An afternoon in Chorlton …… with a history of Withington

It was another of those well attended meetings at Chorlton Good Neighbours* and we were not disappointed by David Rydeheard’s talk on the history of Withington.

It started with maps which as everyone knows is a jolly good way of walking through the past, and we had four, covering the periods from 1820 through to 1934.

There at the start in 1820 was a very rural Withington which as David showed in subsequent maps was transformed by the march of urban development ranging from the grand properties of the people of plenty to the humble homes of the artisans.

And star of the presentation was the story of Withington swimming baths from its ambitious plans to the cut down version built by the City Council.

That said the finished product with its impressive, patterned windows and tiled walls is still a gem, and a gem which might have been demolished but for a community campaign which matched demonstrations with a carefully worked out business plan which did the trick.

The Baths were saved and today are the centre of a heap of community events as well as a place to enjoy a splash in the pools.

Nor was that al because David drew much social history from the provision of first- and second-class pools, and the limited access for women to the absence of a public laundry which were a feature of swimming baths in the poorer districts of the city.

Not content with the talk we had the opportunity to buy David’s book on the History of Withington Baths**, and the delightfully illustrated book A Bigger Splash, Withington Baths: Ten Years as a Community-Run Leisure Centre by the artist Len Grant***.

Pictures; An afternoon in Chorlton …… with a history of Withington, 2026, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Chorlton Good Neighbours, https://chorltongoodneighbours.org/

**Withington Baths, David Rydeheard, 2025, available from Withington Civic Society, www.withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk

***A Bigger Splash, Withington Baths: Ten Years as a Community-Run Leisure Centre, Len Grant, 2025 £15

All you might ever want to know about Withington Baths …. and more

It’s perhaps a bold statement by me but having just read the draft of “The story of an Edwardian public swimming baths in south Manchester”, by David Rydeheard I think it’s justified.

The varied roof-scape of Withington Baths

So, to use a line from an old advert “its got the lot” with chapters covering its history from 1904 to its proposed closure in 2013, the campaign to save it  and its renewal under the stewardship of “Love Withington Baths”, which has a dual status as a private limited company and a charity.

There is a fascinating chapter on its engineering history and another by Simon Green on the restoration of the building, as well as a section which describes other swimming baths in the area and has an extensive set of references.

But for me as a social historian I was drawn to the chapter on the place of the baths in Withington community which includes the memories of people who used the place, as well as period newspaper reports and photographs with pictures of the restored bits from tiles to windows and the original 1910 design plans.

The chimney of the Baths, 2025

David tells me that the book “will be going to the printers this coming week, and will then be available for purchase, online at Withington Civic Society (contact@withingtoncivicsociety.org.uk) or at our outlets, including Withington Library.

Withington Walls, Details from a mural by Skeg, at the rear of the Baths

So, that is it.  

Looking forward to its publication and the offical launch of the book which will be  at the 10th birthday party of the new Baths managmement, over the weekend of the 14th-15th June.

Location; Withington Swimming Baths

Pictures; from the collection of David Rydeheard

One historic Withington building …. a charity and a fun day with a purpose

Now  Withington Baths on Burton Road is the sort of place you’d like to plan a fun day with a purpose.

It opened in 1913 and after a century of serving the area was saved from closure in 2015, when the pool was  taken over by Love Withington Baths, which is a community-led charitable organisation.

That story is covered in detail on their site so rather than lifting someone else’s research I shall just point you to the link link.*

Instead this is the story of another charity which on a sunny warm Saturday last week held a fun day involving tubs of ice cold water and a heap of brave and resolute bathers who took the plunge.

The charity is Mandem Meetup “a grassroots charity promoting, correcting and improving the conversation around men’s mental health and wellbeing……. offering a relaxed, comfortable, and judgement-free space built to empower.”

And last week they were given a shedload of ice and what better to do than have a fun day which drew a mixed bunch of men, and women, the old and young who sat in a tub and had a bit of fun.

Added to which there were plenty of friends on hand to give encouragement, assist with the promotion of the charity and a regular flow of passers by who just wanted to join in.

So a good day all round.

A large group of hardy souls took part, more just came for a chat or like me were there for the pictures.

Location; Withington Baths

Pictures; Ice cold in Withington, 2024, from the collection of Andrew Simpson

*Withington Baths, https://withingtonbaths.com/

*Mandemmeet up, https://www.mandemmeetup.org/