Glossop Road Baths, Sheffield

Glossop Road Baths is a historic building located in Sheffield. Originally built to house a swimming pool and Victorian Turkish baths, the site has a rich history dating back to 1836 when the first public baths in the city were opened in response to the cholera epidemic of 1832. The complex underwent significant reconstruction between 1877 and 1879, designed by E. M. Gibbs, which introduced an indoor swimming pool, a Turkish bath suite, and a hairdresser.

In 1898, the baths were acquired by the Sheffield City Council, which added a ladies' bath to the complex. The facade was later rebuilt between 1908 and 1910 by Arthur Nunweek. Despite the exterior being unremarkable and typical of Victorian architecture, the interior was lavishly decorated with tessellated pavements, glazed brick walls, and arched, ornate ceilings, reflecting a luxurious interpretation of Turkish architectural style.

The layout of the baths was shaped by the triangular site, resulting in unique forms: the galleried dressing room and large hot room were octagonal, the hotter room was pentagonal, and other spaces like toilets and shampooing rooms were triangular. The entrance, initially facing Convent Walk, was later moved to Victoria Street, with "1898" marked on the lintel. The baths featured subdivided changing and relaxation areas, a central fountain, a non-smoking gallery, and a distinctive plunge pool connecting the hot room and dressing room, accessible through plate glass doors or by swimming under a glass screen.

Over time, the baths saw a decline, and by the late 20th century, they were largely repurposed into residential accommodation. The main swimming pool area was converted into a Wetherspoons bar named "The Swim Inn." However, the Turkish baths were modernized and reopened as Spa 1877 in 2004. Although the spa closed in 2019, it was reopened in November 2023.