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The William Roberts Baths stood on Utting Avenue East, just a few houses down from Broadway shops. The building itself was a large art-deco style structure that dominated the Norris Green skyline for 58 years.
Named
after William Roberts, a member of the Liverpool Corporation Bath Committee,
construction was completed in 1937. The building was identical both inside and
out to the Harold Davies Baths, built the same year on East Prescot Road, Dovecot.
'Broady baths' as it was more popularly known as, consisted of three swimming pools. The largest of the measured 100 x 35ft and was 3ft in the shallow end sloping down to 6ft at the deep end. The two other pools were children's one, measuring 45 x 20 ft and a 10 ft deep pool (complete with diving board) - this pool was approximately 42 x 20ft.
Around the pools, the walls of the baths were lined with two tiers of wooden cubicles where you would change into your costume. Once changed you would place your clothes into a plastic basket and hand it into the cloakroom where you would either receive a rubber band or a key ring with a number on it. Two grandstands, with wooden seats, were situated at either end of the baths. These would be used to watch gala events or as a place to wait for the rest of your mates to finish of getting dried and dressed.
The baths were a hugely popular venue for the people of the estate and a great place for bored kids to go during the summer holidays and on a Sunday morning. As well as that, it was also a great resource for the local schools - which would use the facilities for teaching swimming lessons. I can still remember that long walk from Leamington Road School, straight down Scarisbrick Road, to the baths on a Monday morning for our fortnightly swimming lesson. Never a keen swimmer, I used to dread this, I'd spend my lesson shivering in the shallow end and marveling at the wonderful structure with its multi-span roof so high up. I used to wonder how on earth they ever managed to paint the ceiling. Sadly in the 80's, when the paintwork had badly peeled, I realised that it wasn't pained too often.
The baths closed to the public in 1993. I'm not certain of the real reason for this, but I have been told by a number of people that it was because of structural defects in the roof. The building lay derelict for a couple of years and then in 1995 the bulldozers moved in and pulled the baths down and leveled the site.
Now after a decade, the site has
been given a new lease of life. The new Sure Start Centre will provide a range
of services to serve children and families the community and will provide a
20-place crèche and nursery facility, a base for a child-minder network
and a range of family support & health services. The Centre will also provide
the local base for the Lifelong Learning Service of Education and other leisure
facilities.
Click on image to enlarge:
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Baths,
interior
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Baths,
1970's
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Norris
Green Restaurant was the third 'British' restaurant in Liverpool was opened
on 25 November 1941 by the then Lord Mayor of Liverpool Sir Sidney Jones. Unlike
the first two restaurants it was in a purpose-built building and was called
Norris Green. It was designed by the Liverpool City Architect's department
and built by the Unit Construction Co. Ltd.
The restaurant was located on Utting
Avenue East, opposite the 'Strand' shops. It had a dining hall for 280 people,
a kitchen, preparation rooms, stores, wash rooms and offices. It used solid
fuel for power in case the electricity and gas supplies were interrupted by
bombing or shortages. A steam boiler was used for cooking, hot water and heating.