Look – Listen – Swim
Make 2012 the year to REMEMBER
1912 / 2012 - 100 years of swimming
The 2012 London Olympics mark 100 years since Frank Sachs published his book The Complete Swimmer
Make 2012 a year to REMEMBER
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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ACTON. Public Bath. Salisbury Street.
LATCHMERE ROAD. Public Bath, Latchmere Road. Free instruction to all paying for admission. Public Bath (2ndclass). Public Bath (Ladies). Public Bath (Boys),
BATTERSEA PARK ROAD.
NINE ELMS.
BECKENHAM. (Clock House). Public Bath, Beckenham.
BARKING. Public Bath, Barking.
BERMONDSEY. Public Bath, Spa Road.
ROTHERSHTHE. Public Bath, Lower Road.
BETHNAL GREEN. Public Bath, Mansford Street.
BRENTFORD. Public Bath, Clifden Road.
CAMBERWELL. Public Bath, Old kent Road.
CAMBERWELL GREEN. Public Bath, Camberwell Green.
CHISWICK. Grove park. Open-air.
DULWICH COLLEGE. Private Bath, Dulwich.
CAMDRN TOWN. Public Bath, King Street.
CHELSEA. Public Bath, Manor Street.
CHELSEA. Public Bath, King's Road. Ladies only.
CLERKENWELL (NORTHAMPTON INSTITUTE). Public Bath, Clerkenwell. Men every day, except Mondays and Thursday. Women, Mondays and Thursdays.
CROYDON. Public Bath, Scarbrook Road. One family bathing club.
Croyden Swimming Bath
CROYDON. Public Bath, Scarbrook Road. Women 2ndclass.
CROYDON. Public Bath, Scarbrook Road. Open-air.
THORNTON HEATH. Public Bath, High Street. 2ndclass three days per week.
S. NORWOOD. Public Bath, Birchanger Road.
S. NORWOOD. Public Bath, Birchanger Road Open-air.
DEPTFORD (NEW CROSS). Public Bath, Laurie Grove.
EALING. Public Bath, Longfield Avenue. Ladies only. Ladies' bath open for gents during winter on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
EDOMONTON. Public Bath, Knights Lane.
EDMONTON. Public Bath, Lower Edmonton.
FULHAM. Public Baths (3), Walham Green.
HACKNEY. Public Baths (2), Lower Clapton Road. One for ladies only.
HAGGERSTON. Public Bath, Mansfield Street, Kingsland. Men only.
HAMMERSMITH. Public Bath, Hammersmith.
HAMMERSMITH. Public Bath, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, W., First class bath. Ladies, Mondays, from 6 p.m.; Thursdays, from 10 A.M. to to 6 P.M. Second-class bath, Tuesday 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.; Thursdays from 6 P.M.
HAMSTEAD. Public Bath, Finchley Road.
HOLBORN. Public Bath, Broad Street, W.C.
The Oasis Swimming Pool (aka Endell Street Baths) in Holborn
HOUNSLOW. Public Bath, Treaty Road.
ILFORD. Public Bath, Ilford.
ISLEWORTH. Public Bath South Street.
ISLINGTON. Private Bath, Albion Square. School children only.
ISLINGTON. Public Bath, Caledonian Road. Ladies only.
ISLINGTON. Public Bath, Hornsey Road.
ISLINGTON. Tibberton Square. Public Bath, Grunman Street. Separate bath for ladies.
KENSINGTON. Public Bath, Latimer Road. Separate bath for ladies.
KENSAL RISE. King Edward VII. Bath. Open-air.
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES. Public Bath, Wood Street.
LAMBETH. Public Bath, at the junction of the Kennington and Lambeth Roads, in a direct line from the Houses of parliament.
LEWISHAM. Public Bath, Forest Hill.
LADYWELL. Public Bath, Lewisham.
LEYTON. Public Bath, Cathall Road.
PADDINGTON. Public Bath contemplated.
The Opening Ceremony at Parliament Hill Lido
Parliament Hill Lido 1965
PLAISTOW. Public Bath, West Ham.
PLUMSTEAD. Public Bath, High Street.
POPLAR (ISLAND). Public Bath, Glengall Road.
POPLAR. Public Bath, Poplar.
POPLAR. People's Palace, Mile End Road.
POPLAR. Public Bath, Roman Road, Bow, E. First-class bath, open to ladies on Thursdays.
POPLAR. Public Bath, Roman Road, Bow. E.
POLYTECHNIC. Private Bath. Regent Street. Members and friends only.
CARPENTER'S CO. Public Bath, Stratford.
RICHMOND. Public Bath, Parkshott.
Swimming in the Thames at Richmond 1914-18
ST PANCRAS (PRINCE OF WALES ROAD). Public Baths (4), Kentish Town.
