St Annes Swimming Pool

The pool at St Annes, also known in the early days as The Roman Baths, was built in 1916 to a design by architect Fred Harrison. The pool was a sizeable 240 feet by 120 feet and contained 800,000 gallons of filtered sea water.

It was opened in June of 1916 by Mrs, Ashley, wife of Mr W W Ashley, M.P., followed by a swimming exhibition and gala. There were displays of ornamental swimming and diving, by Professor Stearne, six members of the Nottingham Ladies’ Swimming Club, Miss Louise Wilkinson (Preston) and Miss Lucy Morton (Blackpool), and there was a lifesaving display by members of the Blackpool and Preston Swimming Clubs. There were several competitive events. At the close the prizes were distributed by Mrs Ashley. During the afternoon selections of music were played by a military band.

A 1932 news article described how the pool would be drained at the end of each season and lost property reclaimed would be returned to the owners. The baths manager, Mr W Burgess held an eclectic collection of items including jewellery, false teeth and bathing sandals.

In 1935 filtration plant was installed, capable of sterilising and aerating 140,000 gallons of water per hour. It was officially started up by the Mayor, Alderman W Hope, in a June ceremony.

In 1937, a new cafe and solarium, which has cost nearly £5,000, was opened by the Mayor, Councillor C. H. Riley. The solarium was set in a forecourt where flower beds have been laid out. The cafe, ultra-modem in design, faced the miniature golf course.

The Lytham Times of August 1956 contains an advert for the Grand Water Carnival and Bathing Beauty Competition to be held on 1^st September. One of the competitions was for the slightly disturbing “Ladies Swimsuit Competition (Masked) for entrants over the age of 15.” Hmmm. OK.

An inventive way to create income for the pool started in 1979 when over 200 flat fish were released into the pool so that locals could fish in the relative shelter. There was the added advantage that the fish helped to reduce algae in the pool.

The pool went the way of so many other and closed in 1989, to be demolished shortly after. An exceptionally ugly building containing a cinema and amusements now stands on the site, but the paddling pool has had a number of upgraded lives and now as the ubiquitous ghastly splash pad.