Haggerston Baths features in Victorian Society’s top ten endangered buildings list

Haggerston Baths. Photograph: The Victorian Society

Haggerston Baths is at risk because of “years of neglect” according to a campaign group set up to save historic buildings.

The striking Grade II-listed public baths on Whiston Road has been named as one of the ten most endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in England and Wales.

A spokesperson for The Victorian Society, which compiled the list, said: “To be eligible a building has to be at risk, whether from demolition, neglect, insensitive development or, as in the case of Haggerston Baths, years of neglect and lack of a decisive plan for its future.”

The building was designed by architect AWS Cross and built by Shoreditch Borough Council. The baths opened in 1904, but it has been lying derelict since 2000 despite a campaign by The Hackney Society to bring it back into use.

Chris Costelloe, Director of the Victorian Society, said: “Hackney Council must ensure that action is taken soon to bring Haggerston Baths back to life.

“At a time when there is so much new development in the area it is important to capitalise on our existing assets and to put important buildings like Haggerston Baths into public use again.”

Cllr Jonathan McShane, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Culture said: “The massive cost involved and the huge financial pressure we are under means we have no plans to reopen the pool at present.

“We are in regular contact with the Haggerston Pool campaign and have provided them with information and advice as and when requested. We will work with them or anyone else who has viable proposals for the building.”

Other buildings on the list include the Jumbo Water Tower in Colchester and the Royal Victorian Pavilion in Ramsgate and the Palace Theatres in Plymouth and Swansea.