Stories of the baths – Stirchley Baths https://stirchleybaths.org A community hub in restored Edwardian Swimming baths Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:02:26 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.5 10 Year Anniversary for Stirchley Baths in 2026 https://stirchleybaths.org/2025/02/18/10-year-anniversary-for-stirchley-baths-in-2026/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2025/02/18/10-year-anniversary-for-stirchley-baths-in-2026/#comments Tue, 18 Feb 2025 17:02:26 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.org/?p=3671 January 2026 will be the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the refurbished Stirchley Baths Community Hub. The centre has been hugely successful and we would like to celebrate these first ten years with a series of celebratory events and activities for groups, users, staff and the wider Stirchley community.

We’re very keen to hear about the sorts of things you would like to be included in the celebrations . Contact us at stirchleybathsstakeholders@gmail.com  

Opening of Centre in Jan 2016

First Birthday Party!

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2025/02/18/10-year-anniversary-for-stirchley-baths-in-2026/feed/ 2 Music, stories and love at Stirchley Baths https://stirchleybaths.org/2019/02/17/music-stories-and-love-at-stirchley-baths/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2019/02/17/music-stories-and-love-at-stirchley-baths/#respond Sun, 17 Feb 2019 17:50:09 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.org/?p=3413 Clare Fleck, Trevor Hughes and Lois Murray: Love at the Baths performers
Clare Fleck (left), Trevor Hughes and Lois Murray: Love at the Baths performers

Love at the Baths was inspired by the large photograph in the reception corridor which shows a dance taking place on the boarded-over pool during the war years. It made Lois Murray, who leads the Stirchley Pop-Up Choir, wonder about romances that might have begun at those events. Her researches and musical knowledge led to the concert on Saturday 16 February with love as its theme. Audience guests included Gerald and Jean Lyndon who remembered those dancing years, and Alan Jones, son of bandleader Den whose music kept those feet dancing all those years ago.

While narrator Clare Fleck brought the history of Stirchley Baths – and some thoughts about love – to life through her readings, the music of the era was brilliantly performed by singer Lois and piano accompanist Trevor Hughes. Cole Porter’s “Let’s Misbehave” provided a commentary on the introduction of mixed bathing in 1927! The music of Irving Berlin, Glenn Miller and – in the second half – George Gershwin evoked the spirit of the age. If the beautifully-restored Edwardian era Stirchley Baths could speak, surely these are the kinds of things it would want to say.

All the profits from the performance went to the Memory Café which helps people with memory loss to reconnect with their past and enjoy the present. Thank you Lois, Trevor and Clare for helping us all to do that through this performance.

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2019/02/17/music-stories-and-love-at-stirchley-baths/feed/ 0 Animating the History of Stirchley Baths https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/11/03/animating-the-history-of-stirchley-baths/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/11/03/animating-the-history-of-stirchley-baths/#respond Thu, 03 Nov 2016 12:02:15 +0000 https://newstirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=2486 During October half term we welcomed back film maker Scott Johnson to run some more film challenges as part of the Heritage Programme here at the Baths. This time we opened the opportunity up to a younger age group too, and worked with children aged between 6 and 16 to create two animated films which depict the history of two periods in the Baths’ history timeline; setting the scene for their construction and opening (1903-1911) and the war years (1939-45).

Scott showed us films from the the early days of shadow puppet animation back in the 1920s; looking at how the first animations were made, and Suzanne briefed them on the history of the Baths. Inspired and understanding the challenge they had been set, our young participants then started to develop characters, plots and narrative in order to tell the story. This was followed by a few creative hours cutting out the shadows and backgrounds for the scenes.  Then the stop motion animating began…

Here is a gallery of pictures…

Some facts!

There were:

  • 119 cut outs
  • 1564 pictures taken
  • 68 hands removed (from pictures taken!)
  • 20 animators and 3 helpers

The challenge was then thrown into Scott’s court with two days to edit the films, add the sound effects and recorded narration ready to premiere at our red carpet celebration event on the Friday evening. It was great to see most of our participants and their families enjoying the popcorn, movie and Q & A session with the young animators.

