The history of swimming in England
The history of swimming costume
The Amateur Swimming Association directory for swimmers in England listing: Indoor swimming baths, lidos, swimming lakes, swimming rivers, and seaside swimming facilities.
Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Gloucester, Hants and Isle of White, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Man, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottingham, Oxford, Rutland, Shropshire, Somerset, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Westmorland, Wiltshire, Worchester, Yorkshire.
 | Things have dramatically changed for swimmers during the last century. Looking through this list of swimming and bathing places recommended 100 years ago by the A.S.A, and reproduced in Frank Sachs book: The Complete Swimmer, will I hope reveal that changes have not all been for the benefit of swimmers. One thing that stands out is the number of open water swimming venues available to swimmers back then. The last hundred years has seen attitudes to swimming outdoors change remarkably. Indoor pools have been built country wide, youthful swimmers contained, and their behaviour moderated. Swimming has been transformed from an animated outdoor playful activity, mostly enjoyed by working class boys, into a very competitive sport, confined predominantly to man-made pools. The British seaside holiday, the lido era and two world wars have all played a part in our rich swimming history. But swimming survives as the number one participation sport in the U.K. The 2012 London Olympics marked 100 years since Frank Sachs published: The Complete Swimmer. In recognition of the health benefits of exercise, the government proposed to steer the nation away from obesity, and to guide us back into the water as swimmers. Starting with the over 60's and extending to school children in 2009, the government had hoped that free swimming would become part of the texture and pattern of everyday life for the English by the time of the 2012 London Olympics. Sadly the financial crisis has overshadowed such hopes and free swimming has been consigned to the nation's 'wild swimmers', whether in river, lake or sea.
The figures in parenthesis denote the number of swimming baths in each building.
Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckingham, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumberland, Derbyshire, Devon, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Gloucester, Hants and Isle of White, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Isle of Man, Kent, Lancashire, Leicester, Lincoln, London, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Nottingham, Oxford, Rutland, Shropshire, Somerset, Stafford, Suffolk, Surrey, Sussex, Warwickshire, Westmorland, Wiltshire, Worchester, Yorkshire.
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BEDFORDSHIRE
BEDFORD.
Public Baths, Commercial Road, Newnham.
Bedford's Commercial Road Swimming Bath opened in 1872, as the town's first official bathing place
These rules of 1884 show how the opening hours were strictly regulated, often by sex and class: the Union Boys were lads from the local Workhouse. Bedford's first swimming pools, the Commercial Road Baths and Newham Baths, were both open-air pools incorporating parts of the river. More...
LUTON.
Public Baths, Waller Street.
LUTON'S former swimming baths in Waller Street were opened in 1913 by the town's MP, Cecil Harmsworth more...
Batford swimming pool
Before Harpenden gained a swimming pool the Urban District Council constructed a children's paddling pool at the Marquis Lane playing-field. It was fed with spring-water from the old cress-beds. More...
BERKSHIRE
ABINGDON.
River Thames. Free certain Days. Historic wild swimming venue.
The bathing place Abingdon 1939
COOKHAM.
River Thames. Historic wild swimming venue.
Swimming in the Thames at Cookham Regatta 1926
FARRINGDON.
Public Bath.
HENLEY.
River Thames. Historic wild swimming venue.
Henley 1930
Hurley-on-Thames. Historic wild swimming venue.
Diving at Hurley-on-Thames 1940
Diver Hurley-on-Thames 1940
Bathers Hurley-on-Thames 1940
Children swimming Hurley-on-Thames 1940
MAIDENHEAD.
River Thames. Historic wild swimming venue.
NEWBURY.
Public Bath, Northcroft.
READING.
Public Bath, King's Meadow.
READING.
Public Bath. Free certain days for ladies.
READING.
Private Bath, Leighton Park College.
PANGBOURNE.
River Thames. Historic wild swimming venue.
The Weir Pool at Pangbourne 1900
SHIPLAKE.
River Thames at the locks. Good accommodation for diving. Historic wild swimming venue.
Shiplake Lock from downstream with the weir stream to the left
WINDSOR.
Public Bath. Historic wild swimming venue.
Bath Island Windsor
The History of swimming at Windsor and Eton
BUCKINGHAM
AYLESBURY.
Public Bath, Bourbon Street.
CHESHAM.
Public bath, The Moor. Public open-air bath. Lido.
Chesham Moor Swimming Pool
The first written reference to swimming on the moor was in 1898.
In 1912 the first swimming pool was erected and in 1933 it had a facelift which included improvements to the pool and its surroundings such as changing cubicles.
In 1964 the whole building was reconstructed and the pool was made deeper and on completion, re-opened by Councillor Bill Moulder who, in 1912 had been one of the first to swim in the original pool. More...
HIGH WYCOMBE.
