Queen Street South: Amenities Block

In October 1955 a Huddersfield Examiner photo story described the function and use of the amenity block:

"A new amenity block, with the most up-to-date washing facilities-complete even to plugs for electric razors-has been built by a Huddersfield engineering firm , Messrs. Thos, Broadbent and Sons Ltd., of Central Iron works, Queen Street South.

Employees in the foundry can now go home as spick and span as the office worker.

Each foundry worker is provided with two lockers, for his outdoor clothes and for his working clothes, and through them warm air is circulated to keep the clothes dry, thus avoiding the possibility of colds being caught after taking showers.

At the side of the large hall used for showers, is a smaller room equipped with foot action valves for the hand basins, foot baths, drying machines and mirrors.

All the rooms are air conditioned and temperature controlled.

Apprentices in the foundry are allowed to enter the block ten minutes before other employees. They find the new amenities most useful when they are attending evening sessions at the Technical College, as they can go direct from work in clean clothes.

And just to show that the firm are optimistic about having several more summers like the last, they have also built sun and sheltered lounges on the roof."

Huddersfield Daily Examiner, So Optimistic - They've even built a sun lounge! 28 October 1955, p7.

(English Heritage page) http://lbonline.english-heritage.org.uk/BuildingDetailsForm.aspx?id=507536&search=y