Late last year, we were out infiltrating
various locations until we came across a gem. Alistair: Holy sh**, man. This is one of
the nicest baths I have ever seen, I think. In today’s Urbandoned video, we are showcasing an abandoned swimming baths that only closed months before our visit. Left immaculate with working power after the pools were drained for a final time, the building contains special architecture, but it does come with a catch. Alistair: I’m going outside. I’ll
meet you outside, okay, at the front. Exploring an abandoned building,
you’ll need a torch. No no, not the phone flashlight. Why not go
for something flashy. Try the Olight Arc Field Pro. With a powerful beam of 1300 lumens, and three modes, torch, laser and UV, you’ll be sorted for a long time. It also is magnetic so you can use it handsfree. Check it out now using the links in the description. Thanks to Olight for sponsoring this video. It’s early Autumn and daylight is beginning to run out quicker than the weeks gone by. After a busy weekend exploring across England with Oli, we have one last spot to check out, this grand leisure centre that shut
its doors a few months earlier. The property seemed well protected with many cameras covering its exterior, and we anticipated some form of
internal protection, too. However, after a brief scout, we soon
had a plan of action in mind. Alistair: We know what is needed of us. Alistair: Can you push that foot in? Oli: What do you mean? Alistair: Hold it up, actually just
give me a leg up. Don’t let go. Alistair: Right… this makes more
sense. The cameras are connected to the property. Someone will probably come in whenever there’s reports of intruders and check them. That is dated last week. I
imagine every sensor we have set off, and we’ve already set off a few will be notifying someone somewhere, and that’s where these people come from. The clock is still ticking. Wouldn’t expect anything else in here, to be honest. Alistair: That, there, would
take us to the pool’s balcony. I want to see what’s in this room, though. The faded sign above says ‘lounge.’ Judging from the mirrors, this would have been a gym or a dance studio. Gives us a great view of the pool and Oli taking a picture. Can’t wait to get out there. Such a symmetrical baths. There was no way I was going to wait any longer to see the main hall in person, especially with the threat of
someone coming at any moment. Alistair: Alright, let’s check this out. Holy sh**, man. This is one of the nicest baths I’ve ever seen, I think. Look at the tiles and the huge arch. Reminds me of the one we did in Aberdeen and that was a good few years ago. It’s not often we find them like this anymore. See that netting has been put up to stop bits dropping from the ceiling. It’s already started to peel. Walking into the huge baths,
the space was truly magnificent, with Art Deco architecture including a towering ceiling, ornate bannister all around the balcony and colourful tiles below. Dating back to the 1930s, it isn’t hard to understand why the impressive structure is Grade II listed, but fail to comprehend why it has been left disused. Alistair: All the gunk, there, from when they last drained the pool. It’s clearly clogged up with all that algae. The premises originally opened as a two-season facility, acting as a swimming pool in the spring and summer, but hosting concerts and plays during the Winter. It famously held performances from the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, the latter playing a memorable evening show in 1962. Alistair: Love the architectural details on this bannister. It’s so Art Deco. This
little section, here, where it dips out, is really cool. Would have been a good place to be a spectator. Such a stunning pool. Everything was feeling a little too good to be true, particularly with no known experiences of anyone managing to reach the interior of the baths yet since closure. Soon though, we were reminded of the unexpected nature of unseen Urbex, when a car suddenly appeared outside. Alistair: Security has just turned up,
so we’re going to dip back here and hide, because he’s going to come and check the cameras as far as we’re concerned. Shut these because these were shut.
We could go out and go on the roof. Oli: That’s what I was thinking. Well, we could go out and go down these stairs, over that fence, check what he’s doing, walk past him on the street, because we can just leave this open. Alistair: Yeah, true, let’s do that. Oli: I’ll pack up. Alistair: Let’s wait for the bus. After an age of waiting, and some intensive perimeter checks from the guard, they soon left and we slipped back inside, aware now of how long we had until someone would show up again. Alistair: Straight away coming into the entrance hall, the architecture is so nice. Really Art Deco. There’s loads of awesome details in here. This is behind reception. Nothing left at all. There are a lot of sensors in this
place, so I want to be speedy with it. I can hear them clicking. This is cool, though, an old plaque. Shows it was open in 1933. Look through the window, as well, even continuing that way, the staircase is so nice and Art Deco. Alistair: Let’s check out the sauna whilst we’re here. All the power works. All very modern, though, in comparison. I wonder if it was modernised. Wonder if it’s through here, if it is, I doubt I’m going to get in.