Public Bath, Rye Mead. Very poor bath.
Holywell Mead Swimming Pool
- 55 years since it first opened on 1 June 1957, the open air swimming pool on The Rye in High Wycombe has opened its doors again. More...
- There had been a public pool on The Rye since Roman times - you can find more information at the newly opened Romans exhibition at Wycombe Museum.
MARLOW.
River Thames. Private. Historic wild swimming venue.
NEWPORT PAGNELL.
River Lovat. Historic wild swimming venue.
Newport Pagnell Bathing Place
Stoney Stratford, Milton Keynes
CAMBRIDGE.
Public Baths, Sheeps Green. Separate bath for ladies. Historic wild swimming venue.
Cam Swim Through 1959
Men's Bathing Place Cambridge
Cambridge University Bathing Place at Granchester
Four year old Jackie Overhill diving at Cambridge. 1932
Link: The history of wild swimming at Cambridge
Ely.
River Ouse. Private grounds. Historic wild swimming venue.
MARCH.
River. Shed provided by Local Authority. Historic wild swimming venue.
WHITTLESEA.
River. No buildings. Historic wild swimming venue.
WISBEACH.
Private Bath, Barton School.
CHESHIRE
ALTRICHAM.
Public Bath, Stamford Road.
BIRKENHEAD.
Public Bath, Argyle Street.
BIRKENHEAD.
Public Bath, Livingstone Street.
CHESTER.
Public Baths (2) Union Street. School children taught in school hours free.
Chester Swimming Gala
Historic wild swimming venue.
CREWE.
Public Bath, Mill Street. Very small bath.
WEST KIRBY.
Shore Lake, Sea Front. Floating barges. Historic wild swimming venue.
HYDE.
Public Bath, Union Street.
LISCARD.
River Mersey. No dressing accommodation. Historic wild swimming venue.
MACCLESFIELD.
Public Bath, Davenport Street.
NANTWICH.
Public Bath, High Street.
NORTHWICH.
Public Bath, Verdin Park.
NEW BRIGHTON.
River Mersey. No dressing accommodation. Historic wild swimming venue.
"THE WORLD'S LARGEST - Lord Leverhulme opens new open-air swimming pool at New Brighton." 1934
PORT SUNLIGHT.
Open-air. Lido. Ellens Rocks. Historic wild swimming venue.
RUNCORN.
River Weaver. Historic wild swimming venue.
Runcorn bathing place, River Mersey
SEACOME.
Public Baths (2), Guinea Gap.
STOCKPORT.
Public Bath, St Petersgate.
WINSFORD.
Public Bath, Station Road. School children taught swimming in school hours.
CORNWALL
BOSCASTLE.
Sea (private), Sea. Dangerous Coast. Historic wild swimming venue.
Bude Sea Pool Summerleaze Beach
FALMOUTH.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
Sea Swimming at Swan Pool Falmouth
Hayle.
Hayle Outdoor Bathing Place 1936 - 39
Hayle Lido was constructed for swimmers in one of the tidal pools adjacent to the town on a site that is soon to be redeveloped (behind Jewson's on Carnsew Road) It opened in 1936 and closed with the deceleration of the Second World War. Another Lido opened in the 1970's but is under threat. Historic wild swimming venue.
Illogan.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
KINGSHEAD.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
LAUNCESTON.
Public Bath, close to town. Open-air. Lido. free Saturdays.
LOOE.
Sea. Private Machines, bathing safe. Historic wild swimming venue.
This rock is known locally as "Tom Barbers Rock". Tom died as he hit the rocks below when diving.
LOSTWITHIEL.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
MARAZION.
Sea. Private Machines. Historic wild swimming venue.
NEWQUAY.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
Wild swimming at Newquay (Hartnell's postcard)
Penberth Cove.
Historic wild swimming venue.
Pearl told me the story of her mermaid like childhood. She grew up in Penberth Cove, some 3 miles from Land's End, which supported a thriving fishing community. Pearl relates: 'Grandfather lived in the house next to the sea, and I grew up in a flat above the fisherman's cellars.' Born in 1942, Pearls childhood coincided with the golden age of swimming. She swam for 20 minutes each morning before breakfast, and after a day of schooling in St' Just, she returned to the sea for another 20 minutes before tea. Winter swells made the rocky cove too dangerous for bathing, but calm weather at any time of year put swimming on the daily agenda for this fishing and swimming community. Even when she started work Pearl would swim every day late into the evening, 'It was wonderful', she remembers.
