Attilio Fiumarella's iconic photograph of swimmers at Moseley Road Baths
On 20 July 2014, photographer Attilio Fiumarella captured 118 Birmingham residents in swimsuits standing in the empty gala pool of the Grade II listed Moseley Road Baths. The image, part of his first professional photography project, has become a symbol of community solidarity and resistance against the closure of the Edwardian-era facility.
The story behind the photograph
Fiumarella moved to Birmingham in 2013 and frequently passed the building on the bus. Intrigued by its three distinct entrances—originally designated for first class, second class, and women—he explored the interior and learned about its rich history from a volunteer. The baths served as a casualty station during World War II and even hosted dance halls. The gala pool was already empty in 2014 due to lack of restoration funding, with the council planning to shut the building permanently.
Organizing the shoot
With a local community bursary from Some Cities, Fiumarella created a portrait project about the pool community. He recruited swimmers through the Friends of Moseley Road Baths and flyers in the neighbourhood. The final image required 118 people to stand in the empty pool for an hour, waiting for sunlight. Ian Edwards from St Paul's Community Trust coordinated using a megaphone, and volunteers built a temporary staircase for access. Fiumarella used a large format camera for the first time, relying on a single sheet of film.
The significance of the image
Fiumarella said, 'I was thinking of the Terracotta Army when I took this shot.' The photograph won the Portrait of Humanity prize in 2020 and recently gained renewed attention. 'We need to get together, to show up and to take back power,' he explained. 'I see this photograph as an act of resistance – these swimmers had never met me but they showed up to defend a place they cared deeply about.'
Restoration success
Moseley Road Baths has now secured final funding for restoration, including a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The building is temporarily closed for works but will reopen with renewed public spaces. Fiumarella noted, 'My contribution was only a very small part of that story, but I like to think it helped in some way.'
The photograph is featured in the Royal Photographic Society's 167th annual international exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London, from 7 August to 11 September.
