79* High and Dry

This old concrete "skeleton" will have seen some action. There would've been a time when, particularly on a warm and sunny day, it'd have been the launch pad for many a budding Johnny Weissmuller.

Diving board, facing south-east towards the river and Eel Pie Island, about 100 yards away (didn't realise at the time I'd been photobombed by a Red Kite - can't claim any credit for that)

For forty-five years from 1935 to 1980 a lido, of which this was a key feature, was located on Twickenham Riverside, opposite Eel Pie Island. The advent in the 60's of "affordable" flights and easy access to more reliably sunnier and warmer climes rather dampened the attractions of taking a dip in the UK. Now this sorry lump of concrete is one of the few signs that remain to tell of those times. Still, I'm glad it's been preserved, along with a few other bits "n" bobs.

Twickenham Council bought the site in 1934, originally for use as public grounds and gardens. But it was the age of the lido^, and with many popping up around the country, the council bowed to public pressure and built a swimming pool there, opening it in King George V Silver Jubilee Year on May 4th 1935 to great fanfare. The Mayor pressed a button to set in motion the pumping of gallons of water a minute through the filtration unit. That was followed by the Baths Superintendent, no less, entering the water, proving they’d got the right man for the job. The Amateur Swimming Association then performed swimming and diving exhibitions, with sounds from nearby Jubilee celebrations, including pealing bells and fireworks, adding to the atmosphere.

The lido was well appointed: the aforementioned filtration unit was the first in England to have a “Rotatherm” air and water temperature gauge installed; there were sunbathing beaches and flower beds, as well as floodlighting and a café. Estimated building cost was £1,240.

It was a popular and well maintained amenity for over 30 years, especially during the months from May to September. But it was on borrowed time with growing maintenance costs, and the case for keeping it grew increasingly fragile. The summer season of 1976 had seen 60,000 patrons, and there were petitions to keep it. With major refurbishment plans for nearby Teddington pool, the council started to consider closure. At the beginning of 1978 £27,000 was needed to repair structural damage causing a leak from the lido pool, and further investment was needed for the toilets. Ultimately the decision was made as the cost case failed, and in 1980 the lido was closed.

The area became derelict, but there has always been public support for the return of an outdoor pool. Pressure grew in the early 90s following demolition of Richmond ice rink, which dealt another significant blow to the area’s leisure amenities. Ideas flooded in: a concert hall, an M&S food store, a shopping centre with basement car park and perimeter housing, a cinema complex, a pool with a domed roof for year ground swimming ... but nothing gained traction. Eventually everything was demolished in 2005.

The site was cleared. The Diamond Jubilee Gardens were planted, and opened to the public in 2014, with lawns featuring stripes echoing the old swimming lanes, (a nice idea, although I noticed this morning that maintenance must’ve proved too costly with the lawns having evidently been replaced by artificial grass. Some other echoes of the past however have been thoughtfully retained, including the pool surround, two slabs engraved “Shallow End” and ”Deep End”, and the diving board with memorial plaque.

Hope springs eternal.

A local group called 'newTwickenham Lido' are currently running a petition to “Accept the proposal to reinstate a Lido on Twickenham Riverside”, and as at Monday, June 22nd 2020 4,486 people have signed.

The newTwickenham Lido would, it is proposed, attract people to the town, which in turn would help rejuvenation of the town centre. It is claimed the lido complex itself would provide up to one hundred new jobs, with the lido and a café being a focal point for the local community. The use of the Richmond Card would allow local people to use the pool and spa facilities at a reduced cost, with the lido complex providing facilities for community activities. A lido here would also be welcomed by sporting bodies, and the swimming pool could provide a base for other sports such as Triathlon (e.g. running, cycling and swimming).

Concepts being promoted include the integration in a wider lido complex of an indoor market reminiscent of modern markets in European cities, such as the Mercato in the Termini in Rome or Sant Antoni Market in Barcelona. There are also ideas for a pontoon and bridge linking Twickenham with the other side of the river.

The bottom line, however, as always: the cost case needs to stack up, and to date none have gone forward.

^The 1930s - the golden age of lidos in the UK when outdoor swimming became popular, and 169 of them were built across the country as recreational facilities by local councils. Many closed when, as previously mentioned, foreign holidays became less expensive. Those that remain have a dedicated following, and apparently interest persists countrywide in outdoor swimming, including a demand for lidos that has never quite gone away.

The opening of Twickenham Lido

Nice shot of Twickenham Lido in it's pomp, just a few years after opening

In a sorry state - presumably 1980s, or a little later

This stone is preserved from the original lido, and set in the large patio of the Jubilee Gardens. (Annoyingly I couldn't find the "DEEP END" stone which I understand is around here somewhere)

As above, this stone is preserved from the original lido, and set in the large patio of the gardens

Outside the site of the old lido to the right, now the Jubilee Gardens, (the river is just yards to the left of this photograph)

Couldn't help thinking today is one of those lovely warm and sunny days when the lido would've been packed.

*March 2024 update: A quick nose around the internet shows - at 127 - a surprisingly (to me) high number of functioning lidos exist in the UK today, with serious plans to build more. But unfortunately not yet, I should add, on Twickenham Riverside.

Red arrow: Site of the old Twickenham lido