FITZROY. Public Baths (2), Tottenham Court Road.
SHOREDITCH. Public Bath, Pitfield Street.
SOUTHWARK. Public Bath, manor Place. Separate bath for ladies.
SOUTHWARD. Public Baths (2) Lavington Street.
TWICKENHAM. River, The Wereway.
STEPNEY. Public Bath, St George's in the East, Stepney.
St George's Baths London
WALTHAMSTOW. Public Bath, High Street.
WANDSWORTH. Public Bath, Wandsworth.
WESTMINSTER. Public Bath, St George's, Buckingham Palace Road.
WESTMINSTER. Public Bath, St George's. Davies Street.
WESTMINSTER. Public Bath, Great Smith St.
WESTMINSTER. Public Bath, Marshall Street.
WILLESDEN. Public Bath, Gladstone Park, Dollis Hill. Open-air. Payment for admisssion three days a week only.
WIMBLEDON. Public Bath. Worple Road.
WIMBLEDON. Public Bath, Latimer Road.
WOOLWICH. Public Bath, Wollwich.
TOTTENHAM. Public Bath, The Green, high Road.
TOTTENHAM. Open-air Public Bath, Tottenham Marshes.
OPEN-AIR BATHING-PLACES
Morning and Evening Bathing
BECTON. Road Park, Canning Town (except Fridays).
BROOMFIELD. Park, Palmer's Greet, Southgate, N.
BROCKWELL. Park, East Ham.
CENTRAL PARK. East Ham.
CLAPHAM. Common.
HAMPSTEAD. Pond.
Mens bathing Lake
The Men's Bathing Lake Hampstead Heath
Highgate "Life buoys" swim for "Osborne Trophy" at 8.30 am. Christmas morning 1920 at Hampstead Heath
HIGHGATE. Ponds.
PLUMSTEAD. Common.
QUEENSMERE. Putney Heath.
SERPENTINE. Hyde Park.
Lansbury's Lido 1930 The Serpentine, Hyde Park, London
The Serpentine Lido in the 1950s
The Serpentine Lido 1961
Hyde Park Paddling Pool
SOUTH NORWOOD. Lake (private)
TOOTING Common.
The Opening of Tooting Beck Lido 1906
For the poor, the swimming pool became the cheapest place to bathe. At the opening of Tooting Bec lido in London,, you will notice one youngster carrying the only clothes he has, screwed up in one hand.Wandsworth Borough Newsreported - regarding hundreds of small boys: 'heedless of the presence of members of the fair sex, [they] unblushingly undressed and were sampling the quality of the water long before the "big guns" had departed.' Many bathers walked barefoot across the common prompting complaints to the Council that the facility was being 'stormed by the riff-raff from slum land.' Without doubt the waters lost much of their sparkle as 1,500 were bathing each day. Regarding indoor pools, many included a second class or boy's bath, in which boys could bathe for a fraction of the cost of a private tub. Even so their behaviour needed regulation so that hijinks did not end in complete mayhem. Although initially built to compliment river, lake and canal swimming, concerns over indecency prompted change. No working class man or boy owned a bathing costume, in fact if you look carefully at the front cover picture of my own book: Hung Out to Dry, Swimming and British Culture
VICTORIA Park.
Victoria Park Bathing Lake London
The Bathing Lake, Victoria Park, London. Described by Lieutenant-Colonel Sexby as foremost among the park's facilities! 'As many as 25,000 bathers have been counted on a summer's morning.' The lake was open to swimmers between 4.00-8.00 a.m. in the summer; the early hours ensured that the working day was not impeded. Sexby continues: 'What an incalculable boon open air swimming-baths like those provided here must prove to the neighbourhood! The principle bathing-lake is 300 feet long. It is provided with a concrete bottom, shelters, and diving-boards, and all the accessories to make it a perfect out-door swimming-bath, and it has been pronounced the finest in the world. In case of accidents, two boatmen are always on duty during the season, which is a necessary precaution when the number of bathers is taken into account.' Nearby a play park and a sand pit were well maintained despite the high costs in order to brighten the lives of local children. The park was used by swimmers from 1846.
Victoria Park Lido 1936
CRANBROOK Park, Ilford.
WANSTEAD Park (before 8).
CAISTOR. Sea.
CROMER. Sea.
EAST DEREHAM. River.
HAPPISBURGH. Sea.
HORSEY. Sea.
HUNSTANTON. Sea.
KING'S LYNN. Public Bath, Common Staithe Quay.
NORWICK. Public Bath, Heigham.
YARMOUTH. Sea.
KETTERING. Public Bath, Bath road. Council rent bath until new bath built.
