Pells Pool started life as two pools, opening in 1861. One pool was a subscription pool and the other was free. It is the oldest continually operating pool in the UK despite relentless attempts by the council during the 1980’s and 90’s to have it closed. Keeping this pool open must have been an exhausting business.
The land was gifted to the people of Lewes, in East Sussex, in 1603. It had a natural spring that still provides water for the pool. The whole area was a pleasure ground for the town.
The pools were built with the subscription pool being 150’ x 75’, lined with brick and the free one the same lengths but with a more organic longer side making it slightly larger. The free bath was shallower and was used by locals for washing.
Changing cubicles were added in the early 20th Century and the pool was used by local schools.
In 1935, £6,300 was spent providing slipper baths and reconstruction works to the pool.
Despite the first calls for the pool to be closed and replaced with modern indoor facilities in the 1950’s, improvements were made. Whilst the free pool was filled in and grassed over, terraces were added and improvements to the changing facilities made. A kiosk was built and filtration introduced.
More works during 1972 included the installation of ticket machines. The price for adults was 10p and for children, 3p.
In May 1982, a referendum was held in Lewes to vote on, amongst other things, a war emergency plan. The locals did, however, vote to increase the rates to cover the cost of covering and heating the pool.
In 1991, £20,000 was set aside from the council capital improvement budget for much needed work. Yet another referendum in 1992 asked whether the pool should continue to operate given that it was losing £25,000 per year.
The £20,000 was invested and the work carried out during 1992. This included machinery re-fit, the purchase of a new pool vacuum and installation of a heated shower. Some fractures to the pool were sealed and the kiosk updated.
The following year saw the mayor receiving hate mail following the decision to pull subsidies to the tune of £40,000 “for a pool that we do not own…”. He stated that the council would look for increased volunteer input if the pool was to continue.
The District Council, that had run the pool from 1974, tried again to close it in 1999. A 4,000 signature petition stopped it but with the proviso that a community group would take over Pells. This happened in 2000 when the Town Council became trustees and a charity was formed. The Pells Pool Community Association was formed and this organisation runs the pool today.
| Name | Pells Pool aka Lewes Swimming Bath Brook Street, Lewes, Ease Sussex, BN7 2BA, England |
| Coordinates | 50°52’39.0″N 0°00’34.5″E |
| Opened | 29th May 1861 |
| Cost | £443 |
| Dimensions | 150′ x 75′ |
| Capacity (UK gallons) | |
| Water type | Natural spring |
| Depth(s) | |
| Diving | None identified current or historic |
| Changing facilities | |
| Second pool | Small childrens paddling pool. |
| Spectator seating | |
| Designers and contractors | |
| Date closed | N/A |
| Status | Open |
| On site now | The pool |
| Last updated | 20th May 2026 |
