Moseley Road Baths on national list of ten most-endangered buildings for unprecedented third time

Oct 13 2009 by John Marsden, Birmingham Post

An historic swimming baths in Birmingham has made it on to a national list of the ten most-endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings.

Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath is on to the Victorian Society’s list for an unprecedented third year running.

To qualify, a building has to be at risk either from neglect, demolition or, in the case of Moseley Road Baths, from closure. After the baths were threatened with closure five years ago because of its crumbling and dangerous condition, Friends of Moseley Road Baths campaigned to have the 1907 building fully restored.

Birmingham City Council has since spent money reopening one of its two pools but has yet to decide about the other despite leisure chief Coun Martin Mullaney indicating recently that money would be available.

Nominations for the endangered buildings list flooded in from conservationists, campaigners and the public from across the country. The top ten also includes the Grade II-listed Waterloo Hotel and Grill in Smethwick which, the Victorian Society says, has suffered years of neglect. 

But the Red Lion pub in Handsworth has been removed. Dr Ian Dungavell, director of the Victorian Society, said: “We have been amazed at the response from the public. People clearly feel very strongly about beautiful, robust buildings being left to decay. In the case of The Waterloo, the building is now in a deplorable state despite still being open for business. 

“It surely won’t last much longer without help. Even in the economic climate money must be found to weather-proof these buildings and protect them. Future generations won’t forgive us for leaving our heritage to deteriorate.”