Bath’s Cleveland Pools wins prestigious European heritage award

A pioneering project at Bath’s 200-year-old Cleveland Pools has scooped a top award in the Europa Nostra Awards 2023 – recognised as an example of rescuing open-air pools.

Cleveland Pools, which has worked with Salix on decarbonisation of its site, is one of just 30 projects to be honoured as an ‘outstanding heritage achievement’, from a wide-ranging field of applications from 21 countries across the European area.

Judges highlighted that the restoration of the 19th-century open-air Pools had been ‘driven by the local community’ and praised the use of ‘green energy and a holistic approach to reinstate the site’s original function while adapting it to 21st-century standards.

Cleveland Pools, which aims to open for swimming in the coming months, received £557,230.00 of funding under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme.

Paul Simons, Chair of Cleveland Pools Trust said: “After three national awards, the Cleveland Pools Trust is delighted with this European Heritage Award from Europa Nostra. It is further evidence of the appreciation of the amazing achievement of all involved. With the construction of the pontoon to provide a riverboat bus stop now underway, the project is in its final stage, and we are aiming to open the Pools for swimming in the coming months.”

Salix programme manager Arthur Jones said: “It is thrilling to hear that Cleveland Pools has been recognised in these awards. It is a truly unique project, and we are delighted that the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund has contributed to making this site more efficient for the whole community.”

Cleveland Pools in Bath first opened to the public in 1817 but closed to the public in the 1980s. However, the project to restore and reopen Cleveland Pools began in 2004.The Cleveland Pools Trust, independent registered charity and company, has played a crucial role in the project by prioritising community engagement and involving large numbers of volunteers with a diverse range of backgrounds, skills and knowledge.

As well as the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund, the project has received financial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Historic England, Bath and North East Somerset Council, as well as from individual donors, charitable trusts and foundations, and crowdfunding.

The European Heritage Awards/Europa Nostra Awards were launched by the European Commission in 2002 and are run by Europa Nostra, the ‘leading citizens’ movement to protect and celebrate Europe’s cultural and natural heritage'.