Barry’s Cold Knap Lido opened on 1st May 1926 and, in common with many others, was built by the local unemployed.
The paddling pool was a later addition, possibly circa 1937 when the original timber changing rooms that ran along the western edge were replaced by concrete bathing huts on both longer sides in an unusual semi-circular layout.
In April of 1939 the council were considering spending £11,000 on improvements but by August of that year they had spent £15,000. The concrete floor had been tiled; a new competition standard diving board was installed and a floating pontoon built to enable the pool to be set to competition lengths. The pontoon could also be positioned at the edge of the water polo pitch so that the referee no longer needed to balance on a small raft!
In the Baths and Bath Engineering journal of 1939, the pool is referred to as Barry Lido but more often it is named Cold Knap Lido. The lido part may have come into use after 1927 when the first pool in the UK to use that title (Houndsfield) opened in 1927. Local newspapers suggest it was originally called Cold Knap Bathing Pool.
The diving boards were changed again in the 1950’s and converted from sea water to fresh water in 1957 to allow the pool to host the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958. The main competitions were held in the Wales Empire Pool in Cardiff, but Cold Knap hosted some diving and water polo competitions.
The pool closed following dwindling attendances and maintenance issues in 1997 and was demolished in 2004 despite local protests.
In July 2023, a change.org petition was created to request the council to reinstate the pool. So far, it has collected only 747 signatures. If you are reading this and support the reinstatement, you can sign here.
| Name | Cold Knap Bathing Pool aka Barry Lido Lakeside, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, CF62 6TB, Wales |
| Coordinates | 51°23’17.3″N 3°17’28.8″W |
| Built / opened | 1st May 1926 |
| Cost | |
| Dimensions | 360′ x 90′ |
| Capacity | |
| Water type | Sea water until 1957 then fresh water |
| Depth(s) | 3′ to 8′ |
| Diving | 1m springboard, 1m, 3m and 5m fixed boards |
| Changing facilities | Timber changing blocks along western edge later replaced (1937) with concrete changing cubicles. |
| Second pool | Small paddling pool at Western end |
| Spectator seating | |
| Designer | J Pardoe and E R Hinchsliff |
| Date closed | 1996 |
| Status | Demolished March 2004 |
| On site now | Grass with landscaping to show the outline of the pool and chalet blocks |
| Last updated | 26t September 2025 |
Baths and Bath Engineering August 1939
Barry Lido
The Barry Lido at Cold Knap was reopened last month by Mr. C. B. Griffiths, chairman of the Barry Urban District Council.
During the last nine months nearly £15,000 has been spent on modernising the pool. A grant was received from the National Fitness Committee for Wales.
The chief improvement is the addition of a filtration plant. Another feature is that the old concrete floor of the pool, which is 350 ft. long by 90 ft. wide, has been tiled. A new diving stage suitable for international competitions has been provided. Other improvements include terracing for the accommodation of spectators and new water chutes for children and adults. The lay-out of the surroundings has also been improved.
A floating pontoon has been built and can be moored at 75, 100 and 110 yd. positions so that races of various distances can be swum without having the finish in the middle of the pool. The pontoon is the full width of the pool and is 6ft wide and supported to the pool level by tanks. When it is moored at the appropriate distance mark it will present the same appearance as the sides and end of the pool even to the scum channel. The pontoon can also be moved to the side of the polo pitch, where in the past the referee has had to balance to a small raft.
