27 Responses

1. Michelle Moore on Eastville Park / 2-21-2023 / ·

   Hi Anne
   Have you got Eastville Park down as another name? I’ve searched my very long list and I can’t see it with another name.
   Here’s the link to their Facebook page…
   https://www.facebook.com/EastvilleParkLido
   It looks a bit of a wreck at the moment and seems to have been a garden for many years but there seems to be some momentum to create a new lido if not to re-open the old one.
   Regards
   Michelle
   Editor Anne: https://www.eastvilleparklido.org.uk/ ‘We would like the swimming pool to be re-installed’…
   Lovely pictures here on this link, of the once swimming pool site
   Also here as it was

2. Duncan Simpson on Eastleigh Outdoor Pool / 1-29-2023 / ·

   Hi Anne. I’ve come across mentions of an outdoor pool in Eastleigh, near Southampton, fed by water from the River Meon. There’s a few images around on the internet but any more light you can shed would be appreciated. It’s a bit of research for an account of a holiday from 1934 that I’m doing. I’ve contacted you on Twitter so if you may have see this query there or already responded. I can share the info I have about the pool if you’re interested. Best wishes, Duncan
   ……………………

   Here’s the information I have on the swimming pool at Eastleigh. Hope it helps. There was a little more info around on the web including a postcard / local history site with a photo of the pool.

   This extract is from the diary of Hilary Hughes, at the YHA archive at the Cadbury Research Library, University of Birmingham. The diary is an account of a cycle tour taken in August 1936. Hilary was at the time about 16 years old.

   Tuesday 18 August.

   We  “soon found ourselves in the suburbs of Eastleigh, [Hampshire] suddenly I saw a notice BATHING POOL… luckily it was nearly 12.0 am and after noon it was girl’s bathing so I sat down with some other girls and waited. Then we paid and went in. The water was from the River Meon nearby. I think it was purified but it still tasted horrible. I had a good swim but lost my hair slide as I had no hat; then I dried myself and went outside…” Later she found she had forgotten her purse, “left in the man’s keeping at the bathing pool.”

   Best wishes

   Duncan

3. Anne Green Jessel / 2-17-2022 / ·

   Thank you Karen for contacting. So lovely to hear your memory. No, I haven’t covered Staines unless it was known by a different name I used ? If ever you feel like writing again I would love to hear!
   All the very best
   Anne (Green Jessel)

4. Karen Wherlock on Burnham Beeches / 2-17-2022 / ·

   I just wanted to thank you for writing about the Burnham Beeches pool. I had so many great memories there with friends before leaving the area in 1974. It crossed my mind and here was all this information and photos too. It’s a shame it came to such a sad end. I’m now going to look and see if you wrote about the old Staines Lido from the same era. My Nan lived there and took us often.
   Thank you!

5. John Price on Haden Hill / 6-2-2021 / ·

   MY father lived opposite a park called Haden Hill Park in Old Hill, in the Black Country. He often told me about the unheated open air swimming pool there which closed in 1966. I have found some photographs:
   John

   Please click on the link addresses. Thank you.
   https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/2021/06/Opening-Haden-Hill-Park-Lido.jpg
   https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/2021/06/Haden-Hill-Lido.jpg
   https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/2021/06/Haden-Hill-Swim-Class.jpg

6. Richard Ryan on Skegness Lido / 6-2-2021 / ·

   Look at the incredible list of its attractions…
   Massive (110 Yards x 25 yards) outdoor salt water 1930’s proper pool, deep enough for diving and actual proper swimming pool. It could take weeks to locate anyone who had drowned.

   Excellent Big Wheel views

   Grass/Bushes
   Deluxe Chlorine smell from pre pool entry foot spa

   Bleach smell in changing rooms

   Ice Cream available

   Suntan oil smell ( most days)

   Excellent views of Big Dipper ( to right in this pic off screen)
   Noises/sounds/music/cooking smells from adjacent Funfair
   Brilliant 1950’s electric hairdryers that looked like they’d absolutely kill you if you touched them wet in changing rooms.
   Changing room doors with hardly any locks on that flopped open like wild west doors in a bar ( utterly terrifying).
   Changing room doors/ walls with massive 8″ gap at bottom of them. ( pretty terrifying)

   Towels you were given free that were harder and rougher than Izal Toilet paper used to be, you may not be dry after but by God the skin was exfolaited well.

