Public Baths, Kings Hall Leisure Centre
PUBLIC BATHS, KINGS HALL LEISURE CENTRE, 37-41, LOWER CLAPTON ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1096051
- Date first listed:
- 31-Jan-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Public Baths, Kings Hall Leisure Centre
- Statutory Address:
- PUBLIC BATHS, KINGS HALL LEISURE CENTRE, 37-41, LOWER CLAPTON ROAD
Location
Location of this list entry and nearby places that are also listed. Use our map search to find more listed places.
Use of this mapping is subject to terms and conditions .
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale.
What is the National Heritage List for England?
The National Heritage List for England is a unique register of our country's most significant historic buildings and sites. The places on the list are protected by law and most are not open to the public.
The list includes:
 |
Buildings |
 |
Scheduled monuments |
 |
Parks and gardens |
 |
Battlefields |
 |
Shipwrecks |
Local Heritage Hub
Unlock and explore hidden histories, aerial photography, and listed buildings and places for every county, district, city and major town across England.
Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1096051
- Date first listed:
- 31-Jan-2003
- List Entry Name:
- Public Baths, Kings Hall Leisure Centre
- Statutory Address 1:
- PUBLIC BATHS, KINGS HALL LEISURE CENTRE, 37-41, LOWER CLAPTON ROAD
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- PUBLIC BATHS, KINGS HALL LEISURE CENTRE, 37-41, LOWER CLAPTON ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- County:
- Greater London Authority
- District:
- Hackney (London Borough)
- Parish:
- Non Civil Parish
- National Grid Reference:
- TQ 35121 85392
Details
735/0/10127 LOWER CLAPTON ROAD 31-JAN-03 37-41 Public Baths, Kings Hall Leisure Centre
GV II
Public swimming pool and baths. 1894-97. By Edward Harnor and Frederick Pinches. Portland stone front with slate roof. PLAN: deep rectangular site, widening outwards to rear. Three-storey entrance and admin block to front. Central spine of changing rooms with three main areas on either side: two to left formerly pools, now sports halls, large one to right with main pool. EXTERIOR: Free Renaissance style front of three storeys with attic. Irregular four bay front, 3rd pedimented bay breaking forward and wider. Front balustrade with ornamental railings above. Rusticated ground floor. Pedimented Ionic doorcases, reached via steps, with arched entrances in 2nd (2nd from left) and 4th (right-hand) bays. Arched windows in 1st and 3rd bay with mullions and transoms. Private entrance to upper floor accommodation to right of 1st bay. Frieze at first floor level. First storey with four light windows, moulded hoods over, to each bay except the 3rd: this has an oriel window with pedimented centrepiece. Rusticated pilasters divide the bays. String course at second floor level. Four-light windows to second floor, two to 3rd bay. Frieze above inscribed HACKNEY PUBLIC BATHS. Parapet pierced with balustrading. Pedimented dormer to 3rd bay: four light window beneath bulls-eye window within pediment. Steeply pitched roof. Other, lesser, elevations not inspected. INTERIOR: in spite of alteration numerous features of interest remain including the following. Entrance areas retain cornices. Cafe and changing areas (incorporating the former slipper baths area between the men's pools) retain top-lighting, some with open trusses. Main pool, originally the men's first class pool or King's Pool (now sub-divided, with separate shallow pool at north end) with gallery, fronted with ornamental rails, walls faced in glazed white brick, open iron trussed roof. Former men's second class pool undergoing conversion to a dance studio and fitness suite at time of inspection (2001). Former Ladies' pool converted to sports hall use: it retains an impressive open hammerbeam roof but has lost the gallery and changing cubicles that ringed the now-floored over pool. The front block retains many features. The decorative cast iron staircase is in situ, as is the decorative tiled lining to the stairs. The first floor front committee room retains its panelling. HISTORY: Hackney adopted the 1846 Public Baths and Washhouses Act in 1891. Harnor and Pinches, architects of the Bow Public Baths in Roman Road, won the limited competition held in 1892. Work began in 1894: a legal dispute delayed opening, which took place in February 1897; Lord Russell of Killowen, Lord Chief Justice, performed the honours. Nearly 150,000 persons used the baths in the first 5 months of opening. The King's Bath was adapted for use as a public hall, with a capacity of 1,500. Considerable alterations were carried out in 1937, when 'Russian' (steam) baths were installed. Plans to demolish the baths in the late 1930s and late 1960s were not pursued. A major programme of modernisation was carried out in the early 1990s. The baths retain numerous features of interest as well as a handsome frontage, and are listed as a building of special interest, embodying late Victorian civic concern for the promotion of cleanliness and fitness. SOURCES: Hackney Society newsletter (Summer 1990); London Borough of Hackney, historic buildings listing report (c.1988).
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 490017
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Other
London Borough of Hackney, Historic Buildings Listing Report, 1988,
Hackney Society Newsletter (Summer 1990), (1990)
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 11-Jul-2026 at 03:41:54.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.