Liverpool City Council has issued a statement on the future of Woolton Swimming Baths on Quarry Road, saying there are currently no confirmed proposals to announce for the site.
The venue first opened in June 1893 and was initially built at a cost of £3,300. The building, which was listed in 2012, originally had six private baths, a footbath, a plunge pool, a swimming pool and a laundry to the rear. Its water was supplied from Woolton Reservoir and was only changed once a week; the admission price was adjusted depending on how clean the water was expected to be.
Council statement on Woolton Baths
A Liverpool City Council spokesperson told the ECHO: "Woolton Baths remains part of Liverpool City Council's property portfolio and we recognise the interest that local residents continue to have in the future of the building."
"The council keeps all of its assets under review and continues to consider options for sites across the city, including Woolton Baths. However, there are currently no confirmed proposals that we are in a position to announce. Should there be any significant developments regarding the future of the site, these will be communicated publicly in the usual way."
The statement comes after two other historic pools recently reopened - one in Chester and the other in Tuebrook.
History of the baths
The pool was used by a young Paul McCartney and John Lennon before The Beatles became a global success. But after decades, the site closed abruptly in October 2010 when tests revealed the filter system had corroded.
For more than a century, Woolton Baths stood at the heart of the community, serving as far more than a place to swim. As village life grew around the baths, the building increasingly became a venue for social gatherings and local events. Although it originally closed through the winter, limited winter opening was introduced from 1899. By 1910, a temporary floor could be fitted over the pool during the colder months, transforming the space into a hall for dances, meetings and other community occasions.
The baths entered a new chapter in 1913, when Woolton was incorporated into Liverpool. Responsibility for the facility consequently moved from the Much Woolton Local Board to Liverpool's municipal authorities. Over the years, the building itself continued to evolve. In 1935, the distinctive rounded ends of the original pool were altered to create a more practical, rectangular swimming area.
Community landmark
The neighbouring building had an earlier life of its own: originally constructed as stables, it was used as Woolton's fire station from around 1907 until 1913 before eventually becoming part of the baths complex. Like many public facilities of the period, Woolton Baths also faced disruption during both World Wars, closing for the duration of each conflict.
As well as childhood friends John Lennon and Paul McCartney learning to swim at the baths, so did Olympic bronze medallist Steve Parry. Today the building remains one of Woolton's most distinctive Victorian landmarks and an important reminder of the village's history.
