Discover the Hexham Wool Warehouse story, from its 1885 start to its 1973 rebuild and today’s Wool House flats.
In 1973, they tore it down and changed it. It became the Gilesgate swimming baths, and the pool opened in 1974. Hexham Tans gloves began there.
The pool was open from 1974 until 2008. Families loved going to the pool and kids enjoyed slides and inflatables. Many learned to swim there, and they also practiced lifesaving skills.
A new pool opened at Wentworth Leisure Centre in 2008. The Gilesgate pool then closed, and in 2016, they listed the building for sale. It became the Wool House flat complex.
Robert Dodds, a bricklayer, worked on the flats. His family had a history with the building; his grandfather worked on the roof back in the 1960s.
Richard Dodds fell while fixing the roof. He broke his back and could not work later. The Wool House has 45 apartments inside, and they kept the old building facade.
Work at the site began in June 2020. The finish date was delayed several times, and bricklayers found a time capsule there recently.
They found it in late January. They discovered a bottle from the 1973 conversion, and the bottle had a list of workers. It listed their jobs and hometowns.
Anthony Gibbons was the site manager. He and his team were interested, and the completion date will be announced soon.