Baths: Never Enough.

Information torn from the BBC's Restoration website:

VICTORIA BATHS

Web: www.victoriabaths.org.uk

Listing: 2*
Date of building: 1902

In June 1902, City Architect Henry Price took on the responsibility for managing the construction of one of the most splendid municipal bathing institutions in the country. No expense was spared, with lavish use of stained glass and ornate tiling around the three pools, 64 wash baths, and Turkish and Russian baths.

At the time of construction very few of the houses in the area had bathrooms, so the slipper baths or wash-baths were a vital amenity, providing the locals with the rare opportunity for a real bath. Victoria Baths even boasts an Aerotone, a precursor of the Jacuzzi, which was fitted in 1952.

When the Lord Mayor opened the building in September 1906 he described it as a "water palace" of which "every citizen of Manchester was proud". However, in 1993 the Grade II* Listed baths were closed amidst much local protest.

Following its triumphant appearance on Restoration 2003 the project was awarded a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £3million augmented by nearly £500,000 raised by BBC's Restoration Fund. In June 2006, as the first step in bringing the unique Turkish Baths facility back into public use, contractors experienced in heritage conservation went on site to begin preparatory works for the first phase of the restoration process. These initial works included opening up and investigating the roof structure in the Turkish Baths, propping up the floor beneath the mosaics in the First Class entrance, as well as work on sections of the floor. The work on the Baths will require specialists in areas such as mosaic, terracotta and stained glass restoration.

Restoration Phase 1 is due to start on site in October 2006 and will completely restore the outside of the front block of the building and the Turkish Bath. It is expected that this phase of the restoration will take approximately 12 - 15 months.

I am currently in the process of categorising and associating information in a series of written diagrams. I am using books and the internet to find historic information and 'objects' that could be of use to the project. I am thinking about methods of presentating information - how to make it interactive, real, important, perhaps not 'exciting' - nothing so obviously overblown or 'loaded'. There is nothing wrong with the information available, it only has to be shown in a new way. Technical drawing and structural details are not everyone's priority, nor are statistics or hairstyles. We must present a variety of information in a variety of ways. Visual and audiovisual. Alive and illustrated. Whilst not becoming a Hot Wheels advert. I will learn of the laws that made the availability of bathing a legal obligation for councils.

There is a lot to her, dear Victoria: