Victoria Baths : Manchester's Water Palace

Victoria Baths hit the headlines in 2003 by winning the BBC's Restoration competition.

This magnificent complex was described on opening as "the most splendid municipal bathing institution in the country".

It houses a wealth of beautiful tiling, stained glass, mosaic flooring and other decorative detail.

After a decade of disuse, the work of bringing it back to life is beginning.

While campaigning to save the Baths, the Friends of Victoria Baths researched its history.

Ths book is the result, telling of how the Baths were conceived, their construction in 1903-6, and variety of uses of 87 years.

The richest information source has been the memories of people who swam, bathed, danced and worked here over the years.

They shared their memories and stories with Prue Williams, and the resulting book adds much to the social and architectural history of a great industrial city.