Centenary celebrations for spa

A swimming pool was added to the spa baths in 1936

A procession through Ripon is being held to mark the 100 years since the foundation stone was laid for the city's spa baths.

Before the spa was built in 1904 townsfolk were still swimming in the River Ure.

The baths were commissioned as local gentry wanted to have their own spa to rival those in Harrogate.

Ripon's mayor is marking the anniversary on Thursday by leading the procession in period costume.

Similar problems

The idea of a public baths was first mooted in 1889 but the cost of building and maintaining the scheme was thought too costly so a bathing place on the bank of the River Ure was constructed instead.

In 1936, the local authority had to borrow £11,600 to add a swimming pool to the Park Street site.

"I can empathise with the council of the day as we are still struggling with similar problems over never having enough money," said Cllr Pat Jones.

"But I can hardly imagine making arrangements for swimmers to use the river in today's leisure dominated world."