Description

SE 3071 RIPON PARK STREET 1/279 (south side) 11.6.80 Spa Baths II 1904-5. A relatively utilitarian structure with an exceptionally elaborate front. Red brick, with orange moulded terracotta dressings. Slate roof. One storey, with 2 storey centre piece. This fronts a pyramidally roofed foyer with an ornamental glazed tile interior, and a glazed clerestory roof: parapet, rising to central cartouche, and flanked by pilasters, outer ones with ball finials. Round-arched doorway, with segment-shaped transom, flanked by pilasters, then round-arched side-lights. Porte cochere with depressed arches between massive piers with diagonally-placed buttresses rising to complex finials. Mullion and transom windows either side, 4 bays to east, 3 to west, nearest bays with segmental pediments in parapet. Rainwater heads dated 1904, and case iron downpipes.

Exceptionally inventive moulded terracotta ornament covering the whole front, mainly Arts and Crafts in character, but in parts distinctly Art Nouveau.

The foundation stone was laid in 1904 to commemorate the tercentenary of King James I; Charter. It was opened in 1905 by Princess Henry of Battenberg, accompanied by Princess Ena (subsequently the last Queen of Spain).

Listing NGR: SE3096671242

External Links

• Spa Baths at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q26443000

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Churches: An Architectural Guide (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  [(Cumberland and Westmorland)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1967)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides): Written by Charles O'Brien, 2014 Edition, Publisher: Yale University Press [Hardcover]
• 
  Berkshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Oxfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)