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41
In 1921 the Council opened negotiations with the Greenwich
Hospital Estates for the purchase of a cleared site in
Trafalgar Road, which also has a frontage to Park Street and
to Creed Place, with an area of approximately 1½ acres, as a
site for the erection of Public Baths and Wash-houses ; and in
February, 1922. the Ministry of Health formally sanctioned the
raising of a loan for the purchase of the land as a Baths, etc.,
site. Early in October, 1923. the Council invited architects to
submit designs and plans in competition for the erection of
Public Baths and Washhouses. and in October, the Council
appointed Messrs. Horth and Andrew, of Hull, as Architects,
and Messrs. Waggett and Bradford, of 12. Regent Street, S.W.1,
as Quantity Surveyors.
The Ministry of Health having decided that owing to
the acuteness of the Housing question and to the shortage of
skilled building labour they could not allow the use of brickwork,
the Council on the 21st May, 1924, applied for sanction
to borrow the sum of £22,000 for the purpose of defraying the
cost of constructing in concrete the foundations of the proposed
buildings.
This was subsequently approved, with slight modifications,
by the Ministry of Health, following upon a Local Enquiry held
on the 1st July, 1924.
The question of the erection of a superstructure was one
of great difficulty owing to the continued shortage of materials
and skilled labour, and. after many interviews and deputations,
the Ministry finally sanctioned the cost of erecting the superstructure
in concrete with a facing of brick.
Bills of Quantities were subsequently prepared and
Tenders invited. The tender of Messrs. Holliday & Greenwood,
Ltd., 11, Buckingham Palace Gardens, S.W., at £121,908, was
accepted, and towards the end of the year the work of excavation
and erection of the foundations was commenced.
The accommodation to be provided in the proposed Baths
is as follows : —
Swimming Bath's.
Men 1st Class 100-ft. x 40-ft.
Men 2nd Class 80-ft. x 40-ft.
Ladies 75-ft. x 36-ft.
The Men's 1st and 2nd Class Swimming Baths to be used
in the Winter months for Entertainments, Public Meetings, etc.