Refurbishment of Ironmonger Row Baths

Ironmonger Row Baths is closed for refurbishment and will reopen in late summer 2012.

Extensive refurbishment work on Ironmonger Row Baths, which was originally constructed in 1931, is underway. Costing £16m, this is co-funded by Islington Council and EC1 New Deal for Communities.

Find out how we will improve Ironmonger Row Baths, the latest news about the works on site, support for the local community, alternative arrangements if you are a user of the Baths, and our history project.

How we will improve Ironmonger Row Baths

We plan to:

• restore the main pool and install a new teaching pool with moveable floor - it will be 30 per cent bigger so we can provide two sets of junior swimming lessons at the same time and increase water aerobics class sizes
• create a new, larger gym with over 70 exercise stations
• provide two new exercise studios for up to 30 people each
• install new, separate changing rooms
• restore and refurbish the historic Turkish Baths with an expanded spa area
• restore the seating gallery and other key historical features of the building
• improve accessibility and usability throughout, including a central lift for all floors
• create a park-facing entrance and brighter, atrium foyer area
• provide a public laundry.

Latest news

If you walk past the site now, you will be able to see that the scaffolding and gantry (the metal structure with site cabins) positioned over Norman Street. However, inside the building is where the action is really going on.

Demolition and excavation work has been completed throughout the building. Now work is underway for the rebuilding of the Baths. Wates Construction Ltd, a member of the Considerate Construction Scheme, has been appointed to do this work. Good progress is being made. In May a crane was dropped in to the heart of the building.

Some amazing items of archaeological significance have been found, such as wells and tiles, which have been recorded and discussed with English Heritage.

See photos of the works on the council's Flickr page.

Supporting the local community

Wates Construction Limited has held two community days as part of its commitment to the local community throughout the refurbishment of the Baths. On 24 June Wates held a community day in Toffee Park adventure playground, which is near to the Baths. It replaced the guttering on the building in the park, put in new ramps, replaced the mulch beneath the playground and did some minor decorations. Last year Wates organised a community day at the neighbouring St Luke’s Primary School.

Wates has employed a local contractor to help with works and are to employ two local apprentices.

Alternative Arrangements

Alternative Islington council-run sports facilities
You can find out about alternative sports facilities provided by Islington Council in our leaflet: ‘Exciting improvements coming to Ironmonger Row Baths' which can be downloaded from the link below. Or pick up a copy from Ironmonger Row Baths reception.

Membership options
If you are a current member of Ironmonger Row Baths, your membership is valid in all Aquaterra Leisure Centres and we hope you will continue to use them.

Now  the Baths are closed, if you do wish to cancel you will receive a refund for the unused months on your membership. Alternatively, if you wish you can put your current membership on hold and reactivate it when the building reopens.

If you would like to use additional centres elsewhere in London or the UK, UK Fitness Network membership is valid for Islington leisure centres and over 80 other not-for-profit facilities outside Islington.

Alternative council-run Turkish Baths

• Porchester Baths Bayswater is run by Westminster City Council. Email: spa-london@gll.org
• York Hall (Spa London) Bethnal Green is run by Tower Hamlets Council (links to right).

Other local laundries

There are a number of local laundries/dry cleaners in the area. Some of the closest are:

• City Style, 206 City Road, London EC1V 2PH
• Harlequin Dry Cleaners/Laundry Service, 103-105 Lever St, EC1V 3RQ
• St John Street Launderette, 264 St John St, EC1V 4PE

Take part in ‘Plunging into History'

Would you like to share your memories of the swimming pools, Turkish Baths, slipper baths, clubs, gym or laundry at Ironmonger Row Baths? If so Rowan Arts, a local arts organisation, would love to hear from you.

They are producing ‘Plunging into History - a collection of memories, stories and memorabilia documenting the history of the Baths and its importance to the many communities it serves. These will be used to produce a book and exhibition in 2012 to celebrate the reopening of the refurbished Baths

The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and Islington Council.

For more information about the project and how to get involved, visit www.therowanartsproject.com/ironmongerrowbaths