England is a nation of swimmers: we make around 80 million visits to swimming pools every year.
Liverpool was home to the first municipal baths, opening in 1829. 17 years later, in 1846, the Baths and Washhouses Act granted local authorities the power to establish these facilities and offered them loans.
Between 1880 and 1914, over 600 new baths were established, often rich in detail and innovation, with abundantly opulent interiors. A mixture of civic pride and a greater understanding of hygiene led to this boom in new pools.
The 1930s were the ‘Golden Age’ of lidos, with over 150 built, and another flurry of pool construction came in the aftermath of the Second World War.
Here are 6 of England’s best pools.
1. Health Hydro, Swindon
Completed in 1891 for the Great Western Railway Medical Fund, Swindon’s Health Hydro played a big part in forming the National Health Service.
It was paid for with compulsory deductions from member’s wages, giving them access to a dentist, hairdresser and surgeon, as well as swimming and bathing facilities.
Designed by JJ Smith, it used red brick from the GWR brickwork. Two Victorian swimming baths survive in almost their original condition.
2. Moseley, or Balsall Heath Public Baths, Birmingham
Designed in a Flemish and Renaissance style by William Hale & Son, Moseley opened in 1907 to accompany the existing library, which is also listed.
It is described as ‘epitomising the civic pride of the period’. Many of the original fixtures remain.
3. Poplar Baths, London
Designed for use as a pool in summer and as an entertainment hall in the winter, Poplar Baths was completed in 1934 to designs by Harley Heckford, Borough Engineer, and RW Stanton, Chief Assistant for Poplar Borough Council.
Architect Piers Gough described the baths as a ‘stunning building with its Hollywood style interior’. It was removed from the Heritage at Risk register after a successful restoration project.
4. Tinside Lido, Plymouth
This unique unheated seawater pool in Plymouth reflects the 1930s ‘golden age’ of Lidos.
Opened in 1935 with a 55 metre (180 ft.) diameter, it takes in sweeping views of the coast and is decorated with elegant Art Deco changing rooms.
It closed in 1992 due to declining popularity, but an active local campaign led to its renovation and reopening.
5. Saltdean Lido, Sussex
Another fine 1930s Lido, Saltdean represents later movements in Art Deco, in which buildings became more streamlined and stripped of ornament.
The architect RWH Jones is believed to have drawn inspiration from ocean liners and aircraft design, a popular trend in Moderne, where architects sought to represent speed and motion.
It may also have been inspired by the De La Warr Pavilion, one of England’s first public Modernist buildings, just down the coast in Bexhill on Sea.
It closed after two years due to the Second World War, during which it was used as a water tank for the auxiliary fire service.
6. Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, London
‘Exceptional in its breadth of vision’, the Crystal Palace Sports Centre was designed by the London County Council’s architects department under Leslie Martin, who felt a need for a centre dedicated entirely to amateur athletes.
It was completed in 1964 and was one of South England’s first 50m swimming pools. Now listed at Grade II*, it has been described as ‘a concrete cathedral for sport’.
Further reading
Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.
Great list and interesting facts about them. I grew up using Plymouth Lido and school trips to Bath included the roman bath houses. I was surprised that the Victorian Baths in Manchester weren’t in the list as that was another place I visited regularly when staying with family.
Great list, so pleased to see our own Health Hydro featured, it is a real gem. Thank you
I love them all. A couple on my list to photograph even after 35 years. They are all worthy of praise and offer so much more than a place to swim. Keep Historic Pools alive.
Learned to swim at Swindon baths. Went faith school, and scouts. Closed in winter and used as ballroom.
Swindon Health Hydro is one of the few remaining pieces of Swindon Heritage. Absolute shame on the local authority for not supporting its upkeep. Probably the last gem in Swindons heritage that is worth saving.
This is brilliant! Such beautiful buildings. I made one minute video about a Victorian pool in Leicester still in use today called Cossington Street Swimming Pool http://sempereadem.co.uk/Pages/Cossingtonpool.html
Bramley Victorian baths in Leeds. Beautiful and still open.
Bramley is older than Moseley Baths but for some reason it isn’t listed as one of the three Grade II pools still in operation. It was a public pool before Bramley stopped supporting it in 2011 and then reopened after a year or so as a public pool with the community’s support. Why isn’t it listed as one of the top three, in fact the oldest still in use?
Jubilee Pool vs Crystal Palace ????? What are you people taking????
Please!!! Even Beverly Road Baths in Hull!!
This is a great list of inspiring swimming pools, though I am surprised that Ilkley Lido did not make the list: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1393795