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Draft:Swindon Health Hydro, Formerly Known as Milton Road Baths

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Background

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The Great Western Railway was established in 1833 to connect Bristol and London. The arrival of the railway transformed Swindon from a small, hilltop market town into an industrial giant. It reached Swindon in 1840.[1] The principal locomotive establishment opened in Swindon in 1843 and the history of Swindon was radically changed by the establishment of the Swindon works.[2][3][4][5]

The Sick Fund was established in 1844 and became the GWR Medical Fund Society (MFS) in 1847.[6] The Health Hydro in Milton Road, Swindon was built as the Medical Fund Society Baths and Dispensary to help provide the complete medical provision offered by the MFS for the workers in the Swindon works and their families.

Location

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The site is located at the southern end of the Swindon Railway Conservation Area and comprises the former Milton Road Baths and NHS Health Centre (the “Health Hydro”). To the north, beyond Faringdon Road, lies the Railway Village. To the east is Milton Road. To the south and west lies Chester Street.[7][8]

1891-1947 - GWR Medical Fund Baths & Dispensary

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The Health Hydro, built in 1891-92, was the Medical Fund Society’s most ambitious project. The washing baths were built in 1898-9; Turkish and Russian baths were added in 1904-5; further additions were made in 1911. The Health Hydro is a Grade II* Listed Building. Its principal elements were a dispensary, swimming baths, washing baths and Turkish baths. The name “Health Hydro” was adopted in 1986 by the Council and superseded the NHS Health Centre and Milton Road Baths (1947-86), and before that, the Swimming Baths and Dispensary (1892-1947).[9][10][11][12]

Medical Fund Baths and Dispensary Viewed from Faringdon Road 1905


The Turkish baths were part of the Victorian Turkish Baths movement.

The large swimming pool was originally for men and the small pool was for women and children.[7]

Ladies in the Small Pool 1905

The buildings are in a Queen Anne style. An enormous complex with two swimming pools, Turkish baths, a former dispensary and numerous former consulting rooms and medical facilities. The swimming pools, with iron trusses in their roofs from the rail works look more like railway stations than pools. There are stained glass windows, ceramic bricks, red brick and hard woods. The large pool is 33 1/3 metres long, five lanes wide, 1 to 2 metres deep.[13][12]

In 1905 there were 11 doctors, a dental surgeon, an assistant dentist and seven dispensers on the staff. There was a dispensary, washing baths, Turkish baths, a dentistry, invalid chairs, swimming baths, hairdressing and shaving salons. Membership of the Medical Fund Society was compulsory for employees of the Great Western Railway Company in the town. The Society was managed by a committee of its members.[14]In 1908 the Medical Fund Society had 15,300 members, rising from 500 members 50 years earlier.[15]

During the First World War, the GWR works were taken over for the war effort, and the MFS buildings were used as a military hospital, with the swimming pools floored over to create large hospital ward spaces; this work was reversed after 1918.[12]

The large pool hall as part of a Red Cross Hospital 1914

In 1931 the centre had almost 17, 000 patients on its books. Because of the heavy machinery in the rail works there were frequent accidents and the issuing of artificial arms and legs (made in the rail works) was a feature of the Medical Fund’s services. Gilbert Iles, chief pharmacist at the dispensary from 1939 to 1966, stated that the 12 staff at the pharmacy issued 16,000 prescriptions a month – these included prescriptions for the GWR Hospital across the road.[16]

“Until it was taken over by the National Health Service in 1947, the Medical Fund Society was run by a committee of GWR employees who were elected by their colleagues. Aneurin Bevan, chief architect of the National Health Service, stated: "There it was, a complete health service. All we had to do was to expand it to embrace the whole country!".[2]

When the rail works was still in operation, the swimming pool water was heated at the GWR Works and pumped ¾ mile to the baths. In the winter months this was not practicable and the large pool was boarded over for dances, roller-skating, boxing competitions and a Royal Hunt Ball.[17][18]

In 1947 a small book was published by the Medical Fund Society – ‘A Century of Medical Service’. It was written by Bernard Darwin and it gives an overview of the history of the society and describes the Society’s facilities as they existed at the time.[19][20]

By 1947, when the National Health Service (NHS) was being planned and the MFS consequently was being wound up, the MFS Baths and Dispensary included two swimming baths; Turkish, Russian and washing baths; doctors; a dispensary; dental surgeries and dental laboratory; and ophthalmology, chiropody, psychology and physiotherapy departments.[12][21]

1947-1985 - NHS Health Centre and Milton Road Baths

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After 1947 the Milton Road Health Centre was located in the ‘dry side’ of the building. There was a GP practice, a pharmacy, chiropodists and opticians.[16]Little brass checks were issued to those waiting for doctors’ appointments downstairs.[22]

1985-2014 – Health Hydro

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Milton Road Health Centre closed in 1985. Doctors, chiropodists, pharmacists and opticians moved to a new complex in Carfax Street, Swindon. Gordon Hill, secretary of the Wilts Pharmaceutical Committee described the Milton Road Centre as ‘the oldest health centre in the world – the very first ever seen.’[16]

The large and small pools and the Turkish baths continued to operate and a whole range of complementary medical offerings and other activities were made available in the ‘dry side’. In the pools, as well as swimming, canoeing, scuba diving, lifesaving and aquarobics were offered. Swimming lessons were available for adults and juniors. The small pool was particularly suitable for children and less confident swimmers.

