Highfields Open Air Swimming Pool

Highfields Open Air Swimming Pool

The Highfields pool was built in 1924 by Lord Trent (Sir Jesse Boot, of Boots the Chemist) in Highfields Park. It was opened on 30th August 1924, and Mayor Ald. J Houston presided over the ceremony which was followed by a gala where members of the English Olympic team took part.

At the time of construction, it was one of the best equipped open-air pools in the country, at 300 ft. by 75 ft. and with 755.000 gallons of water, dressing cubicles and shower baths. It was claimed to be the biggest pool in the country, but this was in respect of inland pools as a number of seaside pools already existed that were much larger.

Originally the water was pumped from deep wells, and the pool was emptied and filled weekly, meaning that the water not being of a bathing temperature until the latter end of the week.

In 1932 it was handed over to the Nottingham City Council. The public baths committee were compelled to consider the question of modernising the pool.

The committee, under Ald. Pollard, presented in January 1935 a report recommending the installation of filtration and heating plant at a cost of £4,002. This report was approved and adopted by the city council. The plant was inaugurated by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham, Sir Albert Ball, on May 28, 1936. Works to the systems increased the capacity to 800,000 gallons.

There was also a lack of sunbathing space. It was decided to erect a sunbathing deck 75 ft. long and 25 ft. wide across the pool at a cost of £450. This took the form of a bridge constructed of pitch pine rising from the level of the promenade to 1ft. higher in the centre.

The sundeck was removed in the early 1950s as it was found to interfere with the proper filtration of the pool and proved very difficult to keep clean.

In 1963 an extra 2,300 square yards of land at the side of the Lido was added in order to enlarge the sunbathing area.

By the late 1970’s the pool had fallen into a state of disrepair. The Lido failed to open for the 1981 season. The facility lay unused for almost ten years while the site was up for sale. Eventually the land was sold to the University and the site incorporated into the campus.                                                                                                                                                                           

The Lido failed to open for the 1981 season. The facility lay unused for almost ten years while the site was up for sale. Eventually the land was sold to the University and the site incorporated into the campus.