During this period following the major flood of 1855, the property went through several owners and lessees. Pearson Thompson lost ownership in 1856 when the Globe Insurance Company foreclosed on his mortgages and put the property up for auction in May. It failed to sell so in September they accepted an offer from the editor of the Cirencester Standard, a Mr Jones, along with one or two other backers whose names were not divulged publicly, to lease the premises under the management of Henry Ingram.
The Cheltenham Montpellier Gardens Company made renovations after taking over the lease of the property in 1862 and later took ownership. They made extensive refurbishments during 1869/70 and came up with the notion of boarding over the main swimming bath so that the large room could be used for other purposes, especially in the winter months. These included a gymnasium and cycling school.
The Real Cheltenham Salts were still being made at the site although on a smaller scale than before; it continued to decline throughout this period and especially during the 1880s and 1890s. The mill and bakery appear to have ceased operating around the time of the 1869 refurbishments but a greengrocers operated from the corner shop from 1871 until the end of the century and a laundry later replaced the brewhouse.
The Montpellier Gardens Co asked Engall, Cox & Co to put the entire property into one of their auctions in June 1895. In an echo of 1856 it failed to reach its reserve price so the auctioneers advertised it for sale by private treaty, again with no success. Nine months later the property was offered to the Corporation of Cheltenham for the sum of £2,500 but this was rejected, although the Corporation were mindful of providing additional washing facilities to its residents. The offer was repeated in January 1898 and in March 1898 the Corporation agreed to purchase the building (12 councillors voting in favour and two against) with the Baths to close in October that year.
By May, three schemes had been drawn up by the borough surveyor for refurbishments – in effect ‘cheap’, ‘moderate’ and ‘extensive’ – and the ‘moderate’ scheme was chosen. The Corporation submit themselves to an inquiry by the Local Government Board later in 1898 in regard to borrowing £6,600 from the Public Works Loan Board. Permission to apply for the loan is granted but the application doesn’t progress until August 1899; despite this the Corporation put the work out to tender in May 1899 and appoint Channon & Sons, the only applicant, as main contractor.
Click on the drop down menu or the links above to read more about the different uses during this period.