We hope you also enjoy the results!

 

A few reviews…

  • Incredible work in such a short time! It was lovely seeing the cut outs of the scenes after. Brings the history of the building to life.
  • Great film, very enjoyable. Good to see the kids getting some creative time.
  • 5/5 wins best animation film!
  • FABULOUS!!! It’s obvious that a lot of hard work and creativity went into this production. Very proud.
  • It was fun. 100/100
  • It was amazing. I really enjoyed it. (Gracie, aged 11)
  • I loved it! (Ramsey, aged 6)
  • What a brilliant project. The kids loved it and learnt new skills and we all learnt loads about the history of the baths! More please! (and for grown ups)
  • Brilliant workshop, film premiere, well done everyone!

The adults want to know when they can have a turn!

Another gallery of pictures, this time of the evening…

Thank you to Scott for superb facilitation and working his ‘movie magic’ with the films, and to everyone involved in the sessions; especially to volunteers Esther and Alex who supported the workshops.

 

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/11/03/animating-the-history-of-stirchley-baths/feed/ 0 Ron, the pliers and the toffee apple. https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/11/ron-the-pliers-and-the-toffee-apple/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/11/ron-the-pliers-and-the-toffee-apple/#respond Thu, 11 Feb 2016 16:37:11 +0000 https://newstirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=2012 Ron Coley used to use Stirchley Baths to have a hot bath each week – at home they only had a tin bath. Here he walks to the where the bath used to be (now the cafe) and remembers how he tried to buck the system.

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/11/ron-the-pliers-and-the-toffee-apple/feed/ 0 Who taught you to swim? Heather Clarke and Stirchley Baths 1975 – 1976 https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/04/who-taught-you-to-swim-heather-clarke-and-stirchley-baths-1975-1976/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/04/who-taught-you-to-swim-heather-clarke-and-stirchley-baths-1975-1976/#respond Thu, 04 Feb 2016 11:39:17 +0000 https://newstirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=1994 Heather Clarke visited the refurbished building recently. She first worked here in 1975 and went on to teach generations of children to swim at various pools – including Tiverton Pool.

Below is a video of heather and some photos from the 1970’s and 1980’s.  Do you remember Heather? Did she teach you to swim?

Heather in 1981, photo taken by Paul Jones
Heather in 1981, photo taken by Paul Jones

 

winnieshaw_jpg
Winni Shaw inside the ticket booth – photo taken in March 1988 by Paul Jones
Bournville_lane_0004_jpg
A photo of the ticket booth – taken in Match 1988. Not sure who the person in the booth is. It isn’t Kathy Fracoviac, who Heather mentions in her video.
A black and white photo of a group of people seated in rows.
This is what Heather said of this picture. “l recognise them all but not everyone’s name, At the top man wearing glasses was George Rawlings ( Supervisor) l think next to him was Alan Wallings other two not sure, Below wearing the glasses lifegaurd Pat Byfield, and Joan Butters ( Area Supervisor )
not sure of others names
Bottom row David Teale (Area Supervisor ) myself and Paul Jones7
The event for this photograph was our lnterdivisional Swimming Gala between all of the Baths in Birmingham There were 3 Divisions all competeing against each other”

 

 

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2016/02/04/who-taught-you-to-swim-heather-clarke-and-stirchley-baths-1975-1976/feed/ 0 Jenny learned to swim at Stirchley Baths after nearly drowning in Spain https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/16/jenny-learned-to-swim-at-stirchley-baths-after-nearly-drowning-in-spain/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/16/jenny-learned-to-swim-at-stirchley-baths-after-nearly-drowning-in-spain/#respond Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:06:34 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=419 Jenny Barnwell

Jenny Barnwell was taken to Stirchley Baths as a five-year-old by her parents as soon as they arrived back in Britain from a holiday in Spain.

