The Wrong Kind of Renewal

Poor old Ripon Spa Baths. A hundred and twenty years old, and now – quite literally – put out to grass. We have a new Leisure Centre here in town now. These Edwardian baths are now surplus to requirements and up for sale. Meanwhile, doughty seedlings and saplings commandeer cracks in the mortar and gaps in the tiling: putting down roots that will let water in and begin to crumble brickwork.

The header image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, Brian Shore.

For Becky’s #SquaresRenew

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Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

64 thoughts on “The Wrong Kind of Renewal”

  1. I hope that building is on the English Heritage list so that the new buyer has to keep the facade should they choose to redevelop the building. It’s such a beautiful building it would be tragic to knock it down.

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    1. No, it has to be preserved – and it did indeed have a buyer who wanted to keep it intact within – parts of the interior are pretty glorious too. Sadly, that sale fell through. It won’t be an easy building to keep oping whist preserving its history, so it definitey won’t sell overnight.

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    1. Exactly. Councils here are so cash-strapped after years of government mis-rule that they simply can’t take projects like this on and have to hope for help from the private sector.

      Liked by 1 person

  15. That’s sad. We also have too many neglected buildings like that, though some success stories such as Maryhill Halls and Govanhill Baths – but those took huge community efforts, setting up of Trusts to raise funds etc. And a sit-in in Govanhill’s case!

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  18. Oh, I do hope for the best for this remarkable building, Margaret. Here’s hoping the Universe will bring about a sale. This is such a magical building – so many stories and histories held safe within its walls!

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  20. So sad when classic structures like this one get so rundown they’re uber-expensive to save. Here’s hoping a buyer is found that treasures the history and respects it.

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  22. I hope the neglect gets nipped in the bud, though a bit late for that it appears, and it finds a buyer with the resources to give it a future. It is a beautiful building.

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  23. Is it listed, do you know? You would think it would be, and that that would give it some protection. Mind you, when the arts programme for the whole of Birmingham is cut (!?) you have to worry for all aspects of our culture.

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    1. It is listed. And of course it’s a worry. Our poor old council can’t afford to keep it on when funding for everything is cut to the bone and beyond.

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