‘It’s back in all of its glory but it’s been a tough few seasons’
Britain’s most northerly open-air swimming pool is gearing up for a special anniversary.
The Category B listed Art Deco lido at Stonehaven began construction in 1933 and with celebrations planned to mark its 90th next year.
Stephen Harris, who heads up the community group, Friends of Stonehaven Open
Air Pool, said: “We’re excited to be part of this anniversary. Thanks to an army of local volunteers working to keep the pool looking ship shape, along with the backing of the council, it’s ready, in all its glory. We’ve had a tough few seasons because of the restrictions but we’re back, bigger and better and have lots planned to mark the significant occasion. We’d love to hear from anyone with memories of the pool.”
The seawater baths were constructed following a poll of local householders in Stonehaven, near Aberdeen, on September 6, 1933. Work started quickly – it cost £9,529 (£726,000 in today’s money) to build – and opened on June 4, 1934.
Harris said: “It was built to competition standards, which at that time were for races of 110 yards and multiples of that. So the pool is 55 yards long – just a touch over 50 metres – and 20 yards – just over 18 metres – wide. It’s a bit bigger than today’s Olympic size at 50 metres.
“At the time it was emptied and refilled every few days and the water was cold, straight from the North Sea. Nowadays it’s emptied at the end of the season and filled up again in May and that process can take 50 to 60 hours depending on the tides.
“Despite operating costs and loan charges, the first season brought a large profit. But customer feedback was not all positive – the pool was cold for a start – and so, the following year the sea water was circulated, filtered and disinfected and also heated which made a huge difference.”
During the Second World War, the facility provided recreation – and showers – for locallybased troops. In its peak years, diving displays, competitions, glamorous granny and bonnie baby contests were popular and the bandstand was in constant use by the big bands of the day. The Miss Stonehaven contest was also a big hit.
Right up until 1975, visitor numbers were healthy with 65,000 passing through the turnstiles but by 1994 the lido was threatened with closure as it required a £90,000 overhaul.
That’s when the Friends of the Pool was formed to lobby the council and ultimately save the attraction. Harris said: “We work closely with Aberdeenshire Council who operate the pool.”
Avril Nicol, Head of Live Life Aberdeenshire, the council’s sports and cultural service, said: “Stonehaven Open Air Pool is a fantastic venue enjoyed by the local community and visitors from throughout the UK.
“Together with the Friends Group we are working to have the pool ready for the grand opening and look forward to a busy season.”