World Monuments Fund Unveils ‘The People’s Pool’ as Birmingham’s Living Heritage Returns to Life

There are few buildings that carry the soul of a city quite like Moseley Road Baths. Standing in the heart of Balsall Heath for more than a century, this Grade II* listed site has watched generations learn to swim, share stories, and build a sense of belonging that no modern facility could replicate. Now, as restoration work begins on the historic landmark, a new mural titled The People’s Pool has been unveiled — a vivid declaration that Birmingham’s heritage is alive, not archived.

Created by artist Luke Gray, the mural stretches across the temporary hoarding that surrounds the Baths while major restoration works take place. Funded and unveiled by the World Monuments Fund (WMF), it is more than decoration; it is a public statement of pride. Drawing inspiration from Edwardian motifs and blending them with bold modern shapes, Gray’s work captures the Baths’ unique journey — from its 1907 opening to its current rebirth under the £35.5 million Diving In regeneration project, which will see the site transformed into a cultural and wellbeing hub by 2028.

The mural came to life over three weeks in October, shaped not only by Gray’s artistic eye but by the people who know the Baths best. Local residents, community groups, and students from Joseph Chamberlain College all took part in workshops to influence the design. The result is a vibrant timeline of Birmingham life, filled with familiar faces, stories, and scenes that echo through the city’s history.

For Emma Sweeney, Projects Manager at World Monuments Fund Britain, the work reflects more than art. It mirrors the essence of civic identity. She describes Gray’s mural as a celebration of both architectural beauty and social progress, one that acknowledges the building’s complex past — where class and gender divisions once dictated who could swim where — while celebrating the unity it continues to foster.

Gray himself sees murals as living dialogues between people and place. “A mural transforms a construction site into a living story,” he said. “It allows residents to see and touch their heritage every day. My hope is that both locals and visitors view it as a reflection of their own connection to Moseley Road Baths.”

That connection runs deep. When the Baths faced closure in 2016 due to funding cuts, it was the community who stepped in to save them. A coalition of partners — including Birmingham City Council, the Friends of Moseley Road Baths, Historic England, the National Trust, and the World Monuments Fund — came together to secure its future. Their shared effort ensured that swimming would remain at the heart of Balsall Heath, preserving not just a building but a way of life.

The restoration project now underway is one of the most ambitious of its kind in the UK. Phase One, which began in 2023, focuses on urgent conservation and structural work, along with renewable energy installations and accessibility improvements. Phase Two will see the long-closed Gala Pool reopen to the public for the first time in two decades. When completed, the site will not only welcome swimmers again but serve as a centre for culture, health, and wellbeing — a fitting evolution for a place built to serve its people.

Moseley Road Baths is one of only two pre-1914 baths of its kind still in use in Britain, making it a rare survivor of the Edwardian public works movement. Yet its real preservation lies not in bricks and tiles but in spirit. The People’s Pool reminds Birmingham that heritage is not a static memory. It is something constantly renewed, lived, and shared — one brushstroke, one swimmer, and one story at a time.

The People’s Pool mural will remain in place throughout Phase Two of the restoration, offering both a tribute to the past and a glimpse of the city’s revitalised future.