Tumbling Bay Bathing Place

The Tumbling Bay bathing area is formed of two constructed concrete bathing areas, with steps, fed by the River Thames via the Bulstake stream with weirs at each end. It is also known locally as “Tum”.

It opened in 1853 and was, at first, men only. By 1870, the pool had changing rooms, toilets, ladders and a “bottom plunging platform”, which we guess means a diving board. It was extended in 1866. In 1895, a swimming instructor was appointed.

In June 1892, the City Council considered whether to allow females to use Tumbling Bay for two evenings a week before agreeing to open it to them all day on Fridays from 6.30 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. A dressing shed was provided, and women were expected to borrow bathing drawers from the attendant. Contrary to the council’s thinking, bathing was extremely popular and additional pairs of drawers had to be purchased.

Additional hours were also needed but did not resolve the issue of lack of capacity. In July 1913, the Council opened a separate women’s bathing place. This space provided dressing cabins and sheds and an
attendant’s hut, and steps in a concrete retaining wall led into the pool where a footbridge separated the deep and shallow ends. The popularity of the new facility was such that the swimming area had to be enlarged in 1924

Tumbling Bay was closed officially in 1990. It was still being used by swimmers, so the changing rooms were not demolished. In 2021, due to the ongoing collapse of the northern concrete bank, the area was fenced off to the public.

In 2022 the Tumbling Bay Preservation Society was formed.

In January 2025, Tumbling Bay was nominated for the Oxford Heritage Register by the Tumbling Bay Preservation Society and this was granted in May 2025.

Tumbling Bay Bathing Place – Oxford Heritage Asset Register Nominations List | Oxford City Council