Partnership to improve Parkgate’s Old Baths area

The Old Baths area of Parkgate is get a makeover, thanks to a partnership project.

Cheshire West and Chester Council’s Rural Localities team has been working with Neston Town Council, The Parkgate Society and RSPB to develop exciting improvement plans around the site of the Old Baths in Parkgate.

The partnership will need to secure funding of around £60,000 for the project and plans will then be brought to life in Winter 2022.

The range of improvements are designed to provide a warm welcome for visitors. They include:

• Improving access on paths and the approach road
• Removing overgrown non-native shrubs and also new planting
• Relocating information boards to increase the parking spaces available in the front car park
• Development of a wildflower meadow
• New seating with viewing areas over the marsh with information boards and murals
• Creating an area next to the front car park for event vehicles

The site has a long and interesting history involving ship building, rope making and fishing, and the Parkgate Society is keen for the project to help to share this with visitors for many years to come. 

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: “Parkgate is a magnet for bird watchers, particularly at high tides and for visitors enjoying the promenade, famous Parkgate ice cream, cafes and restaurants.

“Improvements have previously been made at the Neston side of Parkgate with The Ropewalk Car Park and The Donkey Stand. This is an opportunity to improve the Old Baths area at the other end of Parkgate.  I’m sure visitors and residents will enjoy the new improvements and the area will once again make a splash and attract people to spend their leisure time there in the great outdoors.” 

Residents can contact the Council’s Locality Team with any questions about the improvement plans: rurallocality@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.

Background to the baths

The two pools that were once on the site were built by Mr A G Grenfell, the headmaster of Mostyn House School in 1923.  They were initially built as a facility for the school but were also open to the paying public.  Seawater was pumped and filtered from the estuary to fill them.

The Old Baths were a great success but with the silting of the River Dee, the water supply for the pools disappeared, and the cost of pumping the water into the pools increased.  The baths were closed in 1942 due to the war, and the cost of running them.  In 1947 the baths re-opened thanks to the efforts of local people, but the cost of pumping the water was just too expensive and they closed again in 1950, for good.

Eventually the site was cleared, the pools filled in and it became a car park, which is well used by walkers, picnickers and birdwatchers.

The Old Baths also have an Olympic claim to fame.  The bath house was built as a home for the manager and around 1924 the James family took charge of the business.  At the time sixteen-year-old Hilda James was already an Olympic champion and later the women’s World or UK record holder in almost every category. She was also a swimming instructor at the pool.

Pictured - Parkgate Old Baths Artists Impression Visualisation.