The 1912 Amateur Swimming Association directory for swimmers in England listing: Indoor swimming baths, lidos, swimming lakes, swimming rivers, and seaside swimming facilities...
DURHAM
DARLINGTON.
Public Bath, Kendrew Street.
Darlington was criticised for having neither a wash-house nor a swimming pool in 1851, the town's elders decided that an old clay pit in Kendrew Street would hold water as a public baths. However, as it was unroofed, it was usually full of leaves, and its water was refreshed once-a-week from the nearby lake in North Lodge Park. Consequently, it was clean (and very cold) when the baths opened at 6am on Sunday, but by the time the baths closed at 5pm on Friday, when drainage began, the water was such a reddy brown colour, you were unable to send the bottom of the 6ft 6in deep end.
DENE HOLME.
Sea (private) Sea Front. Historic wild swimming venue.
DURHAM.
Public Bath and River Elvet. Historic wild swimming venue.
GATESHEAD.
Public Bath, Mulgrave Terrace.
HARTLEPOOL.
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.
ROKER.
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.