Making a splash Pool importance is recognised by national group
CHELTENHAM’S much-loved Sandford Parks Lido has been labelled one of the UK’S most important historic buildings.
The 84-year-old outdoor swimming pool has been added to Historic England’s national heritage list, with the organisation saying it is a “remarkably intact example of a 1930s lido”.
The buildings at the site in Keynsham Road, which opened in 1935, have been designated at Grade II on Historic England’s list.
Lido bosses said in a statement that they were “delighted”.
They said: “We have long known that Sandford Parks Lido is one of the most important outdoor swimming resorts in Britain. Our buildings have now been designated at grade II on Historic England’s National Heritage List.
“This recognises their importance as a complete ensemble of lido buildings, together with a plant room that is uniquely important for its original compressors and filtration plant supplied by Bell Brothers of Manchester.”
It gave the reasons for the designation as architectural and historic.
Architectural interest:
“As a remarkably intact example of a 1930s lido built as a confidently designed architectural ensemble in the style of the period with crisp rendered elevations and curved oversailing steeply pitched roofs, and brick detailing.
“The lido survives with its key functional ancillary buildings and structures including, highly unusually, its plant room with working boilers and compressors from the original installation, as well as fittings such as the ornate turnstiles to the main entrance, also unusual survivals.
“For the design of the cafe with
winged covered terraces representative of the 1930s enthusiasm for outdoor leisure and an important amenity component of the lido.
Historic interest:
“As an evocative reminder of the popularity of outdoor leisure pursuits, particularly in spa resorts such as Cheltenham, popularised during the interwar period when fresh air, fitness and mass leisure became widely embraced by the general public.”
The lido is run by a charity that operates a 50m outdoor swimming pool and a smaller children’s pool as well as a mixture of activities and courses.