The major restoration of Belfast's historic Templemore Baths has moved forward with a key appointment.

Originally opened in 1893, the last surviving Victorian public baths in Ireland provided washing and sanitary facilities for the families who came to live in east Belfast, attracted by the development of the Harland and Wolff shipyard and other manufacturing industries. The baths are one of the few remaining links to a time when east Belfast was a thriving industrial community.

Marcon has signed a deal as Principal Contractor to deliver the interactive visitor exhibition fit out.

This exhibition fit out will form part of a major £17 million restoration project which is almost complete. Many of the buildings original features were painstakingly restored. A modern new build extension was added to provide a new state of the art leisure and spa facility.

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The exhibition will be housed in the original building. Visitors to the heritage and interpretation space will experience a direct and enjoyable learning experience. Interpretive mechanisms will encourage engagement with themes and topics related to the baths.

The exhibition will connect people to the stories and social history of the area and this much loved, iconic local building.

The exhibition has been designed to appeal to all ages, learning styles and visitor types. Through a range of interpretive panels, interactive elements, audio visual technology, artefacts, and photographs, the exhibition will tell the story of the people who once swam there, grew up in the area or worked nearby.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Christina Black said: "As the sole surviving Victorian public baths on the island of Ireland, it is fantastic to see Templemore brought back to life. So many of its original features have been restored, and the building's heritage will be celebrated through the new interactive visitor attraction which will tell stories about the building's former use and its importance to the community."

The visitor exhibition fit out works will start on site in the coming weeks and is due to open to the public in Spring 2023.