1838
Original Turkish Baths built on the Northumberland Road site the site by John Dobson in 1838 at the cost of £9,500, originally as a private operation.
1858
The Northumberland Baths, which at the time housed some of the largest baths in the country were taken over and run by the City Council, and by 1906 they were the largest indoor baths in the country in public ownership.
1928
The current Newcastle City Baths and City Hall were built in 1927 and opened in 1928 to replace the original Northumberland Baths. Designed by Nicholas & Dixon-Spain who won a design competition. The provision of Turkish Baths was key to the plan, as was providing Newcastle with a good quality concert hall in the form of City Hall.
24 & 25 October 1930
Mercedes Gleitze, a British pioneer long-distance swimmer known for open water swims including the English Channel, Strait of Gibraltar, also carried out a series of endurance swims in corporation pools, gradually increasing the British record to 47 hours.One of these events took place in the Northumberland Pool (now known at The City Baths, Newcastle) over 41.30 hours on 24 and 25 October 1930. In her archives there is a photograph of her and the incumbent Baths Superintendent, Mr Edward W. Priestley, taken on the steps leading into the building. Photographs from the Gleitze archives, courtesy of Doloranda Pember.
1960s
During the winter months the pools were covered and used for dances, boxing matches and other public events.
May 1992
Northumberland Baths and City Hall were listed as Grade II listed building, with aspects of it Grade II* listed for historical and architectural interest.
2010
The smaller of the pools become under threat as Newcastle City Council looks at developing the Vine Street School site, and the smaller pool into a My Place youth centre scheme. Opposition comes from older swimmers at the pool who used this smaller pool for aquafit. This group petitioned council meetings wearing home-made ‘Save Our Pool sashes’. However the My Place project proved not to be financially viable and did not go ahead.
February 2010
Two conservation plans and reports done for Newcastle City Council by North East Civic Trust detail the architectural and heritage significance of the City Pools and Turkish Baths and lay down guidelines of how the features of the buildings should be maintained. The Grade 11 listed Turkish Baths are particularly important from a heritage point of view, being one of only 13 remaining Turkish Baths in the country with only 10 of these remaining open to the public (at that time). The report states: The Baths ARCHITECTURAL significance is HIGH, and are one of only 4 listed 1920s baths in England. In the region is it more intact that the other 3 listed baths. The HISTORICAL Significance is HIGH, it contains one of only 18 (at the time, now estimated to be 13) Turkish Baths still operating in Britain (of which only 7 are listed).
2012
Newcastle City Council proposes a raft of budget cuts affecting many services and provisions across the city, including the closure of Newcastle City Pool. Protests, and swim in events are organised to demonstrate how well used and loved the City Pool and Turkish Baths are to be the people of Newcastle.
Thursday 28 March 2013
Newcastle City Council close both the Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths for public use, just 22 days after the budget was ratified by the council, without exploring other options to keep it open such as improved marketing or a community trust. Protests and farewell to the Baths and thanks to staff from regular users of the City Pool and Turkish Baths on the last day of public swimming.
July 2013
Save Newcastle Turkish Bath groups receives £10,000 grant from Social Investment Business to develop a pre-feasibility study looking into the possibility of re-opening the Turkish Baths.
2014 Onwards
Since the closure of the Turkish Baths the Re-open Newcastle Turkish Baths Group have met regularly, to look at ways to re-open the Turkish Baths and have also met regularly with Newcastle City Council about the future of the site. The group is also supported by advisors from Locality, a network for community organisations giving advice on social action, community enterprise and community asset ownership.
December 2013
Save Newcastle Turkish Baths gets confirmation of the listing of Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths as an Asset of Community Value, which recognises the importance of the asset to its local community, as part of the Localism Act 2011. It also means that should the building be put up for sale, community groups will be given six months to develop a bid for the asset.
July 2014
Save Newcastle Turkish Bath groups receives £10,000 grant from Social Investment Business to develop a pre-feasibility study looking into the possibility of re-opening the Turkish Baths.
2016
Cait from the group was nominated for, and won the Sheila McKechnie Campaigner of the Year Award, presented in the House of Lords, where she gave a short speech about the campaign
January 2015
Newcastle Turkish Baths group works with Jesmond Community Leisure drawing on their experiences to assist in writing a business plan to present to Newcastle City Council to bid for the site.
February 2015
Newcastle City Council put the whole City Hall, City Pool and Turkish Baths building, along with Vine Street School on the market to invite offers on its use, as part of its policy to divest itself of costly building assets.
March 2015
As the City Pools and Turkish Baths were listed as an Asset of Community Value the Moratorium was invoked, which means that we (and any community group) have until 2 August 2015 to present a community bid for consideration by Newcastle City Council (but they have no obligation to accept our bid at the end of the process).
August 2015
Fusion Leisure, working in partnership with us were confirmed as the preferred contractor to redevelop and restore the City Pool and Turkish Baths building on a 125 year lease, with the City Hall to be managed by Newcastle Theatre Royal.
September 2017
Newcastle City Pool and Turkish Baths hosts a meeting of the Historic Pools of Britain group welcoming representatives from pools campaigns across the UK, on National Sporting Heritage Day.
2019
The campaign group receive a grant from National Lottery Community Fund to rebrand into The Friends of City Baths, Newcastle as their campaign is successful and the Baths are due to re-open.
January 2020
Re-opening as The City Baths, Newcastle with the original 25 yard swimming pool restored, plus a new poolside sauna. A new gym complex and fitness suite occupies the ground floor, located above what was previously the larger pool (which remains intact underneath). The restoration of this Grade II and II* listed building by Fusion Lifestyle cost an estimated £7.5million. The Turkish Baths in the basement are due to open shortly afterwards. The campaign group changes into The Friends of The City Baths, Newcastle
2020/2021
The group were approached by film director Sule Takmaz Nisancioglu to make a documentary about the campaign. Sule had studied in Newcastle and had an interest in in town planning, community involvement in city renovations, and the history of Turkish baths in the UK. Having interviewed members of the Friends Group, the film, My Beautiful Turkish Baths, was completed in March 2020. It screened at four film festivals; WomenOver50 Film Festival 2020 UK Harrogate Film Festival 2021 UK International Women Filmmakers Festival 2021 Turkey Foca Film Days – International Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Documentary Film Festival 2021
2021/2
The Turkish Baths re-opened briefly in 2021/2 but issues with temperature forced them to close again until this was fully sorted out. Whilst they were closed Fusion undertook further restoration and cosmetic improvements to area.
April 2024
The Turkish Baths, Newcastle re-open to the public in April 2024 following a period of restoration by Fusion Leisure. The areas have been cleaned with more modern showers and privacy areas around the massage tables. The spa and hamman style massages are promised to follow in May 2024 when an opening celebration will be held.
For more information on the History of Newcastle Turkish Baths and Turkish Baths in the UK see the very informative Victorian Turkish Baths website.
We are also grateful to the history of the Newcastle Turkish Baths provided in the 2010 Conservation Report prepared by North of England Civic Trust.