Photo showing the dismantled terracotta windows at the east end of Pool 2 - 26th July 2005

Five weeks later - Photo showing the rebuilt terracotta windows at the east end of Pool 2 - 31st August 2005

The red arrows above show the new terracotta blocks that have been made for the terracotta windows at the east end of Pool 2.

The filter for Pool 2 as of 9th August

The filter for Pool 2 as of 31st August. We have welded on two access covers so that removal of the sand is far easier in future

Photo of the worker inside the filter for Pool 2

Close of the laterals inside Pool 2 Filter. These are at the bottom of the tank, through which the water enters. You can see how the sand beneath these laterals has formed into solid rock

Inside Pool 2 Filter after it was shot blasted

Inside Pool 2 Filter after it was coated in Glass Reinforced Plastic

Moseley Road baths is still on target to re-open in early October. It is most likely to be Sunday 9th October 2005. The staff want to re-open it on a Sunday since it will only be a half day and they will be able to iron out any unforeseen problems, when the pool shuts in the evening.

Chimney
The Boiler House Chimney work is 98% complete. It had been dismantled brick-by-brick to 10metres below its original height. It is being rebuilt with stainless steel tube inside it.

The cast iron cap will be delivered back to site during week starting 5th Sept. The 9th Sept has been pencilled in as to when it will be hoisted back into place.

Pool 2
The terracotta windows at each of the pool have been careful dismantled and new terracotta blocks made to replace crumbling blocks.

The terracotta window and glass at the shallow end will be complete by 31st August. The scaffolding will be removed by the 2nd Sept.

The terracotta window and glass at the deep end will be complete by 8th Sept. The scaffolding will be removed a few days later.

Glass will be put in the terracotta windows to replace the Perspex that has been in them for over 30 years.

The original stain glass will be put back in at the top of each terracotta window at both ends of the pool. The bottom ¾ of each window will be toughened rippled glass. I had previously stated that the entire window at the shallow end would be stained glass. Apparently, the stain glass still existed in the top sections of each set of windows. The glass has been taken out and re-set in new leaded canes.

After the scaffolding has been taken out, all the electrical lights will be checked for safety and modified/repaired if required. This should take a few days.

We have then set aside two weeks for swimming pool staff to carefully clean the pool (removing any shape objects in the grouting between the tiles) and re-fill it. Re-filling takes one week.

The boilers for Pool 2 have been tested at full power and are operating fine. They haven't operated at full power for over 12 months

Terracotta Domes
The domes have been re-pointed and the new steel structure inserted inside each dome. This will replace the rusted steel structure which caused many of the terracotta blocks to move.

Roof
Work is on going to repair as many leaks and missing gutterings/slates as possible.

Pool 2 suffered terribly from roof leaks prior to its closure in 2004. Out of it 34 cubicles, 10 would have to be closed whenever it rained. We hope to reduce this number significantly.

Swimming Pool Filter
The large filter for Pool 2 is in the process of now been refilled with Leighton Buzzard sand. Over a tonne of sand (plus debri from the pool) was removed by hand. It appears that this filter had not been emptied for decades, since the sand had congealed into solid rock at the bottom of the filter tank.

The filter has had its numerous leaks welded up and the interior coated with glass reinforced plastic.

Future Restoration of Moseley Road Swimming Baths
A bid has been put into the Council for £200,000 to do a Conservation Survey of the building - this is needed for any HLF bid. We will know on the 12th September if we have been successful