The Speirs Centre in Alloa

This A listed building was formerly public baths and a gymnasium. which has been renovated to provide a library and other community facilities. 


Historic Environment Scotland says:

One of the best surviving examples of a late nineteenth century public baths and gymnasium by a leading architect of the period and funded by an important local philanthropist. The Spiers Centre is very finely detailed and is one of Scotland's finest examples of a Victorian leisure building. The stonework detailing to the exterior, including elaborate carved stonework, sculpture, balustrades and bartisans, is of exceptional quality. The exterior survives relatively intact apart from the loss of the lantern to the W elevation and some alterations following a fire (see below). Many fine original details to the interior survive, particularly to the entrance vestibule and hall, swimming pool and first floor gym. Prominently located in the centre of the town the building is an important surviving example of the town's social history and in particular is representative of the late nineteenth century interest in wellbeing.
 https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB21009

also https://www.rias.org.uk/for-the-public/practices/ldn-architects-llp-edinburgh/speirs-centre-alloa

I went to visit the family history centre there and spent a happy day researching my sister-in-law's family. It's one of the 5 family history centres linked to the ScotlandsPeople Centre at the National Records of Scotland in Edinburgh. Scotland has world class access to digital images of birth, death and marriage records and censuses which can be viewed and downloaded at home for a fee. Sometimes there are just too many possible records listed in the index, at the centre one can look at them all for only £15 a day and print out the 'right' one for 50p. I've come home with a treasure trove of 33 printed records. This will keep me busy for a few days adding them to my SiL's family tree with the correct citations.

I took the shot as I was leaving after a happy and productive day with a spot of Blip Learning thrown in.