Carlisle Turkish baths

Planning for a Turkish baths in Carlisle began in 1884 when the swimming pool was opened at James Street by the County Borough of Carlisle. The borough revived the plans in 1901 and agreed to proceed with construction of the baths, adjacent to the swimming pool, in 1902. Designs, by the county surveyor Henry C Marks, were not approved until 1908. Construction was carried out by William Johnstone of Carlisle at a total cost of £2,500; the tiling and faience work was by Minton and Hollins of Stoke-on-Trent. The baths opened to the public on 20 September 1909. Between September and October 2022 the mirrors in the baths' cubicles went missing and their theft was reported to Cumbria Police.

The building's red-brick western façade faces onto James Street; it was the only external wall visible from outside until the demolition of adjacent buildings on the southern side. The western portion of the building includes the main entrance leading to an attendant's room and waiting rooms. This single-storey structure was enclosed by a 2-storey structure at a later date, leaving a relatively plain façade and entrance. The entrance block retains the original glazed doors and the attendant's room features a corner fireplace. A corridor from the entrance block leads into a double-height structure housing a cooling room and a single-storey structure containing a plunge bath, shower room and…