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

Bid Development News Update

Great news that Emma and Jayne from Place Prospectus have been asked to contribute to this round 2 Heritage Lottery funded development phase.

They are taking as a starting point  the ceremonial key which was featured in their vision document of March 2012, marking the end of Stirchley Prospects. Neil sent us a great image of the key the other day as well.

Jayne says “The key seemed to be an important symbol of business, community and government working together at the turn of the century.Over the next week or so Emma and I will be out and about gathering information so that we can develop our ideas. This will result in a temporary visual artwork and help shape something that can be permanently displayed in the building”.

All sounds very intriguing…

See below Place Prospector’s vision document (Vision_doc_innerfinal (1)) and (Vision_doc_frontfinal (1)), which is a nice visual summary of the work they have been doing with the Stirchley community. It also features the coaster they made from an advertisement for the baths which is featured above.  I hope they have got some left – wouldn’t mind one for myself!

You can see more about their work at www.prospectors.org.uk and stirchleyprospects.wordpress.com.

Welcome to the HLF bid development team!

Date for your diary. Put your hand up! Stirchley Community Art Challenge

Do you want to see Stirchley Baths brought back into community use?

Are you able to pop along to Stirchley Library on Sat 6 April for 20 minutes or so?

Would you like to show your support for the Heritage Lottery Fund bid that is being submitted in June by Selly Oak District (Birmingham City Council)? 

Come on your own or with your whole family, but please pop along and get involved in our community art challenge to show the Heritage Lottery Fund just how much community support there is for the project!

Let’s give the Heritage Lottery Fund a SHOW OF HANDS! 

Are you ready to put YOUR hand up???

Paper, pens, glitter, glue, crayons, tissue paper, pegs, laminator and washing line provided! We just need your hands – and some dry weather would be nice too!

 

Neighbourhood Forum 11 March 7.30pm: find out more about the Stirchley Baths Heritage Lottery Fund bid

Suzanne Carter – who is compiling the Activity Plan for the Heritage Lottery Fund bid for the Stirchley Baths Project – has been invited to speak at the Stirchley Neighbourhood Forum on Monday 11 March, 7.30pm.

Even if you are not a regular attender of the Forum, you are welcome to come along and give your ideas and suggestions about the history and heritage-related activities we can ask the HLF to pay for as part of the heritage restoration project.  Details below:

03Agenda Monday 11th March 2013 (1)