Draft:Swindon Health Hydro

• Comment: This draft has information that is not in the article and should be added to the article. The article has information that is not in this draft. Please compare and combine the draft and the article.
  You may ask for advice about comparing and combining a draft and an article at the Teahouse. Robert McClenon (talk) 23:31, 9 November 2024 (UTC)

---

The Health Hydro in Milton Road, Swindon was built as part of the complete medical provision offered by the GWR Medical Fund Society for the workers and their families in the Swindon Rail Works.

The principal locomotive establishment opened in Swindon in 1843. The Sick Fund was established in 1844 and later became the GWR Medical Fund Society (MFS).

"In the mid 19th century, the Great Western Railway transformed Swindon from a small, hilltop market town into an industrial giant. At its height, the Great Western Railway works was one of the largest railway engineering complexes in the world. The Great Western Railway was established in 1833 to connect Bristol and London."

The Health Hydro, built in 1891, was the Medical Fund Society’s most ambitious project. The washing baths were built in 1898-9; Turkish and Russian baths were added in 1904-5; further additions were made in 1911. See a photo of the Large pool in 1947

The large pool hall being used as a Red Cross Hospital in WWI

The Health Hydro viewed from Faringdon Road in 1905

The small pool in 1910 (then for the use of women and children)

"During the first world war, the pool was used as a hospital for injured soldiers. During peacetime, in the winter months, the large pool was boarded over and all kinds of activities were held there, including dinner parties, concerts, exhibitions, roller skating and ballroom dancing – when it was known as ‘The Majestic’."

"The smaller pool, which is currently out of use, was for women and children."[1]

"Swindon Works became the only industrial organisation in the world that required membership of a medical fund as a condition of employment."

"What an amazing thing the Swindon Health Hydro is. And it’s a hidden gem: passing it on Faringdon Road you get no sense that the building is open, and it looks more like a railway works than a swimming baths. It’s an enormous complex: not just two swimming baths, there were washing and Turkish baths, a dispensary, all sorts of other medical facilities (mainly surgical) including dentistry and at one time even a hairdressing salon! It was one of the most modern facilities of its time, pre-dating integrated health centres. The large pool is still its full 33 metres in length."

The Steam Museum's collection of photographs illustrates some of the different services operating over time; hairdressing, dental surgery, dispensary, dental workshop, turkish baths, large and small swimming pools, chiropody, opthalmology.

The Health Hydro was built with a variety of materials; red brick, ceramic brick, stained glass, hard woods. Photographs taken by Elmar Rubio Photography illustrate this.

“By 1947, when the National Health Service (NHS) was being planned and the MFS consequently was wound up, the Faringdon Road site included a complete health and welfare service for the staff of the GWR works, including two swimming baths; Turkish, Russian and washing baths; doctors; a dispensary; dental surgeries and dental laboratory; and ophthalmology, chiropody, psychology and physiotherapy departments.”

“Until it was taken over by the National Health Service in 1947, the Medical Fund Society was run by a committee of GWR employees who were elected by their colleagues. Aneurin Bevan, chief architect of the National Health Service, stated: "There it was, a complete health service. All we had to do was to expand it to embrace the whole country!".

"The birth of the NHS saw the end of the GWR Medical Fund Society after 101 years of service to the community with many of its services being replaced by those provided nationally and others being taken over by the local authority."

After 1947 there were still a General Practice and a dispensary in the Health Hydro until they were transferred to the Carfax Street Medical Centre in Swindon.

In the 1980s the ‘dry side’ hosted a variety of complementary medical services – a Well Woman clinic, acupuncture, sports massage, Weight Watchers, etc. And there was a café.

Both pools and the Turkish Baths continued to operate until the small pool was closed in 2016. The whole complex closed temporarily in April 2023, for refurbishment to take place. The building’s plant is being replaced, new changing areas and a gym are being installed. External work has been carried out on brickwork, windows and roofs. The whole building should reopen in 2025. Swindon Borough Council have expressed a desire to reopen the small pool but there are no definite plans yet. The future of the extensive ‘dry side’ is yet to be determined (where the various medical facilities had been housed).

There are plans in progress for the refurbishment of the large pool hall; roof insulation, ventilation clerestory windows, viewing gallery and walls.

"In March 2021, the Towns Fund awarded £5million to the Health Hydro on Milton Road which, combined with £1.5million from the council, will enable refurbishment works to get underway. In May 2024, we secured an additional £409k in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This will allow us to unlock a further £4.1m through a second stage funding application to the Fund."

"A new report has found a town's Victorian swimming baths to be of 'international significance'. The Grade II*-listed Victoria Health Hydro in Milton Road, Swindon, is currently the subject of a major revamp."The Health Hydro is currently operated by Greenwich Leisure Ltd (GLL) trading as 'Better'. It is owned by Swindon Borough Council.