Ashton Old Baths has proved one of the most innovative successes in recent times, seeing the restoration and renovation of the historic landmark building into a digital hub for a new business age. 

Now completed, Mike Wallbank calls inside to meet some of the firms working within and their hopes for a new year.

One way or another, Ashton Old Baths has loomed large in Mandie Elliott’s life.

Having lived in the nearby high rise flats some years ago, she had a bird’s eye view of the unmissable landmark which has dominated the town’s skyline for 150 years.

As a long-time admirer of the Grade II * listed building, Mandie was shocked to discover it had been derelict for decades since the baths closed in 1975 and for several years was on the official Heritage at Risk Register.

Fast forward to 2022, having always wanted to take a look inside, Mandie now runs her property refurb one stop shop Mi Urban Space in the vibrant digital hub which has grown over the past five years at the re-born Ashton Old Baths.

That work is now complete with Phase 2, the top deck of the building’s new inner shell officially opened earlier this year by Greater Manchester’s mayor Andy Burnham. 

AOB is home to 15 resident companies and four virtual occupants who use the address in their marketing material but are home-based.

Mandie was ‘completely taken aback’ to see that many of the original features, including the brickwork and wall tiles, had been preserved. 

Visitors quickly get a sense of the layout of the baths as it was in times past with the main pool at its heart. 

For her dad Bill, a lifelong Ashtonian who had vivid memories of the old baths, it was as though he had stepped back in time. 

“He showed me where the stairs came down from the gallery to the pool and where the Turkish baths, the old lockers and showers were, even the boiler room,” Mandie said.

Decades later, it has become a perfect base for Mandie who says she ‘loves the vibe and the energy’ especially in the communal shared spaces.

For Brianna Harvey, flexible working and ‘a nice place to meet clients’ have been the main benefits of joining the AOB extended family four years ago.

Brianna runs her own business Digital Flamingo offering social media marketing solutions. She describes herself as: “A team of one - I can work from home or here among other businesses. 

“I like the atmosphere and particularly since the second phase it’s become more vibrant.”

Podcasts, films and live theatre events are all part of the creative brief of Made by Mortals, a not-for-profit company working with professional artists, health and social care practitioners, university researchers and members of the local community to ‘share their lived experience to improve the lives of others.’  

Funding from the Health Lottery enabled them to produce Armchair Adventures, a fictional interactive podcast for kids. 

Recently, Made by Mortals were delighted to feature in the lottery’s latest North West TV advertising campaign. 

For World Mental Health Day they chose to highlight social isolation, an issue very close to their hearts.

Artistic director Andy Smith believes being based in such a ‘professional, striking and creative environment’ in Tameside’s biggest town has made the company more visible and ‘changed people’s perceptions of participatory arts.’ 

He added that it can now be taken more seriously as a vehicle for change in areas such as health and social care.

In its new guise, Ashton Old Baths remains firmly rooted in local life, organising a bake-off for the British Heart Foundation, collecting Easter eggs for local charity Infinity Initiatives and regularly throwing open its doors to visitors.

Centre manager Fiona Ogden said:  “We know there is a community out there who absolutely love this place from when they were a child and they used to come swimming here, so we put on tours for the public and also pre-arranged visits for schools and colleges.”

The younger generation learn about the building’s previous life and those old enough to remember can relive their past.

An inspiring venue for meetings, conferences and other types of event, AOB has recently had one of its busiest days yet, hosting 80 visitors across four different meeting spaces.

In all, more than 1,000 people have visited since April.

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