The Arlington Baths Club, built in 1870 and celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, is the oldest member-run swimming pool in Europe.
Its A-listed building houses a skylit swimming pool and a magnificent Turkish Bath, Glasgow’s homage to the Alhambra.
The Victorian bathing complex was constructed in four phases over 32 years by eminent architects of the time including John Burnet and Charles Drake, the pioneer of a poured concrete construction technique.
Its first Bathsmaster was William Wilson, who is credited with inventing the game of waterpolo, when he drew up the rules for ‘Aquatic Football’ whilst working at the baths.
World famous ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev, who often worked with Scottish Ballet, attended Arlington Baths for a massage and a spell of relaxation in the Turkish Baths in the summer of 1975.
Like these gentlemen,taking it easy in the cooling room in 1977, he would have had a lovely time, we’re sure.
The visit was described in the club newsletter, one of many fascinating facts uncovered in a bunch of copies found recently in a box file in the basement.
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