A charity which wants to reopen Carlisle’s Victorian and Turkish Baths has been given a £45,900 boost.
Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths has been given the cash by the Architectural Heritage Fund.
It will fund a viability study into the charity’s plans to transform the venue into a health and wellbeing hub, including a full survey, business plan and conservation appraisal.
It is one of only 13 working Turkish baths in the UK and the last in the North West of England.
The Friends are working closely with Cumberland Council to secure a community asset transfer which will allow the charity to apply for larger grants to fund the
renovation of the heritage building.
The Friends’ vision is to develop the Victorian public baths to add more spa facilities to complement the Grade II-listed Turkish baths.
Treatment rooms and studios would increase the health and wellbeing offer, and the charity also wants to open an affordable laundry and community hub.
It said it was confident that using all the existing facilities and space in the public baths would guarantee the future of the 142-year-old building.
The charity’s plans include creating a new entrance and cafe in the part of the building facing George Square and the railway station’s new southern entrance.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Mark Fryer, said: “This grant is a really important step in developing the plans that will secure a sustainable future for Carlisle’s Victorian and Turkish Baths.
“These baths are a much‑loved and truly unique part of our city’s heritage, and it’s fantastic to see the Friends of Carlisle Victorian and Turkish Baths continuing to develop such an ambitious and community‑focused vision.
“Cumberland Council is pleased to be working closely with the charity, and we look forward to seeing these exciting plans continue to progress.”
