Penny

It's a great shame that the "so called planners" removed almost everything that they thought grubby and old fashioned. I'll bet they would be kicking themselves now. Drury Hill and the Bath Street wash-house would have been a great tourist attraction if kept and "refurbed" in some way. The council said it was too expensive to do..but they just wanted it gone. I know we have to have progress but there is a limit to what should be pulled down and destroyed without proper consideration. My mum used the wash house..and trundled the damp washing home to hang on the line, or in front of the fire.

The "Skool" referred to is the Old Ragged School set up in the 1800s,I believe, to help educate the really poor people of the area. The Bath Street Flats, when I was a child, were residential. As kids we were always told that mad, old people lived there. I went to Victoria Primary school ( next door) as did my younger sister and 4 younger brothers. Headmistress..the marvellous Miss Hollinshead. We all learned to swim at the Viccy Baths..as did our father. The Oval Pool was wonderful and quite unique. And yes the big pool was called The Exhibition Pool. We lived on Lamartine Street...o