Hoylake Bathing Pool

One of eight outdoor pools along the coast of the Wirral Peninsula. Hoylake was built in 1912 and had a capacity for 2,500 bathers. By the late 1920’s it was in need of work and £25,000 was set aside for a complete rebuild.

The pool re-opened in 1931 with the tank measuring 200 ft. by 150 ft. It was built in the art deco style and buildings were rendered and painting sparkling white. An aerator built of craggy rocks was enclosed by a swirl of rendered concrete.

The pool suffered severe storm damage in 1976 and was closed but a campaign by the Hoylake Pool Trust raised funds for repairs and it re-opened. It was now an L-shaped pool to allow for extra sunbathing and the craggy aerator was no more.

It lasted a further six years but needed a £7,000 lifeline from the council to survive into 1983 but this was not forthcoming. In the long term, the pool needed £250,000 of work to bring the buildings up to standard and £750,000 for a full refurbishment. Unsurprisingly, the council decided to spend £100,000 on demolition instead. The pool closed in 1982 and was demolished in 1984.

The shape of the site is still clearly visible with the area of the pool and buildings grassed over and the area between the pool and the boating pond now houses a lifeboat station. The boating pond remains.

The other pools on the peninsula were New Brighton, Derby Pool, West Kirby Baths, Parkgate Baths, New Ferry Baths, Port Sunlight Open Air Pool and Rivacre Valley Swimming Pool.