One of a number of baths in the London Borough of Wandsworth, the open air pool followed two new enclosed baths built in the 1930’s. I can well imagine the thought process that lead to the change of name in the 1980’s to “The Big Splash”. Ghastly idea.
At least the buildings in their original footprint remain whilst the pool tank has been filled in and converted to football pitches. A pretty horrid glass extension has been added to the front of the main entrance but thanks be, this could probably be removed when someone of taste is in charge in the future.
| Name | Wandsworth Open Air Pool Wandle Recreation Centre, King George’s Park, Mapleton Road, Wandsworth, SW18 4DN, England |
| Built / opened | 6th May 1938 by Mayor, Alderman G F Morris, JP |
| Cost | £22,386 |
| Dimensions | 165′ x 60′ |
| Capacity | 385,000 gallons |
| Water type | Mains, filtered |
| Depth(s) | 2′ 6″ to 10′ |
| Diving boards | 5m fixed board, 3m fixed, 3m springboards, 1m fixed and 1m springboard |
| Changing facilities | 152 cubicles, 400 Evertaut steel lockers |
| Second pool | Children’s pool built 1936, 28,000 gallons |
| Designer | |
| Date closed | 1993 |
| Status | Filled in. |
| On site now | Football pitches but original buildings remain |
| Last updated | 15th June 2025 |
Feature article from Baths and Bath Engineering, July 1938
MODERN OPEN-AIR POOL IN KING GEORGE’S PARK.
Realising that open-air swimming is an important feature of the ” Keep Fit ‘ movement, now being promoted in responsible quarters, the Council. in 1937, decided to provide a new open air swimming pool in King George’s Park, and it was opened by the Mayor, Ald. G. F. Morris, J.P., on May 6, 1938.
The New Open-Air Pool.
Within easy reach of Tooting and Wandsworth, the most densely populated areas in the borough, the new pool adjoins a children’s paddling pool, which was constructed in 1936.
The swimming pool is 165 ft. long by 60 ft. wide, and the depth varies from 2 ft. 6 in. to 10 ft. It is constructed of reinforced concrete throughout with cantilever walls 18 in. thick. The walls are lined with polished blue Cullamix slabs and the floor with glazed bricks. Each Cullamix slab measures 30 in. by 18 in. by 2 in. The surround of the pool is paved with red nonslip flags.
The diving stage comprises a 5 m. fixed board, 3 m. fixed and 3 m. springboards and separate 1m. fixed and springboards.
Water Purification Plant.
The water purifying plant is arranged for dealing not only with the contents of the swimming pool, approximating 385.000 gal. but the 28,000 gal. contained in the children’s paddling pool, the combined 413,000 gal. being passed through the purification plant in a period of five hours. From the deep end of the swimming pool the water is drawn off through an outlet grating connecting with 15 in. diameter cast iron suction piping into which a 4 in. diameter pipe from the paddling pool also connects before the water is drawn through a cast iron strainer box. The strainer is provided with quick release cover and removable basket. of which a spare is supplied to allow of continuous operation during emptying and cleaning.
The Children’s Pool that pre-dated the main lido
The circulating pumps are of the low lift split casing centrifugal type capable of dealing with 82,600 gal. per hour against the total pumping head and driven by 20 h.p. electric motors operating on a 400 volts 3 phase 50 cycles circuit. The pumps are in duplicate in order to provide complete standby.
Sulphate of alumina coagulant, and when necessary, soda ash, are applied to the water leaving the circulating pumps by means of automatic shunt feed proportioning apparatus operating under the direct influence of the low of water through a venturi tube in the cast iron delivery main. Thie reagents are applied in the form of saturated solutions from pressure chemical containers constructed of steel suitably lined to withstand chemical action. and having quick release swing covers designed with special attention to the necessity for ensuring easy and speedy opening up, refilling with the solid reagent, and again putting into service.
Direct reading indicators show the rate at which the water is being circulated at any moment and the rate at which the coagulant and alkali are being applied, so making it easy for the attendant to effect immediate increase or decrease of either to suit any change in the nature of the water or the bathing load.
Two pressure filters of the horizontal type are installed. Each 8 ft. diameter by 22 ft. long. These are of the standard air cleansed type equipped with valves for effecting the necessary control of inlet. outlet, washi water, waste, and compressed air. and contain a 27 in. depth of washed and sifted Leighton Buzzard sand resting upon selected grades of pebble underbed.
The impurities arrested by the pressure filters are removed by agitation with compressed air obtained from an electrically driven direct acting rotary blower. followed by a current of wash water applied in a reverse direction through the filter underdrains which consist of a system of perforated lateral tubes having equidistant orifices calculated to ensure even distribution of the compressed air and wash water and collection of filtered water over the whole area during the process of normal operation.
Final treatment takes the form of disinfection by the chloramine process, chlorine and gaseous ammonia being applied respectively by the well-known manometer type chloronome and gaseous ammoninator. On its return to the pool the finally treated water passes through 15 in. diameter cast iron piping to the cascade aerator.
The whole of the circulation and purification arrangements were designed and installed by the Paterson Engineering Co., Ltd. of London.
General.
Forming an interesting architectural feature of the pool the cascade 8 ft. high and octagonal in shape is constructed in three tiers with a bottom basin of 22 ft diameter. The whole is finished in polished blue Cullamix.
The dressing accommodation consists of two separate buildings. one for each sex, measuring 145 ft. by 25 ft. and each provided with 76 cubicles and 400 Evertaut steel lockers of the 2-tier type and 15 in. wide. The lockers are of special construction for use in swimming baths, etc., and they are nested together in blocks to suit the accommodation allotted to them and also numbered. Shower baths, washing and sanitary accommodation, and electric hair dryers are also provided. The shower fittings in chromium plate consist of overhead shower rose, individually controlled by non-concussive push-button self-closing valve to prevent waste of water. Foot baths, formed in concrete, are arranged outside the doorways leading from the dressing accommodation.
Interior view of existing buildings that have been extended and repurposed