Acupuncture, alexander techniques, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, homeopathy, massage, first aid, stress management, overweight therapy, reflexology, rebirthing, yoga, numbertherapy were all on offer. There was a Well Woman Centre. There were exercise rooms associated with the Turkish baths, with sun beds and infra-red sauna.[23][24]

In 1993 the tunnel between the Baths and the rail works had been flooded for some time and British Rail filled it in.[25]

2014 to the Present Day

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In 2014 Greenwich Leisure Ltd (trading as Better) took over the operation of Swindon’s leisure centres (including the Health Hydro) on a 25 year lease.[26] Both pools and the Turkish Baths continued to operate until the small pool was closed in January 2016.[27]

"In March 2021, the Towns Fund awarded £5 million to the Health Hydro on Milton Road which, combined with £1.5 million from the council, will enable refurbishment works to get underway."[28]

The whole complex closed temporarily in April 2023, for refurbishment to take place. The building’s plant is being replaced, new changing areas and a gym are being installed. Access to the large pool and Turkish Baths is being improved. The building should reopen in 2025.[29][30][31]

External repairs have been carried out to brickwork, windows and roofs, financed by Historic England.[32][33]

References[4][5][12]

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  1. ^ Swindon Works and Its Place in Great Western History – 1935 page 5
  2. ^ a b "Swindon: the heritage of a railway town". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  3. ^ A Century of Medical Service by Bernard Darwin page 12 ISBN 0 9518540 0 3
  4. ^ a b Swindon History and Guide by John Chadwick pages 41-47 ISBN 0-7509-0190-X
  5. ^ a b Swindon An Illustrated History. By Mark Child page 94 ISBN 1 85983 322 5
  6. ^ A History of Swindon to 1965 by Elizabeth Crittall, K H Rogers & Colin Shrimpton pages 141-142 ISBN 0 860 80 107 1
  7. ^ a b Swindon The Legacy of a Railway Town by John Cattell and Keith Falconer pages 166-169 ISBN 1 873592 54 X
  8. ^ Council, Swindon Borough. "The Swindon Heritage Action Zone". www.swindon.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  9. ^ A Century of Medical Service by Bernard Darwin page 30 ISBN 0 9518540 0 3
  10. ^ Swindon: The Legacy of a Railway Town pages 166-169 ISBN 0-11300053-7
  11. ^ Swindon in 50 Buildings – Angela Atkinson pages 26-28 ISBN 978-1-4456-9-47-6
  12. ^ a b c d e "Health Hydro (former GWR Medical Fund Baths and Dispensary), South Swindon - 1382135 | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  13. ^ Marie (2008-08-19). "News from the Victorian Society | Health Hydro, Swindon". The Victorian Society. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  14. ^ Evening Despatch [Birmingham] 25th July 1905 page 2
  15. ^ Western Daily Press 28th February 1908 Page 6
  16. ^ a b c Evening Advertiser 25th May 1985 Leisure Extra
  17. ^ Swindon An Illustrated History. By Mark Child page 104 ISBN 1 85983 322 5
  18. ^ Health Hydro Herald Issue 1 Sept-Dec 1992
  19. ^ "GWR Medical Fund Society (Swindon)". www.culhamticketoffice.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  20. ^ A Century of Medical Service by Bernard Darwin ISBN 0 9518540 0 3
  21. ^ A Century of Medical Service by Bernard Darwin page 32 ISBN 0 9518540 0 3
  22. ^ Swindon Advertiser 18th June 2018 NHS Blueprint Page PM6
  23. ^ Health Hydro Herald Issue 1 Sept-Dec 1992 & Heath Hydro Herald Issue 2 Jan-Apr 1993
  24. ^ Thamesdown Borough Council leisure booklet Nov 1984 ISBN 0 86080 122 5
  25. ^ Health Hydro Herald Issue 3 Apr-Aug 1993
  26. ^ "Swindon leisure centres to be run by private firms". BBC News. 2014-06-26. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  27. ^ "Anger at decision to close Health Hydro pool". Swindon Advertiser. 2016-03-26. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  28. ^ Council, Swindon Borough. "The Swindon Heritage Action Zone". www.swindon.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  29. ^ "Victorian baths in Swindon 'are of international significance'". BBC News. 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  30. ^ "Better | Swindon | Health Hydro | Redevelopment Project". www.better.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  31. ^ "Pictures show progress with Health Hydro refurbishment work". Swindon Advertiser. 2024-10-12. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  32. ^ Council, Swindon Borough. "Work begins on external Health Hydro works as new funding bid submitted". www.swindon.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
  33. ^ "Work underway at historic Health Hydro". swindonlink.com. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
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