ASA Devon Swimming History 1912 indoor and outdoor swimming

The 1912 Amateur Swimming Association directory for swimmers in England listing: Indoor swimming baths, lidos, swimming lakes, swimming rivers, and seaside swimming facilities...

DEVON

Book Discount

BIDEFORD.

River Torridge. Club owns large portion. Historic wild swimming venue.

BRIXHAM.

Sea. Historic wild swimming venue. Lido.

BUCKFASTLEIGH.

Public Bath, Plymouth Road. Lido.

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. Lido.

DEVONPORT.

Private Bath, Royal Naval Barracks.

EXETER.

Public Bath, High Street.

Just above Head Weir, there was a bathing place that was used from the early nineteenth-century, or before. The City Council took responsibility for it from 1864 when they appointed James Baker as the first bathing ground superintendent at a cost of 18s per week. In the same year the area was tarmacked. Later improvements to the bathing ground were made, with wooden slats for bathers to stand on after they left the water, pans of clean water for washing feet, and in 1877, fifteen bathing huts, at a cost of £56.

During September of 1872 a swimming match was run, to became an annual event. By 1883, 80 guineas was offered in prizes. Shooter won a Silver Medal for Bravery, and was feted by the City Council, when he saved a young boy who fell into the river above Head Weir and was swept into the upper leat. The leat by this time was covered, so Shooter had to swim along a dark tunnel until he found the boy, to emerge in the open just below Engine Bridge. (from Exeter Memories)