As the tide goes out at the cove, three sand bars can be reached, and a small rock pool is exposed which became the playground of the young. Pearl learned to swim at the age five, her mother Eva swam out to the sandbars carrying Pearl on her back. The doggy paddle brought her safely home, but a fear of deep water developed when she could not touch the bottom along the way. 'I was eleven or twelve before I learnt to swim properly,' Pearl remembers. 'I spent the whole summer in my swimming costume.' The children were in and out of the water all summer long and when Eva took a plunge the children would shout 'tidal wave' referring to her corpulent stature. The water was home throughout the day to adults and children alike. 'Mother knitted my first costume, but it became so heavy when it was wet, that it would hang down to my feet. I ended up swimming in shorts and a t-shirt, it was more decent,' she said.
With a dozen boats in the cove there were always adults around, but the children were not supervised as such. Eight children lived in the cove itself and another 13 came down from surrounding villages to bathe. The older boys built a 12 foot raft with oil drums beneath for buoyancy, and anchored it in the middle of the cove to swim out to. 'Once it broke free during a storm and it went out into the English Channel, they had to put out a warning to shipping.' Teenagers would move the raft over to the rocks so that young children could use it to climb out of the sea and then jump in off the rocks. Pearls little brother was taken out by the older boys and swam back on his own aged only three. 'He swam with the doggy paddle and has swum like a fish ever since.'
You might think that this easy going attitude towards swimming could end only in tragedy, you would be wrong, no child drowned in the cove. Teaching children to swim in open water was always seen as a good thing as it put swimming abilities into perspective and taught respect for life and the sea. What a contrast these golden days of swimming make with the restrictions of childhood today.
PENZANCE.
Public Bath. Poor accommodation for spectators.
PENZANCE.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
Jubilee Bathing Pool Penzance, notice the slide, diving board and water polo
Jubilee Pool Penzance
Jubilee Pool Penzance
Tristram Bathing Pool Polzeath
PORT ISAAC.
Sea, Port Garern. Public Boxes. Historic wild swimming venue.
ST AUSTELL.
River, near town. Historic wild swimming venue.
ST IVES.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
Sea bathing Porthminster Beach St Ives
TRURO.
Public Bath, St Mary Street.
TRURO.
River, Malpas Road. Historic wild swimming venue.
CUMBERLAND
CARLISLE.
Public Bath, James Street.
KESWICK.
Lake Derwant Water. Good sheds. Historic wild swimming venue.
MARYPORT.
Sea. Open beach. Historic wild swimming venue.
PENRITH.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
WHITEHAVEN.
Public Bath. Duke Street.
WIGTON.
Public Bath.
DERBYSHIRE
BELPER.
River, Ambergate Road. Historic wild swimming venue.
BELPER.
Public Bath, Derby Road.
Hathersage.
CHESTERFIELD.
Public Bath. Ashgate Road.
CHESTERFIELD.
Inkerman Pool, Ashgate Road.
DERBY.
Public Baths (2), Full Street.
DERBY.
Public Bath, Reginald Street.
DERBY.
Public Bath, Holmes. Open bath.
DERBY.
Brook, Markeaton Bank. Open bath.
DERBY.
River Darley Abbey. Historic wild swimming venue.
GLOSSOP.
Public Bath, Howard Park.
HEANOR.
Public Bath.
MATLOCK.
Public Bath, Smedley Street.
Matlock Lido
MATLOCK BATH.
Public Bath, Main Street.
MATLOCK BATH.
Private Bath, New Bath Hotel.
MILFORD.
Public Bath.
REPTON.
Private Bath, Repton School.
WEST HALLAM.
Public Bath, near G.N.R. Station. Owned by Colliery Co. Open-air. Lido.
DEVON
BIDEFORD.
River Torridge. Club owns large portion. Historic wild swimming venue.
BRIXHAM.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
BUCKFASTLEIGH.
Public Bath, Plymouth Road.
DARTMOUTH.
Sea. Pavilion owned by club. Historic wild swimming venue.
DAWLISH.
Sea. Splendid accommodation. Historic wild swimming venue.
DEVONPORT.
Sea. Mount Wise. Historic wild swimming venue.
DEVONPORT.
Private Bath, Royal Naval Barracks.
EXETER.
Public Bath, High Street.
EXMOUTH.
Sea, Dock. Club owns two pavilions. Historic wild swimming venue.
ILFRACOMBE.
Publich Bath, Ilfracombe Hotel.
NEWTON ABBOT.
River Lemon. Historic wild swimming venue.
PAIGNTON.
Sea, off Pier. Also at Goodrington Sands. Historic wild swimming venue.
PLYMOUTH.
Sea. Bath wanted. Historic wild swimming venue.
Bathers under Plymouth Hoe Christmas Morning
Tinside Lido Plymouth
Ladies Bathing Pool Plymouth Hoe early 1900s
SIDMOUTH.
Sea. Treacherous bathing. Historic wild swimming venue.
SOUTH MOLTON.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
TAVISTOCK.
Public Bath, near Station.
TEIGNMOUTH.
Private Bath, Kelley College.
TEIGNMOUTH.
