This pool replaced an aging outdoor pool closer to the shore and approximately 250m north. The pool was opened after three years of preparation including visits to a number of London pools for inspiration.
The earlier pool pool will be the subject of a separate post as the sites do not share any common ground.
| Name | Gravesend Bathing Pool Ordnance Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA12 2BH |
| Built / opened | July 1938 |
| Cost | £26,000 |
| Dimensions | 150′ x 75′ |
| Capacity | 400,000 gallons |
| Water type | Chlorinated fresh water |
| Depth(s) | 3′ at either end, 7′ to 10′ across centre |
| Diving boards | 1 x 5m and 1 x 3m, 2 x 1m fixed boards, 1m springboard |
| Changing facilities | 142 cubicles, 400 lockers |
| Second pool | Paddling pool 50′ x 50′, sloping to 1′ 3″ in the centre |
| Spectator seating | Sun terrace or spectator gallery on three sides |
| Designer | Mr. J. G. Bennett. L.R.I.B.A. Borough Architect |
| Date closed | 1989 |
| Status | Demolished |
| On site now | Grassed over with skate park |
| Notes | |
| Links |
Baths and Bath Engineering, January 1939
Gravesend Bathing Pool
The opening a short time ago of the new bathing pool at Gravesend, completed three years of patient and persistent preparation by the Corporation. It is one of the most modern pools in the country.
The old swimming bath situate on the promenade which this pool has replaced was designed in 1910 by Mr. F. T. Grant, M.Inst.M. and Cy.E.. M.Inst.R.A., M.R.S.I, the present Borough Engineer and Surveyor and erected by Mr. W. T. Burrows under his supervision at a cost of £2,028. It was opened in 1912 and had been in constant use since that date.
The increasing improvements in bath design and water purification led the corporation to the opinion that the borough should be served by more modern and hygienic facilities, and the Borough Architect. Mr. J. G. Bennett. L.R.I.B.A, was instructed to prepare a scheme tor a bathing pool on a convenient site not far south of the old bath. After careful consideration and visits to other bathing pools in London and adjacent towns a scheme was subsequently approved and tenders duly invited, the contract being placed with Messrs. H. Friday and Sons, of Erith. Kent. for the erection of the present buildings.
The main pool
This is 150 ft. long by 75 ft. wide, with a capacity of 400,000 gal. of water. The depth varies from 3 ft. at either end to a centrally situated maximum depth varying from 7 ft. to 10 ft. running transversely across the pool.
The pool is constructed of a reinforced concrete base and foundations upon a carpet of mass concrete. The walls are of pre-cast hollow block filled in with reinforced concrete and with a polished coloured concrete face. The floor is paved with 2 in. polished slabs with black lines, the flaunching to walls and the cascades rendered in situ and hand polished. The scum channel is of glazed stoneware and the surrounds and steps at each end are of non-slip stoneware. The whole of the colouring of the blocks, slabs, etc. is intended to harmonise and obtain the best results from the various depths of the water.
The diving equipment consists of a stage incorporating one 5 m. fixed board, one 3 m. springboard, one 3 m. and two 1 m. fixed boards and a separate 1 m. springboard all of which are located over a water depth of 10 ft. A water chute is situated adjacent to the diving equipment, the commencement of the runway being 15 ft. above the pool surround, and having a vertical curve projects the bather along the surface of the water, which is here about 4 ft. 6 in. deep.
Children’s Paddling Pool.
The children’s paddling pool, measuring 50 ft. square. is approached by sloping concrete ramps, giving a maximum depth of water in the centre of 1 ft. 3 in., and is constructed in concrete and surrounded by grassed margins.
Administrative Buildings.
These occupy a commanding position along practically the whole of the main 420 ft. Of frontage of the site of the public highway.
Access to the interior is obtained through a centrally situated entrance hall and foyer. Flanked on either side by the Cashiers’ office and Superintendent’s office. This opens on to a spacious veranda and on either side, there are situate the dressing rooms, each comprising 71 cubicles. Four hundred steel lockers in terraces, centrally situated in each room, are under the supervision of the attendant whose office is adjacent to the entrance. Ample sanitary conveniences and lavatory basins are available to each dressing room, these being in addition to the blocks of male and female conveniences for those outside the dressing rooms.
