Ripon Spa Baths: Grade II-listed spa baths to be restored to former glory in £2m scheme

Generations of families learned to swim at the Spa Baths in Ripon following its opening in 1905, but the grade II-listed building closed three years ago with the opening of the Jack Laugher Leisure and Wellness Centre in the city.

Now a local family firm has bought the building from North Yorkshire Council with plans to return the property to its former splendour.

In the privately funded scheme, Sterne Properties will create hospitality outlets, four luxury apartments and a publicly accessible open courtyard on the site while restoring and retaining its original Edwardian frontage.

The building opened when Ripon saw the success neighbours Harrogate were enjoying as a spa town. Spa water was pumped four miles from Aldfield, with customers served from a basin in the elaborately tiled entrance hall. The swimming pool was added in the 1930s at the edge of the Spa Gardens.

North Yorkshire Council’s deputy leader, Coun Gareth Dadd, who has responsibility for finance and property, said: “Ripon Spa Baths were the last of their kind to open in England and we wanted to be sure this listed building was preserved for the city.

“Robert Sterne and his team have very exciting plans for the building which fits into our focus on the regeneration of our town and city centres and the re-purposing of buildings. It will breathe new life into this historic building and into this area of the city as it brings new people into its hospitality units.”

Robert Sterne, managing director of Sterne Properties, said the scheme would continue the resurrection of the town’s Spa Quarter.

“As a local family we are passionate about conserving Ripon’s heritage whilst encouraging new and exciting businesses to operate in our city,” he said.

“We want to roll the clock back to when the spa baths were built. The original façade will be restored so it looks just as it was intended to look in the early 1900s.

“By opening up the south elevation and creating a rear courtyard the Spa Baths will once again work as it was originally designed. For example, natural light will flood the pump room through the stunning stained glass panels. This is something that hasn’t been seen since the 1930s.”

Coun Barbara Brodigan said the development would contribute to the development of the Spa Quarter.

"The long-awaited sale of the Spa Baths to Sterne Properties is good news for Ripon as they have a good track record in sympathetic preservation of traditional buildings in the city,” she said.

Coun Andrew Williams said: “I am delighted that the building is going to be brought back into use rather laying to rot and decay next to the Spa Gardens.

“I look forward to seeing the finished scheme which will complement the newly refurbished Ripon Inn and Ripon Spa Gardens and play a major role in the regeneration of Ripon.”