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08
Nov 2021
Ripon Spa Baths closes after 116 years
It was opened by royalty in 1905 and has seen generations of spa-goers and swimmers spend countless happy hours there. But Ripon Spa Bath's long history as a leisure venue has come to an end.
The Grade II listed building – which was the last of its kind to open in England – closed on Sunday.
Staff are being transferred to a new swimming pool set to open at Ripon Leisure Centre on 8 December.
If and for what use the baths will reopen to the public will depend on the outcome of a sale by Harrogate Borough Council, which recently announced it had found an unnamed bidder for the building.
However, the sale has not been a straightforward one so far with concerns being raised that the venue could lose its community use before Ripon City Council successfully applied for it to be nominated as an asset of community value.
This protected status means any sale has been put on hold for six months to allow time for community bids to come forward.
Councillor Andrew Williams, leader of Ripon City Council, said the authority was exploring a “number of options” for the baths which he shared his favourite memories of.
He said:
Listed status
Councillor Williams previously said he held positive talks with the unnamed bidder but added the city council wanted to “keep all of our options open” and had asked to be considered as a potential bidder itself.
Harrogate Borough Council has always insisted it has been open to any offers for the venue which was opened as a spa by Princess Henry of Battenberg in 1905.
It was more than 30 years later when the swimming pool was built to the rear of the building, which is known for its terracotta-clad frontage and gained listed status in 1980.
The new swimming pool and upgrades at Ripon Leisure Centre were due to be completed earlier this year but are now facing further delays after the discovery of an underground void revealed the need for further groundworks.
These works are likely to lead to a six-month closure of part of the venue, although the opening of the new swimming pool will not be affected.
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