NORTHAMPTON. Public Bath.
PETERBOROUGH. River.
Peterborough River Swimming
Oundle Bathing Place 1910
WELLINGBOROUGH. Public Bath.
Alnmouth. Sea. Good sand.
ALNWICK. Sea.
BERWICK. Sea. Good sands.
BLYTHE. Sea, Sea Front and Dock. Splendid sands.
CULLERCOATS. Sea. Safe. Good club house.
HEXHAM. River Tyne. Private dressing boxes.
NEWBIGGIN. Sea. Good sands. Private boxes.
NEWCASTLE. Public Baths, Northumberland Avenue. Splendid bath.
NEWCASTLE. Public Bath, Arthur Hill. Splendid bath.
NEWCASTLE. Public Bath, Byker. Splendid bath.
NEWCASTLE. Public bath, Scotswood Road. Splendid bath.
SEATON SLUICE. Sea. Good sands.
TYNEMOUTH. Sea. Club house and machines.
TWEEDMOUTH. Sea and River.
WHITLEY. Sea. Good club house.
Whitley Bay Paddling Pool
Warkworth. Sea.
BULWELL. Public Bath, Vernon Road.
HUCKNALL. Public Bath, Station Road.
HUCKNALL. Public open-air, Station Road. Boys.
HUCKNALL TORKARD. Public Bath.
MANSFIELD. Public Bath, Bath Street.
NEWARK. River, Tolney Land.
NOTTINGHAM. Public Exhibition Sneinton. Teaching given to members by the N.S.C. Committee.
NOTTINGHAM. Public Bath, Thackeray Street.
NOTTINGHAM. River Trent.
River Swimming in the Trent Nottingham
NOTTINGHAM. Scholars' Bath, Leen Side.
NOTTINGHAM. Scholars' Bath, Stanley Road.
NOTTINGHAM. Scholars' Bath, Albert Street.
NOTTINGHAM. Scholars' Bath, Sycamore Road.
NOTTINGHAM. Public Bath, Sneinton.
RETFORD. Public Bath, Albert Road.
RADFORD. Public Bath, Boden Street.
WORKSOP. Private Bath, St Cuthbert's College.
BANBURY. Public Bath, Banbury.
OXFORD. Public Bath, Merton St.
OXFORD. Long Bridge, River Isis. Men only.
Long Bridges Bathing Place Oxford 1965
OXFORD. River Isis. Ladies only.
OXFORD. River, Trimbling Bay.
OXFORD. Parsons Pleasure, River Cherwell.
Parsons Pleasure, Henry Taunt, 1885
Parsons Pleasure H N Spalding(1877-1953)
OXFORD. Rea. Bathing Place, River Cherwell. Ladies only.
Rea Bathing Place Oxford 1927
Click the picture to watch the News Real
Link to Oxford's minor river bathing places with pictures showing their condition today
No Baths or Bathing Places.
Private Bath at Uppingham School.
ELLESMERE. LAKE (PRIVATE), The Mere. Only by permission.
MARKET DRAYTON. River, The Flash, Little Drayton.
OSWESTRY. Public Bath, Oswestry.
SHREWSBURY. Public Bath.
WELLINGTON. Public Bath, Walker.
WHITCHURCH. Public Bath. Brownloww Street.
BATH. Public Bath, Royal Baths. Mineral Water, heat 80°.
BATH. Public Bath, Bath Street.
BATH. Public Bath, Cleveland Baths. Open-air.
BATH. (private), Kingswood School, Lansdown.
BRIDGWATER. Public Bath, Old Tauton road. Open-air, better baths wanted. Large bath free three hours daily, and always free to boys under 14.
BURNHAM. Sea.
CLEVEDON. Sea.
CREWKERNE. Bath, Grammar School Grounds. During long vacation, August 1stto September 20th, use may be by arrangement with head-master.
DOWNSIDE COLLEGE. Private Bath, Abbey Grounds. Open-air.
FROME. Public Bath, Bath St.
GLASTONBURY. River. No proper bathing place, only that obtained in the River Brue.
HIGHBRIDGE. River.
LANGPORT. River.
MINEHEAD. Sea. Allotted places for ladies and gents.
RADSTOCK. River.
SHEPTON MALLETT. Public Bath, Charlton. Open-air.
TAUNTON. River, French Weir.
WATCHET. Sea.
WELLINGTON. Private Bath on the premises of Messrs Fox Bros. & Co., Ltd. Erected by Messrs Fox for their employees, who have the use at meal times only. Club and school children at specified times.
WELLS. Public Bath, Milton Lane. Open-air - open from May to October.
WESTON-SUPER-MARE. Public bath, Knightstone.
YEOVIL. Public bath.
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
