POPLAR BATHS
Poplar baths was built and opened in 1852 following the Baths & Wash Houses
Acts in 1846-47 and cost £10,395.
In the 1880s a large swimming pool with
provision for spectators was introduced in what used to be the laundry area.
There were further enlargements in the 90s, and the wash house section was
moved to Sophia Street in 1931.
In January 1934 the fabric of the new building
was completed and the whole much admired. The larger pool, known as East
India Hall, was floored over (in the winter) and used as a theatre (capacity
1,400), dance hall, exhibition room and sports hall especially for boxing and
wrestling programmes.
Wartime bomb damage forced the closure of the hall until
1947 when following required works, programmes resumed. Between 1954 -
1959 there used to be an average of 225,700 swimmers each year.
In the 60s
more sports were introduced to the Main Hall. However, poor repair, lack of
investment and the changing nature of leisure with the revolutionary change in
swimming pool design meant that when structural repairs were required on the
roof in 1985, it was the beginning of the end.
The LDDC came along in 1988 and
took over the building as a Construction Training Centre - on the pretext of
training young local people for work on the booming Docklands Project. Sadly,
we have never seen figures which show the number of E14 men and women who
received training in the building, or who then went on to full time jobs building Docklands.
The baths remain empty, home to
pigeons and drug addicts and seen very much as potentially a very valuable
Poplar resource, which is being watched very carefully by people living on either
side of the A13.
Splash has conducted a questionnaire and petition around desired uses for Poplar
Baths. Over 1,500 signatures attest to the strength of the desire to see the Baths
retumed as a Leisure Centre to the Community. Aware of what is or is not on
offer elsewhere, the primary request is for a Leisure Swimming Pool. If, however
the Council is putting in a bid to the Sports Lottery for similar facilities in Mile End
Stadium (though the Community has no recollection of being consulted on this
matter) the next most popular request is for an ice-skating rink (none in LBTH).
Currently to enjoy this sport we hire coaches and take youngsters to Lee Valley.
Ice Skating is a sport, which appeals to people of all ages, cultures and abilities.
There are over 1000 signatories on the petition to have a
swimming pool and leisure facilities restored to Poplar Baths. If you would like to
display a petition sheet, contact 7987 0257.
At a recent Public Meeting in St
Matthias Old Church a presentation by East Thames Housing of their Foyer
proposal was met with heated debate.
The consensus appears to be that the
leisure needs of the local communiy need to be met before facilities for any other
group (laudable as they may be) in Tower Hamlets are discussed.
Splash have
been consulted by Swan-Labo who intend to provide a swimming pool for
community use along with a mix of private and social housing flats.
It appears
that there may be a third player: Aronmore Developers - who are interested in
building leisure facilities on the site.