We all know what a sauna looks like. Alistair: This is the gym. There’s no
equipment remaining. The air con’s on. F***ing hell! That is bizarre. This, here, is all padded, must have been where most of the equipment would be, at least the heavy stuff, but none of it remains at all. Besides from the baths and entrance block, much of the leisure centre had been modernised over the years, so we soon returned to
poolside to see the surrounding areas. Alistair: Going to the changing rooms because I feel like that will take us to the main pool. The heating is on in here, the air con was on in the gym. It almost does feel like an after hours pool. That tells us. Alistair: In we go. Holy sh** man! Wow… this is really nice. Look at the tiles, as well, on the right side. I’m stuck behind this fence at the moment, but I think, here,
I can get a better view. It opens up. It always feels apocalyptic to see a swimming pool drained of all the water that gives it purpose. Especially with the majestic architectural features inside this baths, it really highlights how sad it is that
this historic building has been shuttered, classically for a new, modern
facility to open nearby. Alistair: There’s that classic swimming pool clock. They’re always the exact same way. The triple notifications was actually Oli informing me that security had returned, but busy with filming, I hadn’t had
chance to see those messages just yet. Alistair: This is going to be the other pool. Yeah, just a smaller one - it’s more modern. Very kid friendly, shallow and there’s depictions of marine animals going around the walls. It’s a shame about the Heras fences,
I can’t really get a free walk around, but that’s my fault for coming here when it was abandoned. Massive turtle over there. Alistair: Can hear a clock ticking, another one. ‘You’ve got this. Strong body, strong mind.’ ‘The Bar.’ Can imagine the bikes in here, or a Zumba class. All the motivational text above the mirror. Security: Hello?
Alistair: Hello? Hello? Security: Hello!
Alistair: Hello, where are you? Security: Who’s that? Alistair: Where are you? Where are you, mate? Security: I’m calling the police, mate. Alistair: Are you outside? Are you inside or outside? Security: I’m inside the building, mate. Alistair: I’ll meet you outside, okay? I’m going outside. I’ll meet
you outside, okay, at the front. Security: Okay, come to the front, please. Alistair: Alright, mate. Alistair: He said police are coming. Don’t want to deal with that, I’m going to beeline. There’s his car. It’s dark in here now to be fair,
so we’ve run out of time. Pretty sure we saw all the highlights. There is a possibility
that we can leave without any problems. I’m going to try and do that, and I assume, the narration will fill you in on what happens. Alistair: I didn’t even recognise the car. He was inside but he wasn’t
inside. I don’t know where he was, but he was shouting at me. He said police are coming. Oli: He tried the gate that we climbed up quite a few times. I heard sirens so I got back in the car. Alistair: That’s perfect timing, because as soon as he said that, I crossed all the way through and just left. Yeah, you were literally there at the perfect time. I didn’t even recognise the car. Alistair: That’s what happens when you do a place that’s not been done before. You have no idea what to expect. Oli: I’m on the wrong street, here. Thankfully, we were able to document the stunning, abandoned leisure centre without any complications. With two properties closing due to the modern replacement cutting the ribbon last year, it is unlikely that either purpose-built
baths will find an alternate use. Demolition might be the most likely
outcome for the historic buildings. Here are some of our photographs captured at the abandoned baths. If you like the look of them, check out our Instagram page in the description where we share images from our explores months
before they are seen on YouTube. Thanks for watching! We hope you enjoyed a more recent episode. Currently, we are on our second big exploring roadtrip of the year, filming more fascinating places for
you to enjoy! See you next time!
