Look – Listen – Swim
Make 2012 the year to REMEMBER
1912 / 2012 - 100 years of swimming
The 2012 London Olympics will mark 100 years since Frank Sachs published his informative book: The Complete Swimmer. Through this 'Look, Listen and Swim' project, I hope to portray just how dramatically things have changed for swimmers during the last century. I feel sure that you'll find looking through the list of swimming and bathing places recommended 100 years ago by the A.S.A, and reproduced in Frank Sachs book, both fascinating and revealing. 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.
More recently, 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.
I appeal to you: please get involved in this 'Look, Listen and Swim' project, and help me to celebrate 100 years of swimming! Look back in time to discover where you would have been swimming if you had lived 100 years ago. Find your nearest historic swimming hole by using the links to the A.S.A list below.
Take alook, take photographs or video and send them in to chrisayriss@hotmail.co.uk for inclusion on this page.
Listen! Ask elderly friends, relatives and neighbors what they can remember about the swimming venues they frequented. Please send in copies of old photographs, real life stories, and upload videos so that they can be linked to this page (record them on YouTube and email the location).
If it is safe to do so, get into the water and Swim your way into history!
Make 2012 a year to remember as you 'LOOK, LISTEN and SWIM'.
LINKS:
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.
BEDFORD. Public Baths, Commercial Road, Newnham.
LUTON. Public Baths, Waller Street.
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...
ABINGDON. River Thames. Free certain Days.
The bathing place Abingdon 1939
COOKHAM. River Thames.
Swimming in the Thames at Cookham Regatta 1926
FARRINGDON. Public Bath.
HENLEY. River Thames.
Henley 1930
MAIDENHEAD. River Thames.
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.
The Weir Pool at Pangbourne 1900
SHIPLAKE. River Thames at the locks. Good accommodation for diving.
WINDSOR. Public Bath.
Bath Island Windsor
The History of swimming at Windsor and Eton
AYLESBURY. Public Bath, Bourbon Street.
CHESHAM. Public bath, The Moor. Public open-air bath.
HIGH WYCOMBE. Public Bath, Rye Mead. Very poor bath.
MARLOW. River Thames. Private.
Newport Pagnell Bathing Place
Stoney Stratford, Milton Keynes
CAMBRIDGE. Public Baths, Sheeps Green. Separate bath for ladies.
Men's Bathing Place Cambridge
Cambridge University Bathing Place at Granchester
Four year old Jackie Overhill diving at Cambridge. 1932
Ely. River Ouse. Private grounds.
MARCH. River. Shed provided by Local Authority.
WHITTLESEA. River. No buildings.
WISBEACH. Private Bath, Barton School.
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
CREWE. Public Bath, Mill Street. Very small bath.
WEST KIRBY. Shore Lake, Sea Front. Floating barges.
HYDE. Piblic Bath, Union Street.
LISCARD. River Mersey. No dressing accomodation.
MACCLESFIELD. Public Bath, Davenport Street.
NANTWICH. Public Bath, High Street.
NORTHWICH. Public Bath, Verdin Park.
NEW BRIGHTON. River Mersey. No dressing accomodation.
"THE WORLD'S LARGEST - Lord Leverhulme opens new open-air swimming pool at New Brighton." 1934
PORT SUNLIGHT. Open-air. Ellens Rocks.
RUNCORN. River Weaver.
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.
BOSCASTLE. Sea (private), Sea. Dangerous Coast.
FALMOUTH. Sea.
Illogan. Sea.
KINGSHEAD. Sea.
LAUNSTONE. Public Bath, close to town. Open-air, free Saturdays.
LOOE. Sea. Private Machines, bathing safe.
LOSTWITHEL. River.
MARAZION. Sea. Private Machines.
NEWQUAY. Sea.
Penberth Cove.
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 accomodation for spectators.
PENZANCE. Sea.
PORT ISAAC. Sea, Port Garern. Public Boxes.
ST AUSTELL. River, near town.
ST IVES. Sea.
TRURO. Public Bath, St Mary Street.
TRURO. River, Malpas Road.
CARLISLE. Public Bath, James Street.
KESWICK. Lake Derwant Water. Good sheds.
MARYPORT. Sea. Open beach.
PENRITH. River.
WHITEHAVEN. Public Bath. Duke Street.
WIGTON. Public Bath.
BELPER. River, Ambergate Road.
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.
GLOSSOP. Public Bath, Howard Park.
HEANOR. Public Bath.
