealers lurking front and back:(
 
That is so sad Virusman. I remember ploughing up and down those lanes and coming out of the session with sore bloodshot eyes. It makes me so sad when things turn out like this can't they leave anything alone?. Jean.
 
Thanks for that lovely old advert for the baths BordesleyExile I can't remember the washouse but it's not something as a child or teenager I would suppose my mom looked after that side but ours was Victoria Road. Have a bath and wash your clothes when you got out. Bye. Jean.
 
Hi

Spent hours on Sunday Mornings here in the late 50's.
in Kent Street baths.Never got anywhere just kept on drowning.
Years later took off in the sea and never looked back.
Its got something to due with Buoyancy and Salt water.
It never made sense why we coudnt learn in Salt water
baths. Nightmares in Grove Lane Green Lane, drown drown.

Mike Jenks
 
Mike wished I'd had you in my lessons. Mike you quoted ,Took off in the sea and never looked back. Where'd you end up then?. Bye. Jean.
 
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