Health Hydro

The Great Western Railway had been established in 1833 to connect Bristol and London. It reached Swindon in 1840, and transformed it from a small, hilltop market town into an industrial hub.^[7][8] The principal locomotive establishment opened there in 1843 and the town's history was radically changed by the establishment of the Swindon Works.^{[9][10][11][12][8]} The challenges of disease and industrial injury created a need for medical provision and the addition of the baths was seen as contributing to the wellbeing of the workforce.

The Sick Fund was established in 1844 and became the GWR Medical Fund Society (MFS) in 1847.^[13]

The site is at the southern end of the Swindon Railway Conservation Area and comprises the former Milton Road Baths and NHS Health Centre (the "Health Hydro"). To the north, beyond Faringdon Road, lies the Railway Village. To the east is Milton Road. To the south and west lies Chester Street.^[14][15][8]

The building which was later to house the Health Hydro was built in 1891–92 by the Medical Fund Society.^[8] The washing baths were built in 1898–9. The Russian and Victorian-style Turkish baths were added later, opening on 10 December 1906, and replacing the fund's earlier Victorian Turkish baths in Taunton Street. Further additions were made in 1911. The building's principal elements were a dispensary, swimming baths, washing baths and the Russian and Turkish baths. There were also medical consulting rooms for a variety of purposes.

The provision of Turkish baths by the MFS was part of the Victorian Turkish Baths movement. The Turkish baths in the Health Hydro are the oldest Victorian Turkish baths institution still operating worldwide.^[16][8]

The large swimming pool was originally for men, while the small pool was for women and children.^[14]

The buildings are in a Queen Anne style.^[8] The swimming pools have iron roof trusses made in the railway works. There are stained glass windows, ceramic bricks, red brick and hard woods. The large pool is 33 1/3 metres long, five lanes wide, and 1 to 2 metres deep.^[17][6]

In 1905 there were 11 doctors, a dental surgeon, an assistant dentist and seven dispensers on the staff. There was a dispensary, washing baths, a dentistry, invalid chairs, swimming baths, hairdressing and shaving salons.^[18][8]

During the First World War, the GWR works were taken over for the war effort, and the MFS buildings were used as a military hospital, with the swimming pools floored over to create large hospital ward spaces; this work was reversed after 1918.^[6]

Until its services were taken over by the National Health Service in 1948, the Medical Fund Society was run by a committee of GWR employees who were elected by their colleagues. In 1947, Aneurin Bevan, chief architect of the National Health Service, and William Beveridge, author of the Beveridge Report that formed the basis of the Welfare State, met representatives of the MFS in Swindon.^[9][8]

In 1947 a short book was published by the Medical Fund Society – A Century of Medical Service. It was written by Bernard Darwin, gives an overview of the history of the society and describes the Society’s facilities as they existed at the time.^[19][20][8]

By 1947, when the National Health Service was being planned and the MFS consequently was being wound up, the MFS Baths and Dispensary included two swimming pools; Turkish, Russian and washing baths; doctors; a dispensary; dental surgeries and dental laboratory; a skin clinic^[8] and ophthalmology, chiropody, psychology and physiotherapy departments.^[6][21]

After 1947 the Milton Road Health Centre was housed in the 'dry side' of the building. There was a GP (General Practitioner) medical practice, a pharmacy, chiropodists and opticians.^[22] Little brass checks were issued to those waiting for doctors' appointments downstairs.^[23]

When the rail works was still in operation, the swimming pool water was pumped ¾ mile to the baths through a tunnel from the works. In the winter months it was not practicable to keep the pools operating and the large pool was boarded over for dances, roller-skating, boxing competitions and a Royal Hunt Ball.^[24][25]

Milton Road Health Centre closed in 1985. Doctors, chiropodists, pharmacists and opticians moved to a new complex in Carfax Street, Swindon.^[22]

The large and small pools and the Turkish baths continued to operate. In the pools, as well as swimming, canoeing, scuba diving, lifesaving and aquarobics were offered. Swimming lessons were available for adults and juniors.^[26][27]

The Natural Health Clinic was set up. Acupuncture, Alexander techniques, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, homeopathy, massage, first aid, stress management, overweight therapy, reflexology, rebirthing, yoga, and numbertherapy were all on offer.^[28] There was a Well Woman Centre.^[28] There were exercise rooms associated with the Turkish baths, with sun beds and infra-red sauna.^[29][27]

In 1993 the tunnel between the baths and the former rail works had been flooded for some time and British Rail filled it in.^[30] The building was designated as Grade II* listed in 2000 for its architectural and historic interest, as well as group value with the other Railway Village buildings on the opposite side of Faringdon Road.^[6]

In 2014 Greenwich Leisure Ltd (trading as Better) took over the operation of Swindon’s leisure centres (including the Health Hydro) on a 25-year lease.^[31] Both pools and the Turkish baths continued to operate until the small pool was closed in January 2016.^[32]

In March 2021, the Towns Fund awarded £5 million to the Health Hydro, which, combined with £1.5 million from Swindon Borough Council, enabled a first phase of refurbishment works to get underway.^[33] Also, external repairs were carried out to brickwork, windows and roofs, financed by Historic England.^[34][35]

The building was reopened on 19 January 2026, on completion of the first phase of refurbishment, with the large pool and the gym in operation. The building's plant was replaced, and new changing areas and a gym were installed. Access to the large pool and Turkish baths was improved.^[36][37][38]

The Turkish baths are still closed, with urgent work repairing the roof taking place – funded by the Historic England Heritage at Risk Fund.^[39] The large pool, though open, needs further refurbishment, which relies on additional funding. There is currently no projected date for the re-opening of the Turkish Baths.^[40]

• Victorian Turkish baths, Swindon
• Swindon Mechanics' Institute
• Swindon Works