MATLOCK. Public Bath, Smedley Street.
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.
BIDEFORD. River Torridge. Club owns large portion.
BRIXHAM. Sea.
BUCKFASTLEIGH. Public Bath, Plymouth Road.
DARTMOUTH. Sea. Pavilion owned by club.
DAWLISH. Sea. Splendid accommodation.
DEVONPORT. Sea. Mount Wise.
DEVONPORT. Private Bath, Royal Naval Barracks.
EXETER. Public Bath, High Street.
EXMOUTH. Sea, Dock. Club owns two pavilions.
ILFRACOMBE. Publich Bath, Ilfracombe Hotel.
NEWTON ABBOT. River Lemon.
PAIGNTON. Sea, off Pier. Also at Goodrington Sands.
PLYMOUTH. Sea. Bath wanted.
Bathers under Plymouth Hoe Christmas Morning
Ladies Bathing Pool Plymouth Hoe early 1900s
SIDMOUTH. Sea. Treacherous bathing.
SOUTH MOLTON. River.
TAVISTOCK. Public Bath, near Station.
TEIGNMOUTH. Private Bath, Kelley College.
TEIGNMOUTH. Sea. Bigger bath wanted.
TEIGNMOUTH. Public Bath, Carlton Place.
New bathing pool opened by the mayor, followed by aquatic gala. Tynemouth, Tyne & Wear.
TORQUAY. Sea. Bath badly wanted.
WESTWARD HO. Public Bath. Sea.
BRIDPORT. Sea (private). Pier and Beach. Also bathing tents.
DORCHESTER. River, Poundbury.
LYME REGIS. Sea.
POOLE. Sea.
PORTLAND. Sea.
SHERBORNE. Private Bath. School.
SWANAGE. Sea. Shed for club.
WEYMOUTH. Sea, Pierhead.
WIMBORNE. River.
DARLINGTON. Public Bath, Kendrew Street.
DEAN HOLME. Sea (private) Sea Front.
DURHAM. Public Bath and River Elvet.
GATESHEAD. Public Bath, Mulgrave Terrace.
HEARTLEPOOL. Sea, Sea Front. Club House.
LUMLEY. River Wear. Boat House.
MARSDEN. Sea. Tents.
ROCKER. Sea. Machines. Splendid bathing.
RYHOPE. Sea. Tents.
SEAHAM HARBOUR. Sea and Dock, Good club house.
SOUTH SHIELDS. Public Bath, Derby Street.
SOUTHWICK - ON - WEAR. River Wear. Safe. Good water.
STOCKTON. Public Bath, Bath Lane. Ladies' club.
SUNDERLAND. Public Bath, high Street.
WHITBURN. Sea. Splendid beach.
BRAINTREE. River, Mr Belsham's Meadow. Good dressing-room, closed only on Sunday after 12 noon.
BRAINTREE. River. No dressing accommodation.
BRAINTREE. Lake. Gosfield. Bathing allowed by courtesy of owner before 8.30 A.M. and after 7.30 P.M. No dressing accommodation.
BRENTWOOD. Private Bath, Grammer School.
CHELMSFORD. Public Bath. Open air.
CHIGWELL. Private Bath, Grammar School.
CLACTON - ON - SEA. Sea, Pier and Beach.
COLCHESTER. Colne River.
DOVERCOURT. Sea.
FOULNESS. Sea.
FRINTON. Sea.
GRAYS. River.
HALSTEAD. River.
HARWICH. Sea.
MALDON. River, Blackwater.
MALDON. Mar Lake, Blackwater.
PURFLEET. Sea.
ROMEFORD. Public Bath, Mauneys Road.
SHOEBURYNESS. Sea.
SOUTHEND. Sea.
TILBURY. Private Bath. P.L.A. employes.
WALTON-ON-NAZE. Sea.
WESTCLIFF-ON-SEA. Sea.
BRISTOL. Public Bath, Broad Weir.
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, Greville Smyth Park.
BRISTOL. Open-air, Victoria Park, Bedminster.
BRISTOL. Open-air, Eastville Park.
CHELTENHAM. Public Bath, Alstone.
CHELTENHAM. Public Bath, Montpelier.
CIRENCESTER. Public Bath.
GLOUCESTER. Public Baths, Barton Street.
STONEHOUSE. Canal. Bad sheds. Railway arch.
STROUD. Public Bath, Gloucester Street.
TEWKESBURY. River Severn.
Next Page...