Are we a winner say Pools?

Richard Wyatt
L to R Adviser Mary Sabina Stacey, Trustees Paul Simon, Ina Harris, Ainslie Ensom, Sally Helvey and Ann Dunlop.
L to R Adviser Mary Sabina Stacey, Trustees Paul Simon, Ina Harris, Ainslie Ensom, Sally Helvey and Ann Dunlop. Click on images to enlarge.

Months of waiting are coming to an end for supporters and trustees of the Cleveland Pools – Bath’s unique Georgian open-air public lido.

By the start of next week they should be hearing if they have been successful in their bid to win financial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable them to go ahead with the restoration of what is the oldest open-air swimming facility in the country.

Inspecting the site of the planned floating pontoon.
Inspecting the site of the planned floating pontoon.

Up to four million pounds may be needed to restore and re-open the Cleveland Pools to swimming.

It is a semi-circular lido – tucked behind Hampton Row in Bathwick – and built by John Pinch the Elder in 1815.

Whether HLF money is forthcoming or not supporters and trustees are determined to get a floating pontoon in place on the adjoining bank of the River Avon so that – in 2015 – the lido can benefit from cruisers being able to land visitors. Next year is the lido’s bi-centenary.

 

Published by Richard Wyatt

Freelance Journalist, broadcaster, columnist and local historian. Director of Bath Newseum. Married and lives in Bath. Interested in local history, architecture and visual display in museums and urban spaces.