01-04-2025
Historic Health Hydro due to reopen early 2026
After months of delay, Swindon's historic Health Hydro is set to reopen early next due to be completed in late 2024, the discovery of asbestos and moisture issues has delayed the reopened improvements to the Victorian building will include a new gym, modernised accessible changing facilities, a ventilation system and a new engine facility closed two years ago to begin the multi-million-pound restoration which is phase one of the long-term goal of restoring the entire building to its former glory as a centre of health and well-being.
Originally known as the Swimming Baths and Dispensary the facility was paid for and built by GWR workers housed in Swindon's nearby railway opened in 1891 with baths and pools, a dispensary and consulting rooms for doctors, dentists and other health care current restoration is being carried out in phases as funding is progressively secured, with the overall vision being to fully restore the building to its former glory as a centre for health and well-being.
As well as a delayed reopening, the Grade II* listed building uncovered multiple challenges that also pushed up Marina Strinkovsky who has been leading the project said working on "an enormous historical building that has not had proper maintenance for three decades" has been total funding for the scheme has now risen from £6.5m to £ additional money has been made available through a grant from Historic England, reallocated government Towns Fund money and funding from developers.
"We tried to make sure that as many users of the building have absolute safety, privacy and security," added Ms includes levelling access to the changing facilities which include large areas for families, those who need access to a hoist and school original design of a mixed-sex "changing village" has also been replaced by separate changing facilities for males and females.