Each room is also equipped with a range of five showers. All bathers pass through one of the two footbaths provided. A laundry is planned in the central administrative block, and towel and costume stores, as well as general storage accommodation, are located in appropriate positions.
The buildings are constructed in brick, rendered, and set with Snowcrete with a sponged finish and this, in conjunction with the window and general decoration in metallic and enamel paint, gives a colour treatment in white, gold and red. All the buildings are designed with flat roofs covered with patent roofing, a portion of the roof area being designed and laid out as a spectators’ terrace.
Water Purification Plant.
This plant, which is complete and self-contained, comprises two centrifugal pumps driven by electric motors, two 8 ft. by 17 ft. long horizontal pressure filters together with suitable chemical apparatus, chlorinator and ammoniator, aerator, flow meters for indicating the quantity of water passing through the plant, and a heating apparatus which comprises an electrically heated boiler. The plant communicates with the pool through a 12 in, supply system terminating in two cascades and five other inlets positioned around the sides; the water is extracted through an outlet at the deepest part of the pool.
The plant deals with the whole contents of the bathing pool, 400,000 gal. of water once every six hours.
Electric Heating Plant.
The scheme can aptly be termed “the all-electric pool” for not only is it artificially lighted and floodlighted, both internally and externally, by this means, but electric heating plant is installed consisting of an electrode hot water boiler rated at 300 kw. on the 400 volt, 3-phase, 50 cycles supply. The boiler is coupled on a by-pass to the return main from the filters to the bathing pool, so that the water circulating through the filtration plant passes through the electrode boiler on its return to the pool and is thus heated.
The electrode boiler is fitted with hydraulically operated automatic load control which enables the load to be set at any desired value between 20 per cent and 110 per cent of the full load rating, the automatic mechanism maintaining the load at the required setting, irrespective of the temperature of the water in the boiler. The boiler unit is controlled by means of an automatically operated oil circuit breaker and an interlocking load limit switch is fitted so that before the boiler can be switched on and off the load is first reduced to the minimum.
The temperature of the pool water is maintained at the desired figure automatically by means of a controlling thermostat which is inserted into one of the mains carrying the water. This thermostat, which is provided with an adjustable setting, is set to the desired temperature of the pool and switches the electrode boiler on or off in accordance with the heat requirements.
In addition to the controlling thermostat, a safety thermostat is also fitted, this being installed in the electrode boiler itself. The function of this device is to switch out the breaker automatically in the event of any fault causing an undue temperature rise in the boiler such as might be produced should the circulating pump be stopped.
General.
The cafe is centrally situated on the first floor over the entrance hall and flanking buildings and approached by duplicate staircases from a closed veranda. The cafe building proper, having a length of 34 ft. 6 in. and a width of 14 ft. comprises hall, kitchen, scullery, service, and stores and is surrounded on three sides by a sun terrace or spectators’ gallery, commanding excellent views of the whole of the pool.
Along the whole front of the building, some 420 ft. in length, is laid out a spacious concrete car park and entrance forecourt. Accommodation for bicycles is provided in a store at the eastern end of the site.
Lighting is provided by means of four bronze lanterns glazed with lined plate glass and mounted to a height of 17 ft. 6 in. on cast concrete columns situate on the bordering footway.
The floodlighting is effected by the installation of 15 units situate on the pool surround. Sunbathing terraces are provided around the main pool, and teak seats are arranged around the pool surrounds.
Equipment for water polo is furnished. Fire protection is also provided in appropriate positions in the administration section of the building.
The Borough Architect, Mr. J. G. Bennett. L.R.I.B.A.. has been responsible for the design and supervision of the work. Mr. S. H. S. Downes is the Superintendent.
Contractors.
Messrs. H. Friday and Sons, Erith, were the general contractors for the scheme and the following were amongst the sub-contractors:
Shower baths equipment, Tylors (W. and S.) Ltd., London.
Aeration, Bruce H. Auld and Co., Ltd., Croydon.
Electric heating plant, Bastian and Allen, Ltd., London.
Water purification plant, Bell Bros. (Manchester 1927) Ltd.
Diving equipment, Brown and Tawse. Ltd. London.
Pool floor, Impervious Stone Co., Ltd., London.
Pool walls, Stent Precast Concrete. Ltd., Dagenham.
Edging, steps. etc., J. H. Turner and Lisney, Ltd. New Barnet.
