Berkhamsted Open Air Pool was opened in 1923 by a party of leading citizens, including local councillors and bathing belles.
At some point the pool, including the toddlers’ paddling pool, was improved and extended at a cost of more than £25,000.
New changing accommodation was built. Until then there were just a few wooden bathing huts alongside the pool. The gardens were a feature of the modern pool and became a favourite sun-bathing spot. Plans for heating the pool were repeatedly shelved because of financial restrictions, and this made many Berkhamsted people go to pools in surrounding towns.
Eventually the pool was heated and furter refurbishment took place in the 1980’s but the pool closed in 1990 and was, apparently, demolished in the middle of the night, perhaps due to the waste of money only a few years earlier?
| Name | Berkhamsted Open Air Pool Broadwater, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 2AL, England |
| Built / opened | 1923 |
| Cost | |
| Dimensions | |
| Water volume | |
| Water type | |
| Depth(s) | |
| Diving boards | Three fixed boards |
| Changing facilities | |
| Second pool | Square paddling pool |
| Spectator seating | |
| Designer | |
| Date closed | 1990 |
| Status | Demolished 1990 at midnight! |
| On site now | Skate park |
| Last updated | 15th March 2025 |
Berkhamsted Citizens Association Newsletter, May 1982
The Berkhamsted Open Air Pool is scheduled to open on Saturday 19 June although it will be available to schools from Monday 14 June. The season lasts 12 weeks until Monday 6 September (11 weeks for the public). Season tickets are £8.50 for adults and £4.25 for schoolchildren. The single entrance fee is 55p so at 1½ swims per week you break even! This is an excellent reason for having 2 swims per week when you can satisfyingly consider that you have got something cheap on the Rates. And keep fit into the bargain! The attendance figures last year were much better than forecast and we are hoping for a further improvement. It is still important to support and use this marvellous public amenity – there isn’t another one in Dacorum! So please buy a season ticket or a trip ticket, ie. a block of 14 tickets for the price of 10 Season tickets are available through Berkhamsted Swimming Association c/o Roy Went, 22 South Park Gardens, .Tel. 75288. Also from Dacorum officers at Berkhamsted Civic Centre, Hemel Hempstead or Tring.
Dacorum District Council have budgeted £30,000 for improvements which include a new boiler and heating system, repair of changing rooms (roof and floor), refurbished paddling pool, repair of walls of main pool and provision of an entrance turnstile. We are hoping that this year there will be a more Interesting range of drinks and nibbles Swimming lessons may be available depending on the agreement of the Supervisor to whom enquiries should be made.
