Before the Victoria Pavilion

An unoccupied piece of land at the south-western edge of the growing resort Morecambe became the site of the new swimming baths, built by the Morecambe Baths and Winter Gardens Company in 1876.

The seawater baths were entered from Bath Street and were surrounded by the gardens that gave the Winter Gardens its name. The total cost of the baths was £12,000 and an advert in the Lancaster Guardian dated May 18, 1877, stated that the baths were ready for the public. The facilities included three plunge baths, 24 private, and two medicated baths. Seawater for the baths and aquarium was collected in four large tanks which were situated beneath the former wooden jetty situated approximately 50m from the promenade. Remains of these tanks were discovered when the wooden jetty was demolished in 1982 (Brindle 1982). A reminder of the swimming baths can be found in the names of the Bath Hotel on Northumberland Avenue, and Bath Street, which at that time ran full length across the back of the Winter Gardens, but was later shortened when the Victoria Pavilion was built.

In April 1877 a proposal was made for three restaurants to be erected next to the Baths: a first and second class restaurant, and, behind these, a third class restaurant for ‘excursionists’, who would, on the payment of 2d, be able to enter without being required to buy anything. The site, adjacent to Craven Terrace, was purchased from the North-Western Railway Company and consisted of 5025 square yards and cost £10,551. On 5th June 1878, the Lancaster Gazette listed the attractions to be found at the Morecambe Baths, Winter Gardens and Aquarium during Whit week: ‘Opening days, June 10-13, with band contest and grand aquarium, 30ft long with salt and freshwater fish, ferneries, fountains, plants, fine arts gallery and pure filtered sea water, swimming and private baths.’ The advert also stated that ‘Prof. Cavell, the Channel Swimmer, and his ‘clever children’ would entertain during Whit week.’  There was a ‘splendid restaurant with first, second and third excursionist departments and a selection and quadrille band will be in attendance.’

Originally known as ‘The People’s Palace’, the principal building of the entertainment complex was described as being in the Italian style and cost the grand sum of £48,000 (Bingham 1990, 88). Spread between two domes, the building had a large glazed arch and a correspondingly enormous semi-circular window facing the western sun. The interior was fronted with exotic plants, although these were beset with problems: frost in the winter penetrated the glazing and killed the palms, and, in summer, the magnified sun wilted the foliage and overheated the patrons (op cit, 89). Accordingly, in 1885 it was decided to slate the whole roof with the exception of the space necessary for lighting purposes.

In the early 1890s the entertainment at the People’s Palace included Ada Webster and her troupe of lady swimmers, whose performances in the large bath were close to ‘other living curiosities of the deep’ in the aquarium. In 1891 the much vaunted ten hours of continuous entertainment was extended to twelve hours. The ‘all for sixpence’ admission charge included dancing to M. Jules Rivieries’ band, an exhibition of 160 engravings of Rondell’s Shakespeare and a brass band (op cit, 147).
In 1896 the People’s Palace, Baths and Aquarium was sold by Mr W Morgan to Messrs T Baxter and RB Abbott, who were both directors of the West End Pier Company. It was their intention to float a company named the ‘Morecambe Winter Gardens Company’, with a capital of £45,000, to carry out construction alterations and improvements to the premises. It was proposed thoroughly to overhaul and renovate the interior, enlarge the stage and improve the dressing room accommodation. The aquarium was to be removed and a promenade erected a few feet above the floor level, and the basement, originally used as a dance room, to be converted into a first class restaurant. The sea water baths were to be cleared away and a new theatre built.