From Nick Haugh’s Story

Burnham Beeches was a hexagonal pool.  It may have been built around the 1930’s or 40’s. It was on Hawthorn Lane, Farnham Common, Bucks.
The pub, ‘The Brown Owl’ was to the left of it. This changed it’s name to ‘The Grenville Lodge’ to honour the Grenville family who had once owned the land.
It no longer exists, but ended up as a bar and nightclub called Henry’s.

Directly behind the pool by 200 yards was a smaller hexagon copy of the pool used as a boating pond. Then just beyond that an oval cycle track. The land opposite, a square mile, was purchased in 1880 by the City of London. It was due for development, advertised at auction as land suitable for houses. In 1878 the City formed an open spaces policy, the remit being to purchase land for conservation. The first land bought was Epping Forest.  Nick worked at Burnham Beeches since 1982 as a Ranger, and is the only local member of staff born in the area.

Jack Shilton bought Burnham Beeches pool in the mid 60’s.  His sister Barbara became the Manageress.
It was in a poor state but he soon turned it around, as well as the nightclub on top of the pool.
The Night Club became Shilton’s, or the ‘Beeches Club.’     Previously this part of the building used to be old tea rooms.

To the right was a cafeteria and garage known as The Barn. A track lead between the two to gain access to the fairground next door to the pool.  This small fairground was called Lovett’s Pleasure Gardens,  and had been there for decades.
Because it was privately owned, the entry admission was double that of the local council pool
(Bayliss Lido in Slough).

The slide in the main pool. Courtesy of Nick Haugh.  Click to enlarge to full size.

The Diving Boards. Main Pool. Courtesy of Nick Haugh. Click to enlarge to full size.

Back then the Burnham Beeches pools only opened during good weather, roughly between April and the end of September. Nick by virtue of being a family member spent weekends and holidays at the pool.
He was able to leave school slightly early as Jack offered him employment.
Whilst the pool was closed in the winter months, Nick assisted with general maintenance, grass cutting, and once the pool was emptied, painted it before refilling.
Once the pool was open Nick worked in the case room. There were around 300 suitcases on shelves. A person would take one which had a brass tag and pin numbered to the case. After changing, swimmers handed in the case and kept the tag […]

Read more…Slough Baylis Pool. At last ‘a Lido’

The hexagon shaped pool had diving boards at one end and a slide at the other next to a cascade. Although the cascade looked very nice, it helped to mix ingredients such as chlorine and soda.
In summers like 1976 it was absolutely packed with people queuing in all directions.

The smaller pool.  Courtesy of Nick Haugh. Click to enlarge to full size.

Nick began an apprenticeship on the Slough Trading Estate but often worked at the lido with family and friends.

The End of Burnham Beeches Pool/Lido
In 1983 a fire in the club kitchen ruined the main building and that was the end of it all.
Jack sold the land and 11 houses were built on the site which is now a Cul-de-sac called Nightingale Park. Many people still ask about it but very little is recorded.

 

Gutted by fire – the end. Although the pool had not been used for a time.  Click to Enlarge to full size.

Courtesy of Nick Haugh.

Thank you Nick.

Click to Enlarge to full size +++