Weston-Super-Mare-Lido-1937
Weston-Super-Mare huge swimming pool above. The Lido at its height. The diving stage was a famous landmark along the coastline and was heritage Listed.
A beautiful art deco pool opened in 1937 situated on the edge of sea.
Weston-Super-Mare Lido. The famous landmark.
Different Eras. Weston S-M 1973 Central Library & Original picture Avon Libraries & Info. Service +
It was a vast pool, graduating from beach depth (paddling) to 15 ft under the diving stage for which Weston-Super-Mare Lido was famous. It was a main feature of the pool and very much part of the skyline. The boards were of international standard, the highest board being 10 metres high.
Railway Poster
The aim of the Weston-Super-Mare pool was always to provide good, clean healthy fun in the masses. The pool boasted the finest changing rooms and restaurant/cafe facilities.
Every afternoon throughout the summer, a team of five professional divers including one woman performed acrobatic feats “just for the kicks and the thrills.”
People gathered from afar to Weston-Super-Mare to watch for the excitement. The spectacular dives from the highest 10m board were not without a little courage!
Dick Arnold on behalf of his team said. “Mind you, sometimes when I’m up on the top board I feel a little uncomfortable, especially where a gust of wind can make it dangerous.” Several comedy turns intermixed with the serious side of diving. The Lido enjoyed record breaking summers and often broke records […]
Read more…St Leonards Giant Pool, Hastings
The art deco Grade II listed diving stage was the back drop of Modern Venus Competitions. These attracted scores of pretty girls, including Diana Dors (Fluck) who won 3rd prize in 1947.
The judges that were listed over the years comprised celebrity stars. Chico Marx; Billy Cotton; Henry Hall; Richard Murdoch; Jack Hulbert; Tommy Cooper; Michael Aspel; Terry Scott and Hugh Lloyd. They were no strangers to the Weston-Super-Mare Pool. When Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy arrived in 1947 there was pretty much a riot!
The Lido was at its height in the fifties and sixties and hundreds of thousands flocked to the pool and hosted International Swimming and Water Polo. The diving stage, apart from spectacular shows, sadly were not used to their fullest potential for National Diving Training.
Since 1963 the interest in diving waned and was difficult to find a “resident” diving coach to form a club in Weston-Super-Mare. The facilities were not used to their full potential to bring on and coach future diving champions.
The height of the season. Will enlarge ++
Holidaymakers started to demand something more sophisticated than a dip in an unheated pool, and with little shelter, patrons began to dwindle. It was thought that only hot water could save the pool, but it was far too big to be warmed up. Planning and expense had been discussed extensively eventually reaching the conclusion that people visited to sunbathe only. They probably wouldn’t even bathe if the water was warmed up. Other possibilities were discussed.
OUTCOME: It was decided that the whole area should be redeveloped into a more suitable bathing/recreation area.
Alas! the beginning of the end
In 1981 demolition began, and with very much regret it included the famous art deco diving stage – there had been petitions to save this listed structure to no avail. The site was developed into “The Tropicana Pool” which closed in 2000.
The beginning of the end of the Grade II Listed famous Diving Stage. Weston Mercury Feb. 1982 Weston Central Library 1994
At least the original beautiful lido wasn’t allowed a murky end – once closed – within reason it came down and turned into something else … the Tropicana. Hard to believe the glamour that once inhabited the site.
Some info from…
Evening Post 1937; 59; 60; 64; 65
Weston Mercury 1978; 81; 82.
Weston Central Library, Weston-Super-Mare 1994. With thanks.
A Reprieve of a Water Facility
Derelict from 2000. Google aerial view.
After demolition of the famous pool and diving stage, as mentioned ‘Tropicana’ was built post 1981. This led a short life until closure and became derelict from 2000. Many wondrous plans had emerged to develop the ongoing derelict site, but up to 2012 there has been no progress.
For 5 weeks only from August 2015 – a new lease of life…
..DISMALAND! on the site of the former glorious pool.
A Banksey Exhibition that drew crowds from over the country…that were once attracted to the wonderful and glamorous aquatic events of many years ago.
Read about it here…. Click Picture
The Banksey exhibition exhibited everything that represented ‘Misery’ !
Status at January 2016
Goodbye DISMALAND to become a DISMAL site except when in use for attractions.
After Tropicana and Banksey.
The site of Weston-Super-Mare Lido. Geo reference 1949-69 map. Will expand to full view
The vast site was/is black tarmaced all over. It lends itself to events during the year. The perimeter buildings along the prom remain.
I, had many happy memorys in early teens late 60 -70s.
Thank you Betty for writing. I totally agee with you. So sad now to see a black tarmaced space, when not in use for an event. Anne
The lido was where I learned to swim in the 1940s. It was beautiful and so much easier to be able to wade in instead as a young child going straight into three feet of water. Such a shame it had to go – one of a kind and representative of a different kind of outdoor fun place. It brings back many happy memories.
Greetings,
I have lone been a fan of early and pre mid century architecture and recently saw the great diving platforms that are in your collection.
I am interested in learning more and also hoping to get permission to use some of the photographs and hope there are some higher resolution images.
Not sure if you know the name Eugenius Birch, the great seaside pier designer, but in my role as Chair of the Hall of Fame of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), I was able to successfully get him inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame.
Very much hoping to hear back from you.
Regards,
Jack