Inside vandal-hit former swimming baths which once hosted The Beatles

The Grade II listed Smethwick Baths had been open for more than 90 years when it closed in 2023

Today, Smethwick Baths is more likely to attract vandals than the biggest names in pop music, but the historic former pool on Thimblemill Road in Bearwood has a long and varied history. Opened in 1933, Smethwick Baths was Britain's first 'genuinely modern baths', reflecting the popular 'art deco' style of the time.

The Grade II listed building, designed by Chester Button and Roland Fletcher, set the trend for other baths and has been described by Historic England as an 'exceptionally fine and complete example of inter-war civic design'. But Smethwick Baths – or the Smethwick Swimming Centre, as it would come to be known – was more than just a community pool.

Built as a two-season facility, the venue hosted concerts and events in the winter, even welcoming the likes of The Who, The Kinks, and even The Beatles in 1962. Smethwick Baths was closed in 2023 following the opening of the Sandwell Aquatics Centre and is soon to be sold by the local authority - but thanks to local urban exploration group, Dee Explores, we can share some fascinating images from inside the derelict building, revealing how it looks today.

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Over the course of its history, Smethwick Baths has hosted some incredible events. During the winter months, the water at Smethwick Baths would be drained and replaced with a sprung maple dance floor.

In the 1960s, the pool was chosen to host a BBC live televised swimming competition between West Germany and Great Britain. The history of the pool stretches back even further, with the basement subways - most recently used for paranormal activity tours - reportedly being used as air raid shelters during World War II.

In the 1960s, the site also served as a dance hall and hosted many high-profile boxing matches, including some attended by the infamous Kray twins, who would watch and bet on the action. According to the Sandwell Leisure Trust, in the mid-1960s, the council took the step of providing year-round swimming by adding a small pool to the building, enabling the community to use the facility while winter concerts and events were held.

From the 1970s, swimming clubs and lessons became commonplace. The function room was then transformed into a dance studio with the latest equipment, and it was hired out by community groups and martial arts classes.

Today, the site has been targetted by vandals. However, pictures taken by urban explorers Dee Explores show that the building still retains many of its original features. Urban explorer Dee Explores began his journey exploring obscure sites in Birmingham in 2022 with his brother and their dad. He has gained a loyal following of over 16,000 on TikTok, where he shares his urban exploration adventures.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that the empty baths were costing Sandwell Council £7,500 a month to protect from further vandalism. The Grade II listed Smethwick Baths are to be sold by the council after it was determined that plans to convert the building into a new music and community venue would be too costly.