Pulling the plug on Britain's lidos

Hastings open air pool in 1933, it was demolished 60 years later

At the height of the Art Deco era, a revolution was taking place which saw Britons flocking to the growing number of lidos or outdoor swimming pools.

More leisure time, more money and a desire to be more healthy saw thousands of people escaping to urban and seaside pools.

Combined with a relaxed attitude to bathing in public, the number of lidos in the UK eventually rose to 300.

Many of the magnificent pools, with their Art Deco cafes and changing rooms, have been bulldozed, filled in or left in a permanent state of disrepair.

There are 98 lidos remaining in the UK, but many of them are threatened with closure and several are not open year-round.

Now the pools, architecture, and culture are the subject of a Book by Janet Smith, with a foreword from Tracey Emin.

Liz Wallace reported for Breakfast from Broomhill Lido in Ipswich which is currently closed.

Find out more about lidos from English Heritage's 'Played in Britain series

The debate over Lidos often centres on the cost of restoring and running them, which costs millions.

The Olympic swimmer Karen Pickering is a sports ambassador for Ipswich. She said that the city needed funding for a proper 50 metre training pool.

But Sally Wainham, who is trying to get the lido restored said that there needs to be a review of the way all swimming pools are funded, across the country.

Taboos

Janet Smith's book traces the cultural origins of outdoor bathing which can be traced back to the early 19th Century, when of course social taboos about bathing in public were still very much in place.

At the turn of the century, attitudes changed as did the swimmer's attire.

MARGATE LIDO TODAY The thought of lidos brings back memories of being happy as a child... we should be saving them and building more Artist, Tracey Emin

The number of lidos in London peaked at 70 by 1950, today, only ten remain.

The book explores some of the many peculiarities including pool design, it uses aerial photos, archive pictures and posters over the decades.

Crucifix

The now defunct Larkswood lido in Chingford, east London was designed in the shape of a crucifix with the 'ends' accommodating divers and paddlers in separated areas.

Although an urban pool, it was set in 'magnificent' parkland and woods with views of Alexandra Palace and even St Paul's on a clear day.

The architect even designed it to face westwards to protect swimmers from the wind.

'Amazing sensation'

Artist Tracey Emin in the book's foreword recalls her own experience of bathing at one of the country's outdoor lidos: Margate.

"The thought of lidos brings back memories of being happy as a child. Swimming outdoors is such an absolutely amazing sensation.

"Everyone should have that in their lives. So we should not be closing lidos. We should be saving them, and building more.

The young Tracey Emin used to swim at the Margate lido, which closed in 1977, she adds:

Parliament Hill Fields lido, north west London: 2005

" We have to remind everyone of how important and wonderful lidos are. I just wish this book had come out years ago, because then the lido at Margate, where I grew up, might have been saved."

Smith's book also includes data about all of the lidos in the UK, as well as the ones featured as case studies in the book.

Detail including the type of water - salt, fresh, brine and so on is included in a table at the back of the book along with information about the lidos that remain open.

Liquid Assets - the lidos and open air swimming pools of Britain, by Janet smith published by English Heritage