Health Hydro not far from reopening - with building work complete
Work on the interior will continue for six months or so
Duck!
A tiny rubber duck, signed and dated on behalf of the Local Democracy Reporting Service, along with 34 others, will soon be secreted around the building of the Health Hydro.
The unusual ‘topping out’ ceremony marks the finish of the major structural work in phase one of the restoration and refurbishment on the Grade II*-listed Victorian building, with just internal works to continue before a re-opening early next year.
Doug Gray, the project manager on the multi-million pound project, told guests from the media, the borough council and supporters and friends of the Health Hydro: “Normally, a topping out ceremony involves the highest point, the last brick or roof tile, but we could do that here.
“But we are standing in the old Washing Bath Hall, where people would come and have a bath in individual cubicles, so we thought we’d let people sign a rubber duck and we’d hide them around the building.”
Much of the work over the last two years has been to the unseen parts of the building; the heating and ventilation plant, the roofs, and structural changes to enable a building better suited to the 21st century.
But the Washing Bath Hall, which until 2023 was rather hidden as the main entrance has been opened up and it will serve as both the main entrance and a gym space.
Mr Gray said: “This will have the wow factor for people coming in. We can’t wait to see people see this when they come back in.”
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for the refurbishment, Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, pointed out the glazed brick work, a feature of the hall, the swimming pool hall, and the medical side of the building.
She said: “The workers of the Great Western Railway, when they built this, used the best technology available. They thought ordinary working people deserved the best and because of their vision we still have this building today.
“And the work going on to make it more sound, more efficient and fit for the future means it’ll still be here and in use in 50 to 70 years.”
Users of the pool, which has been drained for the time being, will also benefit from revamped changing rooms.
Mr Gray said: “There will be much better, warmer, better ventilated changing rooms, including fully accessible changing facilities and a Changing Places facility with direct, flat access to the pool.”
With re-opening set for early next year, the Hydro will likely be open for at least a year before phase two, which could see the main pool closed for a major revamp, begins.
A planning application for that second phase of work has just been lodged.