Taking a dip into history as baths mark centenary

The Mayor of Ripon, Councillor Stuart Martin, is to don period costume to celebrate 100 years of Ripon Spa Baths.

The foundation stone for the baths was laid in 1904 and the celebrations will include reduced entry fees, fun sessions, scuba diving and swimming.

Coun Martin will launch the celebrations on Thursday when he and the deputy Mayor, Councillor Sidney Hawke, will walk from Ripon Town Hall to the baths wearing the frock coats of the day.

They will be accompanied by staff from Harrogate Borough Council's department of leisure and amenity services, also dressed in period costume.

The procession will be led by bagpiper and regular swimmer Don Singleton.

Coun Pat Jones, cabinet member for leisure and amenity services for Harrogate Borough Council, said: "Ripon Spa Baths are synonymous with leisure in the city.

"We hope that many users of the baths, both past and present, will come along to join in the celebrations."

In 1889, Dean Fremantle offered £400 to the corporation of the day if they would provide and maintain public baths in Ripon.

Instead, in 1890, the corporation opened a public bathing place on the west bank of the River Ure as a cheaper alternative to providing public baths in Park Street.

Swimming was still taking place in the River Ure when work began on the spa baths in 1904.

However, there was an increasing demand for swimming facilities at the spa baths as constant changes in the bed of the river had proved extremely dangerous.

A swimming pool was installed at the baths when the corporation borrowed £11,600 in 1927, repayable in 60 years. Coun Jones said: "I hope the debt was paid off long before then.

"I can empathise with the council of the day, as we are still struggling with problems over never having enough money. But I can hardly imagine making arrangements for swimmers to use the river in today's leisure-dominated world."