This large outdoor pool, built in 1933 was partly funded by a legacy. It survived as an outdoor pool until the 1990’s when the pool was replaced with a 25m indoor facility. After that, a new kidney-shaped pool of much smaller dimensions was built in the space between the old pool and the paddling pool that you can see on the old map.
The replacement pool was finally closed in 2016 after years of running at a loss but remains empty on the site with campaigns to re-open it or to convert it to a splash pad that does not need staff.
| Name | Market Drayton Swimming Bath |
| Built | 1933 |
| Opened | 25th May 1933 by Miss J F Onions, the benefactors niece |
| Cost | £2,575 |
| Dimensions | 165′ x 50′ |
| Capacity | |
| Depth | 3′ to 6′ 6″ |
| Diving | |
| Second pool | Paddling pool shown on old map |
| Designer | Mr J G Bailey, council surveyor and architect |
| Address | Newtown, Market Drayton, Shropshire, TF9 1JT |
| Date closed | |
| Status | Filled in and replaced |
| Notes | |
| Links | Facebook |
Article from Baths and Bath Engineering December 1935
Market Drayton Swimming Bath
A legacy of £1,500 was left to the urban district council in 1932 by Miss Amy Onions, a resident of Market Drayton, towards the cost of providing an open-air swimming bath for the town, and, accordingly, the council have constructed a rectangular reinforced concrete swimming bath, 165 ft. by 50 ft., with a. maximum depth of 6 ft. 6 in. and a minimum depth of 3 ft. The council, being the owners of approximately six acres of ground in the Newton meadows in the valley of the River Tern, which they considered a suitable site for recreation purposes, decided to. utilise a portion of this site for the above purpose.
The reinforced concrete bath was constructed by a local firm of builders, J. Wood and Co. The reinforcement was designed and supplied by the British Reinforced Concrete Co.
The walls of the bath are constructed of 1:12/3:31/3 gravel concrete, reinforced by ¾ in. and ½ in. rods, and the floor with 5 in. and 6 in. of similar concrete, reinforced by B.R.C. fabric. The floor is laid in No. 15 16 ft. by 15 ft. 2 in. concrete pads and two pads 39 ft. 6· in. by 41 ft. 6 in. at the deep end, the joints being grounded in with asphalt. The floor was laid in this manner on account of bad ground. In the course of construction, a number of freshwater springs. were tapped, and it was found necessary to insert four ball relief valves in the floor to relieve the pressure from below when the bath was empty.
The surrounds of the bath have been carried out in reinforced Colour Crete, laid with a 3 in. fall away from the edge of the bath, and gullies and drains are provided to take away the surface water. An outer pavement is also provided for non-bathers, which has been carried out in colour Crete 2 in. paving slabs. The bath is supplied by river water through a 12 in. pipe which is taken from the upper reaches of the River Tern. This water is first screened through 2 ft. of coke breeze and then through a bed of 6 in. of ½ in. charcoal before entering the bath. It is also chlorinated by Voxsan, administered by a drip feed at the rate of l gal. to 100,000 gal. of water. The water is kept flowing through the bath continuously by means of scum troughs and the manipulation of valves situated at the deepest part of the bath, which is cleaned out and refilled once in every three weeks. The walls and floor are scrubbed down with a mixture of Voxsan and water.
The dressing pavilion is divided into two parts, one for either sex, each part consisting of 11 cubicles and one room with 40 lockers. Lavatories and pay offices are provided.
A tea pavilion is also provided 33 “ft. long and 18 ft. wide. Additional locker rooms have been erected this year, which provide additional accommodation for approximately 130 bathers.
The total cost of the construction of the bath was £2, 575.
Mr. J. G. Bailey, C.R.S.I., M.S.I.A., surveyor to the urban council; was responsible for the design of the bath.