   I shot (and still have) a really nice inc an interview with staff SVHS video of it on its last day of opening inc the whole back stage set up inc the massive seawater pumps and associated elec gear and sand filters that pumped the sea in from way out at sea and I still have a lucozade bottles’ worth of the holy (pool) water stored away in my loft.

   (Mum went there most days after she moved there, hence her skin was browner and crisper than a “Spry Crisp and dry” as you well know and she got me special permission of the senior lifeguard to shoot it, cameras and changing rooms DO have to be used sparingly of course).
   …try telling the kids that today..and they wont believe you!! lol..
   Ace place..very happy memories !!

7. Phil Moran on Bramhall and Castle Mill Pools / 9-27-2020 / ·

   1) Saw your mention of Swimming Baths whilst searching for pictures. It was located on Bramhall Park Road , Bramhall, Cheshire opposite the historic Bramhall Hall. A Tennis court remains from that time, but the pool site was lost to houses and flats. If you are on FB I will post a picture.
   2) Thought you might like to record on your site details of Bramhall Swimming Baths which were situated on Bramhall Park Road, Bramhall, Cheshire from the 1930’s through to the 1960’s when it was replaced by a small housing estate. It consisted of indoor and outdoor pools with outdoor changing cabins the roofs of which provided a kind of long but narrow sun terrace. Whilst drying out on this terrace bathers could watch the tennis players performing on the courts next door which are all that has survived of this great 1930’s local amenity. Thank for your interest! Attached is the only picture I can find of the venue.
   3) Thank you for your appreciative response to the information I supplied on Bramhall Baths. I posted this on our local FB site and received many replies from people who enjoyed the Baths from the 1940 to its closure around 1970. Regret I have not found anything else on it to date. However I have also posted about the Castle Mills pool near Ashley, Cheshire also local to us and will pass this on.
   Regards,
   Phil
   4) As promised pictures of Castle Mill Swimming Pool , Ashley near Ringway (Manchester) Airport as it was in the old days. Constructed from the mill race of the disused Castle Mill, with water supplied by the adjoining River Bollin, in the 1930’s ( the ‘golden age’ of open air Lidos) it closed c1972. The pool was roughly horseshoe shaped and set in a farm meadow used by bathers to dry off in the sun. There is a bit more information on the internet which adds more detail. My dad must have liked it as we went fairly regularly!
   Regards, Phil

   Anne: Have found this Utube Video of Castle Mill- https://youtu.be/PgkzL5Vopc8
   Thankyou Phil for filling us all in. The Pictures are in the main body of text above, under BRAMHALL. VERY much appreciated.

8. Anne Green Jessel on Search Hub Page / 9-3-2020 / ·

   Please add your memories or any further info on these lidos above on this page. You can do so either by the comments form or direct in the ‘Leave a Reply’ Box. It still comes to me…Anne.. to either approve or disapprove!

9. Kay Alcock …query on old photo! / 7-19-2020 / ·

   I came across your site while trying to put a name to the lovely pool in an old photo from my Dads albums, I initially thought that it was Skegness but after checking it’s not, there is a suggestion of Woodhall Spa Jubilee pool but I’m not so sure, I’d be really grateful if you can solve the mystery to my parents many visits, amazing really as my mum didn’t like water and didn’t learn to swim until she was sixty years old, I’m abit rubbish with the techy stuff and can’t see how to send you the picture?
   🙂 many thanks
   Kay

   Anne: Thank you Kay for this. Your picture is one of my old haunts – Tamworth Lido! I have placed it onto the page.

