Broomhill Open Air Pool, Ipswich (picture courtesy of Dan Hiller)
If you want to get and about and explore your local area, this weekend is the one in which to it. Heritage Open Days are this Saturday and Sunday, and are an opportunity to see inside interesting and cultural buildings, which are not normally open to the public. Reportedly England’s biggest and most popular voluntary cultural event, of particular interest to me is the chance to see inside the Olympic-sized Broomhill Open Air Pool, in Ipswich.
Opened in April 1938, this magnificent Grade II-listed open-air lido now sits derelict. A campaign to save it has been up and running since the pool’s closure in 2002, with the ultimate aim of reopening what must be one of the most picturesque 1930s lidos in the country.
The 8 lanes of heated water, 50-metre length, 5 diving boards, 700-seat grandstand, sunbathing terraces, and nearly 200 changing rooms attracted almost 2,000 swimmers and sun worshippers from across the town and beyond, even only 20 years before its closure.
Broomhill Open Air Pool, Ipswich (picture courtesy of Dan Hiller)
The Ipswich Society is playing it’s part in coordinating the open day events in Ipswich, with many properties opening their doors for the only time this year.
The baton has been passed to the Broomhill Pool Trust for the lido’s viewing days, which unfortunately, I’m going miss due to being away, but I do intend to highlight the pool and the many stories it no doubt has to tell in more depth on these pages sometime in the future.
I literally stumbled upon the pool late last year, after being told it was there by Ipswich-living friends, who had lived in the town for many years. What was even more remarkable is the fact that it is literally a stone’s throw away from my own front door.
I am a lover of 1930s architecture, and even in its closed and dilapidated state it is a majestic sight. Fully restored it would be stunning; I have become quite passionate about its reopening and regeneration. Save Broomhill Pool? Unequivocally, we should.
Broomhill Open Air Pool, Ipswich (picture courtesy of Dan Hiller)
Broomhill Open Air Pool Heritage Open Days
Saturday, 8 September 11:00 to 17:00 and Sunday, 9 September 11:00 to 17:00, Broomhill Open Air Pool, Sherrington Road, Ipswich.
Good article and photos – Dan Hiller has produced a beautiful set of pictures on the lido.
The pool closed in the autumn of 2002, so – as September comes around again the campaign to save it moves into its sixth year. I would like to see Ipswich Borough Council really back this project and supply the money needed: with £800 million of investment flowing through the Waterfront area of Ipswich they could do it if they wanted to!