My childhood lido and I have fond memories of the concrete tank that scratched your feet and was painted but a bit flaky. The surrounding terraces were huge and always busy but not uncomfotably so when I would have visited in the 1970s.
Mr grandfather was part of the team that dug the pool.
| Name | Whipps Cross Lido Snaresbrook Road, Leyton, E11 1NP |
| Built / opened | First record of pool in 1907 Pool lined with concrete in 1929 Improvements and re-opened May 1932 Significant restructuring 1937 |
| Cost | £6,000 for 1932 improvements |
| Dimensions | 300′ x 130′ (1937) |
| Capacity | 1,300,000 gallons |
| Water type | Spring fed |
| Depth(s) | 2′ 6″ to 4′ 6″ (1929) 3′ 6″ to 5′ 6″ (1937) 10′ deep circular diving pool 63′ diameter |
| Diving boards | |
| Changing facilities | |
| Second pool | Children’s paddling pool 6″ to 9″ Junior swimming bath 1′ 6″ to 2′ 6″ |
| Spectator seating | |
| Designer | |
| Date closed | 1982 |
| Status | Demolished 1983 |
| On site now | |
| Notes | |
| Links | Looking for Leytonstone’s Lost Lido |
| Last updated | 15th March 2025 |
Baths and Bath Engineering, October 1937
Whipps Cross Bathing Pool
IMPROVEMENTS AND ADDITIONS TO SCHEME
This pool is on a site in Epping Forest which was originally occupied by a number of small ponds and marshlands, and these were formed into a large pool for bathing purposes some years ago. There were no sanitary arrangements of any nature, and the water was supplied by numerous small springs.
In 1929 a joint committee of the Leyton Borough Council and the Walthamstow Borough Council approved a scheme for adding various amenities which comprised retaining walls to sides, proper grading of the bottom from 2 ft. 6 in. to 4 ft. 6 in. deep in the main pool, with a 10 ft. circular diving pool at one end, and the provision of proper sidewalks, dressing huts and conveniences. This scheme was carried out by direct labour at a cost of £6,000; the contractors were Whitehall Contractors, Ltd., of London. The floor of the pool was left in ballast in order that the springs might be utilised to maintain a flow of fresh water. It was decided not to install a filtration plant, as the capacity (1,300,000 gal. of water) was so great that the expense of installing and running the plant could not be justified, as the pool was for free bathing.
It proved extremely difficult, however, to control the pool under these conditions, as the bathing load became enormous owing to the publicity the scheme received. The water was continually becoming unfit bacteriologically for bathing, as shown upon repented analyses. It was, therefore, decided to enclose the pool, make a small charge for admission, and sterilise the water by means of a chloramine apparatus on a boat. This considerably assisted the management, but even with chlorine being used at the rate of over 70 lb. per 24 hours, the water had to be changed after a hot spell, which necessitated closing the pool for four days – thus it became essential for a filtration plant to be installed.
Bathing pool
The main pool was an extremely awkward shape for filtration purposes and as it was desirable to deepen the pool it was decided to make a rectangular pool 300ft. by 130ft. and retain the diving pool of 63ft diameter. The depth of the new pool is 3 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. 6 in. in the main pool and 10 ft. in the diving pool; thus, the capacity still remains at nearly 1,300,000 gal.
Difficulties were experienced in laying the concrete in the bottom of the pool owing to the springs before mentioned, which were found to have considerable head and, therefore, the concrete had to be waterproofed, and a rapid hardener used. After various tests it was decided that the floor and retaining walls be waterproofed with * Imperex,” and the white cement rendering covering the whole surface waterproofed with Renderprufe.”
Filtration Plant
The filtration plant, installed by United Filters and Engineering, Ltd., consists of a battery of four pressure filters, each 9 ft. diameter and 29 ft. in length, suitably interconnected and fitted with automatic air injection apparatus for flushing the filter beds.
The pumping equipment consists of a battery of three motor-driven pumps, which enables the total capacity of the pool to be treated in either 5, 10, or 15 hours, according to the number of pumps in operation. This arrangement enables the plant to be run economically according to the bathing load. The Worthington-Simpson centrifugal pumps are driven by British Thomson-Houston electric motors.
The coagulating chemicals are injected on the shunt feed principle, and when adjusted in conjunction with the special rate of flow gauge an accurate injection of these chemicals is possible.
Sediment in the pool Is removed by suction cleaner operated by a motor-driven pump. mounted on n trolley and connected to the various electric power points fitted around the pool.
The whole of the water filtered is passed through two cascades, before returning to the pool. Owing to the size, three outlets were provided, one in the diving pool and one on either side of the main pool; and eight inlets, three on either side and two at the shallow end. It is interesting to note that on one side to avoid cutting away to the existing wall and side wall the inlets are placed in the bottom of the pool.
