You can come in now ........when Stretford got its new swimming baths

It is May 10, 1913 and the newspaper proudly announces “STRETFORD’S NEW BATHS TO BE OPENED TO –DAY.”

And for those that don’t know they were on Cyprus Street behind the Public Hall and served the community until they closed in 1982.

My friend Sally found the newspaper cutting and suggested I “store it up until an Esther Williams moment strikes us again” which I think has arrived.

More so because in the course of looking for material on the baths I came across a wonderful site on the Stretford Amateur Swimming Club which provides a fascinating bit of social history.*

And because I never try to reproduce what someone has done so well I will just suggest you visit it.

Picture; courtesy of Sally Dervan

*A Centennial History of Stretford Amateur Swimming Club, http://www.stretfordasc.org.uk/clubinfo/historyofstretfordasc.htm