A heated sea water pool alongside the beach and forming part of a complex of buildings that included a boating lake, roller skating rink and the Rotunda Amusements that included ghost trains and other rides. The pool boasted a simple and streamlined design without “extraneous ornament or bizarre effect”!
Nothing remains of the whole entertainment complex but there are plans afoot to build a new lido in the town, first mooted in 2021.
| Name | Folkestone Sea Water Bathing Pool Marine Parade, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2DR |
| Built / opened | 12th July 1936 |
| Cost | |
| Dimensions | 165′ x 90′ |
| Capacity | 360,000 gallons |
| Water type | Sea water |
| Depth(s) | |
| Diving boards | |
| Changing facilities | |
| Second pool | N/A |
| Spectator seating | |
| Designer | Mr. E. Prentice Mawson, F.R.I.B.A. P.P.I.L.A., M. T P.I., M.I.Struct.E |
| Date closed | Early 1980’s |
| Status | Demolished |
| On site now | Luxury apartments |
| Notes | |
| Links |
Baths and Bath Engineering, March 1937
Folkestone Sea Water Bathing Pool
In the great movement now in force to improve the health of the nation there are few things that will make a greater contribution to this desirable end than the encouragement of swimming, for the primary reason that no other exercise brings so many muscles continuously into play or enables the participant to obtain bodily reinvigoration under better conditions. In this connection those who provide the necessary via media – whether open air Swimming Pools or Covered Baths – are appreciating more fully the physiological effect of surroundings or environment, and as a result such important matters as design and site are receiving far greater attention than was formerly the case.
At the Folkestone Open Air Pool a singularly pleasing and effective design has been achieved by eschewing all extraneous ornament or bizarre effect and relying instead upon the careful balancing of voids and solids (the true meaning of ”design”) whilst the situation of the pool on the foreshore just above high water mark, and at the foot of the famous Folkestone Leas, is ideal. Both physiologically and aesthetically the pool with its plain surfaces carried out in cheerful colours and its sea water heated to 70 deg. Fahr. offers an irresistible invitation “to swim in sea water that is purified and always warmer than the Sea.”
The scheme for the pool was placed by the Folkestone Bathing Co. Ltd. in the hands of Mr. E. Prentice Mawson, F.R.I.B.A. P.P.I.L.A., M. T P.I., M.I.Struct.E., of 13 Victoria Street, London. S.W. 1, who for some years has specialised both at home and abroad in town planning and development and was one of the first of the principal architects to appreciate the fact that swimming pools were to become an essential attraction at most seaside and inland health resorts. As a result, his work is in evidence at a number of resorts throughout the country.
Opened on July 12 last year, the Folkestone pool is noteworthy as a feat of engineering and building organisation in that it was completed from the rough beach to the finished pool within a period of 13 weeks notwithstanding that during excavations an old concrete jetty was discovered on the site. For this alone and apart from the high standard of the constructional work both the architect and the builder, Mr. O. Marx of Folkestone are justly entitled to be proud. The Reinforced Concrete Steel Co., Ltd., of London, acted as reinforced concrete engineers for the scheme. A vital feature in the constructional design was the precaution taken for the pool to resist tidal uplift.
Lay-out of Scheme
The scheme comprises the main pool 165 ft. by 90 ft. with a surrounding promenade for bathers. At the western end on the landward side is situated the main entrance together with the large ”Bel” filtration and pumping chamber and lavatory accommodation for spectators. At the same end and on the seaward side is a large cafe, hot chocolate bar, kitchens, manager’s office, and stores, while at the extreme corner there is a second cafe having access to and servicing the foreshore.
In the construction of the swimming pool itself a cascade aerator has been provided in the centre of the western end of the pool. At the eastern end of the pool on either side of the large store for bathers’ clothes with its ” receiving ” and “return” counters in front and at the sides, are the covered dressing boxes for either sex, complete with hot and cold showers and lavatories.
On the seaward or southern side of the pool and running along its full length is a spectators’ terrace sheltered from the prevailing wind and the afternoon sun, while on the opposite side of the pool facing due south (and adjoining the pool surround with its tables and umbrellas) is a large area covered with clean beach devoted to sun bathing.
The pool is floodlit for night bathing by ten 750-watt bulbs suspended from steel standards, and the cafes, dressing boxes and other buildings are also lighted by electricity.
A “Tannoy” sound amplifying equipment supplied through the electrical contractors. Messrs. Booth and Bomford, Ltd., of Evesham, is installed. The equipment consists of radio and amplifier chassis, fitted to standard type rack together with gramophone turntable with automatic record changer, monitor speaker, distribution panels, etc. Three flat horn projection speakers are used with one auditorium type loudspeaker, and reports state that the sound distribution is excellent. The equipment described is similar to that used for swimming pools all over the country.
Purification Plant
The filtration plant was supplied and installed by Messrs. Bell Brothers (Manchester 1927), Ltd., and includes all the modern features. It is a complete and self-contained plant, comprising electrically driven circulating pump, two horizontal pressure filters, chemical apparatus, chlorination apparatus and pressure type aerator. The plant is capable of treating the whole of the water in the pool once every five hours when dealing with 72,000 gal. per hour. The usual cycle of operation is employed. The pump draws the water from the deep end of the pool.
General
The Folkestone pool is believed to be among the largest open-air pools in the country to be heated. Steam is taken from a battery of two coke-fired Lancashire and tubular boilers which are situated in the hotel under the cliff. From these boilers a steam main is carried underground across the promenade direct to the bathing pool, and the heat of the steam is discharged directly into the pool through special water heaters. The plant is designed to maintain a temperature of 70 deg. Fahr. for the pool water. For supplying fresh water for the shower baths and also for all other services a steam heated calorifier is installed. Messrs. H. W. Dutton and Co., Ltd., of London, were responsible for the steam henting arrangements throughout.
Contractors
Other contractors for the construction of the scheme were: Diving equipment, Messrs. Haywards Ltd of London; scum channel and spittoons, The Stourbridge Glazed Brick Co., Ltd., of Dudley; turnstiles, Messrs. Lockerbie and Wilkinson, of Tipton, Staffs; sanitary appliances, Messrs. Shanks and Co., Ltd., of London, and Messrs. Alfred Olby, Ltd., of Folkestone; windows, Messrs. Henry Hope and Sons, Ltd., of Smethwick, Birmingham; asphalt roofs, Messrs. Field and Palmer, Ltd., of London ; lantern lights, Messrs. Williams and Williams, Ltd., of Chester; bronze shields, Messrs. James Gibbons, of Wolverhampton; kitchen equipment, Messrs. Jackson Boilers, Ltd., of London ; asbestos partitions, the Universal Asbestos Manufacturing Co., Ltd., of London ; handrailing to bathing pool, Messrs. Walworth, Ltd., of London; electric lighting and equipment, Messrs. Booth and Bom ford, of Evesham ; metal lettering, Charles Eades, of Birmingham ; flush doors, Messrs. F. Hill and Sons, Ltd.. of Trafford Park, Manchester.
