William Anelay Ltd were on site at the Victoria Baths on 20 June 2006, along with specialist subcontractors Lightworks, to carry out investigative and trial works in preparation for Restoration Phase 1. A window in the Turkish Rest Room has been removed in order to establish how the windows and window frames can be restored without disturbing the surrounding tiles. All the stained glass windows on the ground floor of the building are fitted behind tiled window reveals.
As this is the first real restoration work at the Baths, there was a high level of press interest, and the work was featured on BBC North West and in the Manchester Evening News.
Gill Wright, Project Manager of the Victoria Baths Trust, said,
This first stage of work at Victoria Baths will take 12–15 months and has a construction value of £2.8m. It includes many specialist areas such as mosaic, terracotta and stained glass restoration as well as the complete renewal of roofs and repairing of gutters.
Further information and more illustrations at the Baths website.
Aidan O'Rourke for permission to use his photographs of work in progress
© Malcolm Shifrin, 1991-2023