A night out at the Baths!

If you were out and about around the Baths or Stirchley Park on Wednesday between 7 and 8.30 you may have seen (certainly heard?) a group of 18 young people on a youth club evening out to…. Stirchley Baths!

The previous week I met 11 of the young people up at the Den Youth House in Dawberry Road where we talked about possible history and heritage-related activities that they might be interested in getting involved with as part of the restoration project.

On Wednesday, armed with flip cams, they interviewed each other talking about the Baths. Here is some very rough and ready footage – busy roads, lots of excitement – but some useful insight into how these young people view the Baths.
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The girls were really interested in the black and white pictures of the dancing taken in the 1940s and came up with the idea of organising a night of dancing back at the Baths – for the community!  It was great to see them talking about this on camera; about how they would enjoy talking to the older generation about the kind of dances they would have done there – and even learning some moves, and teaching older people some of their own!

Brian and Rowena from the Friends of Stirchley Park joined us to talk to the young people about possible future graffiti art work in the park which illustrated the history of Stirchley, including the baths. and we asked for a hands up who would like to be involved if the money can be raised? And that would be everyone then!

A massive thank you to youth workers Stuart and Martin for rallying up these brilliant young Stirchley-ites and thanks to everyone for their contributions.

Stirchley Baths memories at Splash Back In Time

Pictures by Jane Baker

People came along to share their memories of Stirchley Baths at the first Splash Back In Time event on Monday at the library. And to find out more about the Heritage Lottery Fund second-round bid and the plans to transform the building into a community hub.

We’ve already posted an interview with Ron Coley from the first Splash Back In Time event HERE where Ron shares his memories of using the public bathing facilities with his dad every Saturday in the 1960s.

We’ll post more interviews soon.

The second and final Splash Back In Time event is at Stirchley Community Centre on Tuesday 19th March between 12.30pm and 4pm. We’d love to see you there!

Please share the event with friends and family, especially those who aren’t online but who have memories and stories of Stirchley Baths they’d like to share. If they can’t make the event they can jot their memories down and drop them in to the district office, library or community centre.

 

Robert Grosvenor: Why I’m involved in the Stirchley Baths project

Robert Grosvenor is the chairman of Lifford Business Association, which promotes and represents businesses in Stirchley, King’s Norton, Cotteridge and Bournville. Robert is also a member of the community stakeholder group. Here Robert explains why he’s involved…

Robert mentions the Art Soak community event that’s taking place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th March. More details on that HERE.

Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum, 11th March: working on a heritage activity plan for Stirchley Baths

As part of the second-stage Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) bid for the Stirchley Baths project, Suzanne Carter from the Birmingham Conservation Trust is putting together a plan of activities and events focused on the history of the building.

A successful bid – as well as seeing the building transformed into a community hub – will also provide funds for the heritage activity plan. The building will not be a swimming pool but we need to keep its history and heritage alive for current and future generations of Stirchley people.

One idea discussed at the Neighbourhood Forum on 11th March at Stirchley Community Church was a Stirchley History Group. There was a really good group discussion, after a presentation by Suzanne, where people considered how a History Group could work and the wealth of community groups in the village and wider partners who could be involved.

Would you like to be involved in a Stirchley History Group? What other heritage activities would you like to see as part of the Stirchley Baths project? Please email stirchleybaths@gmail.com – pop it on our Facebook page here or tell us on Twitter using @stirchleybaths or #stirchleybaths

Many people at the Neighbourhood Forum also added their hands to the community art challenge that is designed to show the Heritage Lottery Fund the support in Stirchley for the baths project. The hands – complete with messages of support – will be displayed around Stirchley Baths on Saturday 6th April. Lots more information and how you can get involved HERE.

Taking a bath at Stirchley Baths in the 60s and 70s

Stirchley resident Ron Coley has some great memories of using the public bathing facilities at Stirchley Baths in the 1960s and early 70s.

As a child Ron – now 59 – used to visit the baths every Saturday with his dad. He remembers the attendants filling a bath with about 12 inches of hot water – you’d then top this up with cold water. However, as a nine-year-old Ron found a way of getting some extra hot water, using a tool he adapted specially!

Here’s a lovely interview with Ron, where he talks about his memories of public bathing at the Baths, including how a bit of the roll-top cast-iron baths made a great pea shooter! Thanks very much for sharing your wonderful stories Ron.

Ron came to the Splash Back In Time event at Stirchley library on Monday 11th March to share his memories of Stirchley Baths. There’s another event on Tuesday 19th March at Stirchley Community Centre between 12.30pm and 4pm. More details by clicking HERE

Did you use the public baths at Stirchley Baths? We’d love to hear your stories. Please email stirchleybaths@gmail.com – pop it on our Facebook page here or tell us on Twitter using @stirchleybaths or #stirchleybaths