Jenny had been paddling in the Costa del Sol sea when she was sucked into the ocean by a wave. Luckily, she was “spat back out again” but the terrifying experience made her parents enrol her for swimming lessons.

Jenny wrote this on her hand to support the Stirchley Baths community hub project: “I learned to swim here in 1960 after a close shave – I nearly drowned in the sea at Costa del Sol.”

listen to ‘Jenny’s learn-to-swim challenge after Costa Del Sol incident!’ on Audioboo

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/16/jenny-learned-to-swim-at-stirchley-baths-after-nearly-drowning-in-spain/feed/ 0 Fiona’s 1970s swimming passes for Stirchley Baths https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/15/fionas-1970s-swimming-passes-for-stirchley-baths/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/15/fionas-1970s-swimming-passes-for-stirchley-baths/#respond Mon, 15 Apr 2013 13:44:09 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=407 Fiona Cullinan

Fiona Cullinan shared her memories of learning to swim at Stirchley Baths in the mid-70s at the recent Stirchley Community Market.

Fiona remembers people queuing round the block in the long hot summer of 1976 and the pressure from her friends to lose the armbands before swimming lessons began in earnest at school!

Fiona lived in London for 20 years but has returned to Stirchley and is more keen than ever to see the building restored and brought back into use.

listen to ‘Fiona Cullinan on learning to swim at Stirchley Baths’ on Audioboo


Fiona talks about her swim passes in the interview and she’s very kindly sent us some photos of them. Thanks Fiona!

Swim passes (3)You can see more of Fiona’s Stirchley Baths photographs HERE by the way, including lots from the open day at the building in 2011

Do you have some memorabilia from Stirchley Baths that you can share with us? Drop us a line at stirchleybaths@gmail.com or connect with us on Twitter or Facebook. We’d love to hear from you!

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/04/15/fionas-1970s-swimming-passes-for-stirchley-baths/feed/ 0 Sandra’s Stirchley Swimming Club memories https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/28/sandras-stirchley-swimming-club-memories/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/28/sandras-stirchley-swimming-club-memories/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:48:49 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=327 Sandra Braker

Sandra Braker started going swimming at Stirchley Baths as a four-year-old. She soon became a member of Stirchley Swimming Club and took part in galas across the West Midlands.

Sandra talks to Jane Baker about her memories of this time and how she hopes the community hub can provide a real use for the building again.

listen to ‘Sandra Braker on Stirchley Swimming Club’ on audioBoom

Were you a member of Stirchley Swimming Club? Let us know about your memories by emailing stirchleybaths@gmail.com or by leaving a comment on the website. We’re also on Twitter and Facebook

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/28/sandras-stirchley-swimming-club-memories/feed/ 0 Studying Stirchley Baths: Interview with Amy Pond https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/27/studying-stirchley-baths-interview-with-amy-pond/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/27/studying-stirchley-baths-interview-with-amy-pond/#respond Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:36:52 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=322 Amy Pond

Amy Pond is a postgraduate student at Bath Spa University and she is currently working on her dissertation – on Stirchley Baths.

Amy, from Kings Heath, loves old buildings and talks to Jane Baker in this interview about why she’s so interested in Stirchley Baths particularly and her hopes for the building’s future.

listen to ‘Amy Pond on her Stirchley Baths university dissertation’ on Audioboo

]]> https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/27/studying-stirchley-baths-interview-with-amy-pond/feed/ 0 Taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 1950s https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/25/taking-a-bath-at-stirchley-baths-in-the-1950s/ https://stirchleybaths.org/2013/03/25/taking-a-bath-at-stirchley-baths-in-the-1950s/#respond Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:41:28 +0000 https://stirchleybaths.podnosh.com/?p=294 Brenda Hawksford

Brenda Hawksford used to bathe at Stirchley Baths.

“We were grateful for it,” she says. “There was no hot water in our house and it was a lot easier using the baths at Stirchley than getting the tin one out at home and heating the water up for that. Much easier.”

listen to ‘Brenda Hawksford on taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 1950s’ on audioBoom

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