10. Margaret Thompson on Beare Green Lido / 7-19-2020 / ·

    My family went on holiday to Newdigate in Surrey from the mid 1940s to early 1950s, staying on a holiday camp. Occasionally we would go to nearby Beare Green to a lido and I have photos of myself there. I’m fairly sure it was called Laughing Waters on a neon sign by the roadside and it had a fountain. Do you have any knowledge of it? I would love to know more about it.

    Anne: Thank you Margaret for this. I will do a little looking up! Can anyone add to this?

11. Mick Slater on Leatherhead – West Wing / 7-3-2020 / ·

    West Wing – Leatherhead
    I remember this pool very well from the early 70’s, spent almost everyday there during the summer holidays, they had a diving board one end, was envious of the older boys bombing from the top board and I managed to perfect doing bombs and impressing the girls as well. Not a heated pool but great, had a grass area, a kids pool later on , cafe tuck shop. Remember the wooden changing rooms at the shallow end and often played tricks on friends unlocking the door just as they getting changed and opening ! L did break a tooth diving in at the shallow end and the cap is still going strong today !Closed when the leisure centre opened but I managed to be first in the pool when opened to the public. Great memories and long hot summers but can’t find any photos of West Wing unfortunately

12. Allan Crawley / 6-6-2020 / ·

    Hello, I came across your site whilst looking for Ramsgate lido so thanks, it was good to remember it. I regularly used to go to Danson Park, Bexleyheath and Eltham pools. Whilst they were large outdoor pools I am not sure whether they would qualify as a lido or not as they are not listed on your page.
    Ed. Thank you Allan for this. Yes the two pools you mention are on my website. Eltham alphabetically in the Search Hub and the Main Index page Lost Lidos
    under W for Welling. I may change my index around a little bit to feature Lido names rather than town.

13. Mike Cowdrey ? two pics / 5-27-2020 / ·

    Dear Anne,

    I attach a couple of photos of a Lido that I came across while digitising my parent’s old photos. I cannot even be certain that it is in UK but I’m pretty certain it’s from the 1940s and it’s obviously a sea lido, if such a thing exists. If it is UK it is probably on the South Coast. If you have any ideas I should be grateful. If the photos of any interest, please feel free to use them.
    Yours sincerely,
    Mike Cowdrey
    https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/files/2020/05/Margate-1.jpg
    https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/files/2020/05/Margate-2.jpg
    Editor Anne: Thank you for these Mike. I do believe they were taken at Margate…the Lively Lido! With your permission I will place them on the Margate page and acknowledge you. Thank you,
    Anne

14. Anonymous – Unidentified. Anyone help? / 5-27-2020 / ·

    QueryDoes anyone recognise these diving boards and chalets??? They surround the pool certainly on 2 sides. Possibly in Wales??? a holiday centre/camp???https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/files/2019/03/IMG_20190310_185310.jpg

15. Margaret Sheriden on Alverley Lido / 5-27-2020 / ·

    Hello, my name is Margaret Sheridan and I am a member of Alveley Historical Society in Shropshire. There used to be a lido at Alveley, it closed down in the late 1950s. It was called ‘Fenn Green” swimming Pool’ There are a few photos if you are interested. I can also put you in touch with the Chairman of the Alverley Historical Sociaety who has first hand memories of going there. I look forward to hearing from you.
    https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/files/2020/05/Alveley-Lido.jpg
    https://www.lostlidos.co.uk/files/2020/05/Alveley.jpg
    Editor See above for Photos- Anne:Thank you Margaret for these fine pictures of Alveley Road House Pool in Shropshire. One of the rare Road Houses Open Air Pools to be researched. This one closed in the 1950s. The other, along the Bagshot Road in Surrey. These Road Houses if you like were equivalent to our Motorway services! except of course you had personally served tea and cakes and usually a dance band to dance the afternoon away. Have your swim and be well rested for continuing your journey! You can find Margaret on her Facebook page Alveley Family History Shropshire.

