Elemore Pithead Baths

This building was listed Grade II in 1985 with the following description:
'Colliery baths, now workshops. 1933 by R.A. Frizell for the Welfare Committee. Brick. Style : Dutch school. 2-storey block around central water tower, with one- storey porch and offices on south and east. Elevation to street: full height blind bay at left; central one-storey porch containing concrete architrave to boarded double door flanked by narrow windows with wrought iron grilles; set back above door is a tall tripartite stair window having brick mullions and metal glazing bars; a similar window in right return to stair; set back at right is a full-height bay containing vehicle entrance on rollers. 7 recessed brick courses form decorative band at first floor level and on tower; soldier courses at windows hide steel lintels; parapets of soldier courses or of bonded vertical courses. Interior : stainless steel balustrades to 2 original stair- cases; some ceramic tiled shower compartments with integral towel hooks survive. Wall and railings in front : goemetric pattern wrought iron railings on low brick wall with curved brick coping along street, canted at corner, and partly on right return. Historical note : the only remaining building of Elemore Colliery.'
Frizzell designed modern movement brick-built bath house. The modernist detailing around the entrance, railings and staircase are of particular note and the boiler chimney is prominently displayed {1}. One of the earliest references to the building of pit-head baths in the North East Coalfield was in April 1855 when Cramlington Colliery owners were reported to have opened 'warm baths and showers at the colliery for their men'. However, pit-head baths are more a 20th century phenomenon, and a large number of baths were built following the Mines Industry Act 1926. Many architecturally interesting buildings were erected by the Miners' Welfare Committee from about 1933 onwards - Elemore being one of these. A remarkable series of baths were built between 1933 and 1939 for the collieries of Northumberland. In Durham elegant designs were followed at Silksworth, Easington and Elemore, all of which were designed by F.G. Frizzell. Approximately 30 pit-head bath buildings were erected in Durham in the period after 1932, all brick built and most characterized by the dominant display of the chimney and water tank. The impressive external design of the building at Elemore was complimented by an interior of considerable quality - all of which was achieved at a reputed cost of £1500. Few of Frizzell's baths now survive in the region but those at Elemore are now occupied by a small engineering firm {2}.