Former Victorian baths illuminated for first event

A former Victorian bath house opened its doors for the first time in years to host an immersive sound and light installation.

Visitors were given a rare opportunity on Saturday and Sunday to explore the Pump Room at Jacobs Wells Baths in Hotwells, Bristol, during its ongoing restoration.

Under the plans, leaders of Trinity Community Arts (TCA) hope to fully reopen the Grade-II-listed building in 2029 as a new art, dance and music venue.

Samuel Javid, creative director of TCA, said: "We are part of something that's a first in the UK, and it will be world class once it's open. But until then, the building is going to be animated. We're not waiting for the grand reopening."

The Cast Light installation, which was designed by internationally acclaimed artist collective Squidsoup, was on display as part of Bristol's annual Harbour Festival.

Dan Pearson, technical director of Squidsoup, said the installation brought "new life" to the space.

The installation was composed of six towering columns of light accompanied by an expansive soundscape.

"There's something really interesting and exciting about trying to bring art spaces into these, what were derelict buildings, and trying to bring them back to life," said Pearson.

The building originally opened in 1889 when it was used as a bathhouse for the poor. The baths closed in the late 1970s.

It later reopened as a community dance centre before shutting in 2018.

In 2023, TCA was granted a 35-year guardianship lease of the building.

Before its offical reopening in 2029, chiefs hope to host more events at the building.

"Playing with light and sound is something we plan to do all the time. Music is a big part of Trinity," Javid said.

There are also plans for candlelight concerts and exhibitions to come to the building during its restoration.

Once opened, Javid said the venue will be "citizen powered", which means people in the community will have a say in what events take place.

Sean Redmond, lead architect on the project, said the ambition is to protect the building's legacy.

"We often think of buildings as physical objects, but those physical objects are the manifestation of ideas, of ambitions, of politics and their responses to challenges that people are facing," he said.

"Our ambition for the building is that we can protect and honour those stories, overlay the stories of how we are now and weave them in, so it becomes a richer story to pass onto the next generation."

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