16. Anon – Clissold Baths / 4-21-2020 / ·

    Stoke Newington – Clissold Baths
    ‘Hello,
    In 1975 / 76 my then partner and I used to go swimming at a baths accessed
    from Stoke Newington Church Street, not far from the town hall. They were
    quite old fashioned, presumably Victorian. The baths developed a leaking roof and was closed for a long time.
    https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=18&lat=51.55954&lon=-0.08563&layers=173&b=1
    See attached map image and look for Swimming Baths in centre.
    I tried both Clissold and Stoke Newington on your website but came up blank.
    If you haven’t written about them then perhaps you ought to, and if you
    have and I didn’t find the page then sorry.’
    Does anyone remember these Baths?
    Editor: I have found a reference to these baths and a very nice picture. Go to Search Hub

17. Ken Gordon / 11-23-2018 / ·

    Via Contact Form -The Search Hub mentions Cheadle Baths, but with no information. I guess the reference is to the old ‘Galleon’ outdoor pool which was not too far from Cheadle Royal Hospital. I swam there (or at least, sunbathed there) in the late 60’s and at least once in the mid-70’s. A few years ago, I discovered the site had been used to build a hotel, the ‘Waterside’. I managed to stay there for a night and found one old building and a length of wall that I vaguely recognised as part of the old Galleon. At least the hotel has a big, 25 metre indoor pool, so part of the heritage goes on.
    Other outdoor pools that deserve mention are the Blue Lagoon, which was in nearby Stockport, just near the Goyt river, as far as I remember. It is long gone.
    I worked in a couple of pools as a lifeguard during my student days in the early 70’s. One was at Rhos-on-Sea, near Colwyn Bay. That closed in the mid-1970’s, I believe. The other was down south in Bickley, near Bromley in outer London. The lido was at Southborough Lane. It may still exist in part, as there is a private health club on the site which has a pool. I don’t know if that uses some part of the original lido baths.
    Keep up the good work,
    Ken
18. Lido Fan on Twickenham / 11-11-2018 / ·

    Spent many happy hours at Twickenham pool as a child. It was unheated and often very cold. Remember having competitions to see who could get in fastest (without jumping or diving) when the water was 41F. No idea what this is in C, but it felt very cold. I was sad the pool closed. It had subsidence issues being right next to the Thames, and apparently uneconomic. However, no replacement was provided, and Twickenham never got another pool. It was more than just a swimming pool. On a nice day we would spend all day sitting round the pool with a picnic etc. and it would be packed. On the downside, if it was cold or wet, it would be very empty. Sadly after closing it was left abandoned for years.

19. Richard Aldbery / 9-25-2018 / ·

    From Richard Aldbery via email
    Yes, “West Wing” does seem to ring some bells with me. I think I personally only went there once or maybe twice. (My dad used to take me to Epsom Baths for swimming – and later for the wrestling!)

20. Paul Wain on Gosport Lido / 9-16-2018 / ·

    Via contact form
    Hi Anne, I’ve been trying to find any info on an outdoor pool in Gosport Hampshire,I used to go every summer with my nan, till I was about 8 or 9, I got a lot of good memories of the place but I can barely find any information on it ie: when or why it closed, all I know it is a car park now, and it closed roughly in the early to mid 80s, I wonder if you have any info or could find any for me, thanks Paul

    Can anyone answer Paul about Gosport Lido? Anne

21. barry / 9-16-2018 / ·

    I remember Surbiton Lagoon, I went there often as a little boy and it always seemed very glamorous and huge, it had a lovely big fountain near the entrance and a booth where you could buy a bottle of pop, chocolate bars and crisps.
    Very sad when it closed as it was wonderful amenity for the locals. I’m not sure but, having looked at a map, I think it was in Raeburn Avenue.