Sterilisation Plant
Arising out of experiments conducted at the New Public Baths, High-road, Leyton, from August 1 to the end of the season (mid-October) 1936, with the E.C.D. method of water sterilisation, this type of plant was ultimately chosen for this pool, and the plant, installed by E.C.D. Ltd., of Tonbridge, consists of: Sixteen patented 60 amp. electrolytic cells. mounted on a 120 gal. ebonite lined and coated steel tank, by means of glass connecting tubes. A cooling coil is fitted into the tank for the purpose of keeping the temperature of the solution below 27 deg. Cent. while electrolysis is taking place.
A salt solutioniser is provided which consists of a tank into which a quantity of common salt is placed. Fresh water is run into the top of this tank and a supply of saturated salt solution is obtained from a tap at the bottom. The requisite amount of saturated solution (26 per cent.) is pumped into the manufacturing tank by means of an electric pump and motor.
The manufacturing tank is then filled with fresh water to above the level of the cell connecting tubes so that 100 gal. of 10 per cent. salt solution are obtained. Direct electric current is supplied to the cells by means of a motor generator set working off the a.c. mains. Electrolysis of the solution commences, and the 100 gal. of 10 per cent. salt solution are converted into Ecdolite (electrolytic sodium hypochlorite) at a strength of 12 gram. per litres, in six hours.
When sufficient Ecdolite is obtained to dose the whole 1,300,000 gal. of water at one part per million of available chlorine, the solution is drained from the making tank into the dosing tank, and is injected into the circulating system of the pool in the following manner:
A tapping is made on the pressure side of the three circulating pumps, and a by-pass from this tapping is taken by means of rubber hose to the top of the vacuum injector on the E.C.D. patented dosing panel. Pressure through the injector induces a vacuum in the injector, which is sufficient to draw the required amount of Ecdolite through the check valve, non-return valve and timing vessel into the by-passed supply, which is then taken back by means of rubber hose to the suction side of the circulating pumps.
Chloramine dosing is used and is arranged for by dissolving ammonium sulphate in water and injecting the resultant solution in the same way as the Ecdolite. The ammonium sulphate solution is injected prior to the Ecdolite.
A small pump and motor used for conveying the saturated salt solution to the making tank, are also used for passing a supply of water through the cooling coil. A time switch is provided so that once the Ecdolite making tank has been filled and the d.c. generator started, the apparatus requires no further attention until it is required for dosing, us the time switch automatically cuts off the current at the end of six hours.
The electrical consumption of the motor generator per six-hour operation is approximately 46 kw.hr., and the salt consumption per six-hour operation is approximately 110 lb.
Floodlighting Arrangements
The system of illumination is by means of the latest type of Holoplune flood lights, designed to permit the lamp to be burned in a vertical position.
The V.3. floods are equipped with 1,000-watt lamps and mounted on wooden poles with strap fixings. The height of the poles had to be limited to 13 ft. under regulations of the Epping Forest Commissioners, although experience of this class of lighting has proved that at least 18 ft. is the height for the best results. One side of the pool has eight poles with 1,000-watt floods directed on to the pool and six 500-watt units directed on the sun-bathing enclosure. The diving pool and west end of the pool have similar 1,000-watt units. The total number of units comprises 27 1,000-watt units and eight 500-watt units.
General
Amongst many improvements carried out prior to the opening of this season, one that has been of considerable advantage in maintaining hygienic conditions in the pool itself is the provision of protective fencing round the pool, situated about 4 ft. from the water edge. Entrance to the pool itself can only be obtained by bathers passing through foot baths, which are placed in equidistant positions on either side of the pool. “Hygienic Spa” drinking fountains have been installed by James Fitzgibbons and Co. Upton Park.
From out of the present season’s experiences, it appears essential that additional alterations will now have to be made in order to improve existing dressing accommodation. which at present consists mainly of lockers and communal dressing rooms The present accommodation for bathers is 760. and it is hoped to increase this to at least 2,000.
The pool is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and the first two hours. 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. is for free bathing, admission charges commencing after 8 a.m.
In view of the installation of the filtration plant and the enlarged scope of the undertaking generally. the joint committee decided in May last that the control and management of the pool be now placed in charge of the baths superintendent of Leyton, Mr. F. R. Botham. M.N.A.B.S. (Inc.), to whom we are indebted for the foregoing description.
From “ Walthamstow Guardian”, April 1965
A children’s paddling pool and a junior swimming bath will be incorporated into the existing Whipps Cross Lido at a cost of £7,000. The children’s paddling pool will have a depth graduating from six to nine inches and the junior swimming bath a depth of 1 ft. 6 ins. to 2 ft. 6 ins. The depth will be achieved by raising the bottom with light weight concrete, and lined with fibre glass. The pools will be separated from the main existing one by 4 ft. wide partition across the 130 ft. wide pool.
Baths Service, September 1969
This was the problem facing Frank Dixon, General Manager of London’s Waltham Forest Baths Department, at his Whipps Cross open-air pool, Epping Forest, recently. The sad story of vandalism could be repeated in many parts of the country — fittings destroyed, cubicle doors and seating smashed, glass strewn about. Cost of making good this little lot? £500.
