The baths were built in 1887, by Samuel Wood, one of the owners of Howardtown Mills, and his wife, Anne Kershaw Wood. They were designed by the architect, Mr James Murgatroyd of Mills and Murgatroyd, Manchester.
The baths were built in an Italian character and faced with stone, with a ventilating tower, 100 feet high. The baths consisted of a swimming bath, private baths for males and females, vapour baths and a set of Turkish baths.
The swimming bath has a semicircular roof that is held up by iron principals, and has large clerestory windows. The swimming baths were used regularly for swimming contests and galas, which could be viewed from the gallery. Underneath the gallery were dressing boxes for the swimmers.
The baths were opened on 4th February 1889. In the beginning the swimming pool and Turkish baths were for men only. The female private baths were in a separate area and men and women passed through different sides of the cashier’s office. In 1895, the baths and park were transferred to Glossop Borough Council.