22. barry / 9-16-2018 / ·

    The open air pool in Fetcham Grove, Leatherhead was called “West Wing” I had a season ticket there for school summer holidays in the early sixties. There was a decent sized grass area on the far side where you could lay out on your towel when it was sunny. It had 3 tennis courts (asphalt) to the left of the pool area. They may be the ones that are still there. There was a diving board structure at the RH end which seemed very high probably 8ft also a lower level too, there was also a sprung diving boar. It was closed when the Leisure Centre was built.
    I went to School in Effingham and a few of us used to go the Gilmais in Great Bookham after school, when it closed we migrated to “West Wing”. I remember I preferred Gilmais and was really sad when it was closed down probably around 1960

23. Steve, Malcolm, Neil, Toby and Douglas / 9-10-2018 / ·

    Wonderful information from Malcolm and Neil added to Scarbrook Road Baths and… from Toby, as well as Sudury on Purley Lido in Croydon. Also photographwise beautiful photos from Douglas on Scarborough Lido – portraying its demise. Steve has added contributions to other pools on the site, mainly around Birmingham e.g. Bournville Lido

24. Toby Jacobs mentioning Sudbury / 9-10-2018 / ·

    Via email
    Hi again Anne. Can I just say that I really enjoyed reading the
    article on your site about your diving career. Great photos too. You
    certainly are a lido veteran. I’m sure you have the book by Janet
    Smith called Liquid Assets? Perhaps you’re even in it? Did you ever
    dive at Purley Way, Croydon, I wonder? I think the water there came
    straight off of an arctic glacier! The same one that feeds Tooting
    Bec! I’m sure you’ve seen the pictures of the old diving platform
    that is still in situ at Purley Way, in the middle of a Wyevale garden
    centre. I’m sure that still brings looks of amazement to the
    uninitiated. I know that you did dive at Crystal Palace, which is
    only about 3 miles away. Good to know that you sampled the delights
    of south London and survived!

    SUDBURY
    I have attached some photos that I took a few years ago of the old
    derilict lido site, here in Sudbury, Suffolk. I just walked in one
    cold, frosty morning. The gates were open. It was being used as a
    council depot. It’s since been used as a bmx park, but that’s closed
    now too. There are some pictures of the lido in use, back in the day.
    If you search for Sudbury, Suffolk photo archive, I’m sure I’ve seen
    some on the site. Perhaps you could add this old pool to your
    database.
    Pictures from Tony of Sudbury Lido Suffolk
    Fallen sign
    Spectators area
    Main entrance
    Side entrance You will see carved tablet (next pic) to the side of gate
    Carved Tablet
    Pool area
    Regards
    Toby

25. Richard Aldberry on Leatherhead “Lido” / 7-31-2018 / ·

    ON LEATHERHEAD
    Thanks Anne,

    comments; No it was not Gilmais, a very nice Lido which was filled in for property . I think it is still called Gilmais Close. I grew up in Bookham and somewhere, if my Mum did not throw it away before she died, as she did with a lot of the photos, is a picture of a very chubby ten year old Richard sat in his trunks on the edge of a fountain pool at Gilmais. I’ll send it to you in the unlikely even I come across it in the next few days!
    No the pool we were thinking of can only have been about three miles eastward down the Leatherhead road, just into Leatherhead near the bus garage and football ground – “up the Tanners!”
    Thanks for your efforts and response.
    God bless,
    Richard

    Anne: can anyone help with this query?

26. Richard Aldberry on Leatherhead “Lido” / 7-31-2018 / ·

    Hi – there was an open air swimming pool in Leatherhead Surrey before they built the leisure centre. Do you know what it was called? The question has been bugging my inlaws. I suggested Leatherhead Lido but that seems to ring no bells. Can you help?

    Anne:May possibly be known as Gilmais pool. LEATHERHEAD RD BOOKHAM. Please read this interesting account…
    http://www.surreylife.co.uk/out-about/places/lidos-in-surrey-best-outdoor-swimming-1-2244093
    Others may be able to help?

27. Susan Selsby on Whyteleafe / 7-30-2018 / ·

    Hi,

    My mum has told me there used to be a lido in whyteleafe Surrey but I can’t find any pictures, could you help me please?
    Many thanks
    Susan selsby

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