| I regularly visited the Lido, Southampton's public open-air
swimming pool, two or three times a week during my school
holidays back in the 50s and 60s. Unfortunately, there's no
trace of it now, but the happy memories linger on. |
| I found it surprising, even as a boy, that an open air pool
should be situated between a coal fired powered station, and a
cable factory, but in fact, it predated both. There had been an
open air public baths on the site since 1854 owned by
Southampton Public Baths and Wash House Company. In 1890 it was
bought by the Corporation and rebuilt, which included indoor
ladies' and gents' pools at the front of the premises. |
| Walking through the entrance into the bright outside pool
never lost its magic for me. The faint aroma of synthetic
rubber, chlorine and soot, and that familiar sound of excited
bathers will never leave me. |
| Traditionally, the lido was segregated with ladies' changing
rooms and terraces on the right, and gent' on the left, but from
the early sixties it slowly became mixed. The deep-end fell to a
depth of 16 feet, with a high diving board and a spring board
covered in coconut matting. A long wooden shoot stood nearby,
and was lubricated by water jets. On the far side was the café
famous for its hot raspberryade, while nearby the filtration
system cascaded water through filters that atomised the
surrounding air with chlorine. |
| The third week of May was traditionally the time when
Southampton Lido opened for the summer season. And, 'Oh boy' was
the water cold. Like most boys I would take pride in making a
spectacular first plunge. My speciality was running up the steps
of the big Chute and launching myself down it headfirst. I'll
never forget on one occasion, when the lubricating water jets
had not been turned on, my screams of pain, from the friction
burns on my chest, could be heard in the High Street! |
| I loved the atmosphere and the characters. Local seamen,
between ships, would spin yarns, and through them it was
possible to acquire sought after items from America, not
available in the shops, such as Buddy Holly records, tab-
shirts, and Levi jeans. I remember a life-guard called Alfie,
who sported a large tiger tattoo across his back, and a
one-legged man who made spectacular dives off the high board.
Life was more disciplined then and lifeguards often shouted at
the swimmers. Much credit is due to the general foreman, Ron
Tubbs, who kept the pool immaculate despite the descending
cinders from the adjacent power station. Harry Turner, nicknamed
'Tosh', was caretaker. One night a group of Teddy Boys broke in
for a skinny dip and, when Tosh came after them, they laughingly
threw him in. |
| The Lido, as we knew it, resulted from major structural
alterations in 1930, when new terraces, dressing rooms, café and
filtration plant were built. During the worst years of the blitz
the baths were closed, and became much polluted with soot and
grit. However, in July 1943, after some repairs and a major
clean-up, the Lido reopened, and was used by an international
array of soldiers, and others, as they prepared for D-Day. |
| Southampton Baths had its share of disasters. In 1931 a 10
ton Corporation steam-roller ran out of control at the top of
Manchester Street, continued down the hill and crashed through
the wall of the slipper baths. One bather jumped clear and
another crawled out of the rubble; miraculously nobody was
injured. |
| In 1968 and 1969 there were fires, but by this time a
question mark was hanging over the future of the pool.
Maintenance costs were heavy and a new filtration plant was
needed. There was also the newly proposed Western Esplanade
Development Plan, which dragged on for years! From 1973 the Lido
was on borrowed time, and yet, two of its greatest seasons were
still to come. During the hot summers of 1975 and 1976
attendance records were broken, when on hot days 3000 people
were passing through the turnstiles. |
| The Lido traditionally closed the season after the second
week of September and in 1977 it closed for the last time. It
was left to decay for 4 years; weeds grew on the terraces and
mud lined the pool bottom. I hated seeing it like that. |
| On the outside wall of the terraces, facing the old army
camp, a large motto from 1930, beautifully written in 3 foot
letters read 'SWIM TO BE FIT, BE FIT TO SWIM AND BATHE IN WATER
FIT TO DRINK', was now faded beyond recognition, along with the
additional 50s graffiti ,'Cut The Call-Up'. |
| Eventually in 1981 the pool was demolished and the city's
builders were invited to fill the pool with rubble. The stone
balustrade which surrounded the terraces was removed. I wonder
where it went? |
| I reminisce now and find myself trying to figure out where
the 6 foot concrete marker was that stood in the middle of pool.
My guess would be that it stood not far from the roundabout,
outside the entrance to John Lewis. |
| Toys-Are-Us now stands on the site of the Power Station, and
the West Quay shopping Mall covers much of the old Pirelli site.
And, for those who braved the cold water, isn't it ironic that
unbeknown to us, there existed below the pool vast quantities of
hot water, now the source of Southampton's geothermal bore |
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| Do you remember the Lido? |
Hi, On your page about the Lido in Southampton you asked if
anyone knew where the balustrades went after the Lido was
demolished.. I am fairly confident that a small section was sold
to a man in Dale Road towards the hospital end of the road where
it starts to bend. He wanted to save a bit of local history and
this was reported in the Echo at the time. I used to point it
out to folks when we passed for a number of years. I say used to
because they disappeared recently. I hope this helps.
Robert Grice |
My first visit to the Lido was in1935 with my Mother where I
was pushed in and resolved never to go there again. My second
visit was in 1944. I was fortunate to be taken on as a future
apprentice electrician at Pirelli General Cable Works in the
summer of 1943 . After much persuasion from my fellow work mates
I finally took the plunge, and within a week I was taught how to
swim From then on, us apprentices enjoyed our sessions in the
lido and in the inner baths during the winter what ever the
weather was like outside. Pirelli's was ideally situated for us
and only took us only a few minutes to get immersed in the cold
and sometimes freezing water. Someone may recall the names of
some of us.. There was Steve Hill, Ray Woodley, Ginger Fry, Bill
Oldberry to name only a few. After our dinner time swim we had
to make a mad dash back to the factory and clock on berore the
1o'clock whistle went. They were good days and bring lots of
happy memories.
Regards Ken Froud. |
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The Lido around 1958, when the pool was empty for cleaning. Southampton Power Station can be seen in the background
This photograph shows the deep end with high diving boards and the long chute.
Taunton's School Masters' Race1958. Doug Avis (PT) 3rd. from left; Charles Clark (history) 5th. from left: nearest to camera Peter Wainwright (woodwork)
The pool in a state of decay around 1980
The centre markers
The grand stand at the eastern side of the pool showing the main entrance behind the chute
The indoor ladies being demolished.
Power Station in the background
Images: courtesy of Pete Simpkin
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