Sea. Bigger bath wanted. Historic wild swimming venue.
TEIGNMOUTH.
Public Bath, Carlton Place.
New bathing pool opened by the mayor, followed by aquatic gala. Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear.
TORQUAY.
Sea. Bath badly wanted. Historic wild swimming venue.
WESTWARD HO.
Public Bath. Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
DORSET
BRIDPORT.
Sea (private). Pier and Beach. Also bathing tents. Historic wild swimming venue.
DORCHESTER.
River, Poundbury. Historic wild swimming venue.
LYME REGIS.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
POOLE.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
PORTLAND.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
SHERBORNE.
Private Bath. School.
SWANAGE.
Sea. Shed for club. Historic wild swimming venue.
WEYMOUTH.
Sea, Pierhead. Historic wild swimming venue.
Dancing Ledge Sea Pool at Langton Maltravers near Weymouth 1920s
WIMBORNE.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
DURHAM
DARLINGTON.
Public Bath, Kendrew Street.
DEAN HOLME.
Sea (private) Sea Front. Historic wild swimming venue.
DURHAM.
Public Bath and River Elvet. Historic wild swimming venue.
GATESHEAD.
Public Bath, Mulgrave Terrace.
HEARTLEPOOL.
Sea, Sea Front. Club House. Historic wild swimming venue.
LUMLEY.
River Wear. Boat House. Historic wild swimming venue.
MARSDEN.
Sea. Tents. Historic wild swimming venue.
ROCKER.
Sea. Machines. Splendid bathing. Historic wild swimming venue.
RYHOPE.
Sea. Tents. Historic wild swimming venue.
SEAHAM HARBOUR.
Sea and Dock, Good club house. Historic wild swimming venue.
SOUTH SHIELDS.
Public Bath, Derby Street.
SOUTHWICK - ON - WEAR.
River Wear. Safe. Good water. Historic wild swimming venue.
STOCKTON.
Public Bath, Bath Lane. Ladies' club.
SUNDERLAND.
Public Bath, high Street.
WHITBURN.
Sea. Splendid beach. Historic wild swimming venue.
ESSEX
BRAINTREE.
River, Mr Belsham's Meadow. Good dressing-room, closed only on Sunday after 12 noon. Historic wild swimming venue.
BRAINTREE.
River. No dressing accommodation. Historic wild swimming venue.
BRAINTREE.
Lake. Gosfield. Bathing allowed by courtesy of owner before 8.30 A.M. and after 7.30 P.M. No dressing accommodation. Historic wild swimming venue.
BRENTWOOD.
Private Bath, Grammer School.
CHELMSFORD.
Public Bath. Open air. Lido.
CHIGWELL.
Private Bath, Grammar School.
CLACTON - ON - SEA.
Sea, Pier and Beach. Historic wild swimming venue.
Clacton-on-Sea Lido 1933
COLCHESTER.
Colne River. Historic wild swimming venue.
DOVERCOURT.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
FOULNESS.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
FRINTON.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
GRAYS.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
HALSTEAD.
River. Historic wild swimming venue.
HARWICH.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
Ingatestone
MALDON.
River, Blackwater. Historic wild swimming venue.
MALDON.
Mar Lake, Blackwater. Historic wild swimming venue.
PURFLEET.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
ROMEFORD.
Public Bath, Mauneys Road.
SHOEBURYNESS.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
SOUTHEND.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
TILBURY.
Private Bath. P.L.A. employes.
WALTON-ON-NAZE.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA.
Sea. Historic wild swimming venue.
GLOUCESTER
BRISTOL.
Public Bath, Broad Weir. Historic wild swimming venue.
BRISTOL.
Public Bath, Myor's Paddock.
BRISTOL.
Public Bath, St Jacob's Wells.
BRISTOL.
Public Baths (2) Rennison's.
BRISTOL.
Public Baths (2), Clifton.
BRISTOL.
Public Bath, Kingsdown.
BRISTOL.
Public Bath, Barton Hill.
BRISTOL.
Open-air. Lido. Greville Smyth Park.
BRISTOL.
Open-air. Lido. Victoria Park, Bedminster.
BRISTOL.
Open-air. Lido. Eastville Park.
CHELTENHAM.
Public Bath, Alstone.
CHELTENHAM.
Public Bath, Montpelier.
CIRENCESTER.
Public Bath.
GLOUCESTER.
Public Baths, Barton Street.
STONEHOUSE.
Canal. Bad sheds. Railway arch. Historic wild swimming venue.
STROUD.
Public Bath, Gloucester Street.
TEWKESBURY.
River Severn. Historic wild swimming venue.
Please send in your memories for inclusion on this site, email: chrisayriss@hotmail.co.uk
British Wild Swimming: 2,000 Years of Freedom, Joy and Adventure
