Speir's Center

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The Speirs Center , formerly the Public Bath and Gymnasium , is a bathhouse in the Scottish town of Alloa in the Council Area of Clackmannanshire . In 1972 the building was included in the Scottish monument lists, initially in Category B and finally upgraded to the highest Category A in 2012.

history

John James Paton, owner of Kilncraigs Mill , was one of the city's largest employers in the late 19th century. Over the years the family donated numerous buildings in Alloa, including a school, community center, and library. In 1894 he announced the foundation of a public bathhouse with sports facilities. To this end, he provided the sum of £ 40,000 and £ 3,000 to cover the running costs. As an architect, John James Burnet was entrusted with the design of a corresponding facility and the building was finally built between 1895 and 1897 according to his plans. The bathhouse soon developed into a popular facility in the city, which at that time had 13,000 inhabitants. In the first seven months after opening, a total of 30,000 visitors were recorded. In the mid-1960s, renovation of the facility was necessary, which began in 1965 for the Turkish steam baths. In the following year, a fire broke out during the work and this part of the building was partially damaged. In 1986 the water basin was closed and the room reopened in 1998 as a sports room. The building was renamed Speirs Center after Tommy Speirs , the Scottish champion in lightweight boxing between 1932 and 1934 .

description

The building is located in downtown Alloa on Primerose Street . It has stylistic features of Scottish Renaissance architecture. The façades of the mostly two-story Speirs Center consist essentially of red sandstone and pink granite at ground level . Like the interior, they are decorated in great detail and made from high-quality building materials. The main entrance on the west side is crowned by a granite architrave . Above the portal, the inscription PUBLIC BATHS / GYMNASIUM indicates the purpose of the building. Doric pillars on ornate corbels flank the twin window above. On the south side a wide segmental arch is worth mentioning, above which a balustrade borders a balcony. There are also corner turrets and a square tower with battlement reinforcement. The Speirs Center ends with slate roofs. The interior largely corresponds to the original condition. It is designed in the Moorish style, with decorative ribbons made of chestnut and cream-colored tiles as well as elaborate woodwork and cast iron railings.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Listed Building - Entry . In: Historic Scotland .

Web links

Coordinates: 56 ° 7 ′ 0.6 ″  N , 3 ° 47 ′ 31.5 ″  W.