Bloemfontein Lido
| Bloemfontein Lido | |
|---|---|
 Postcard featuring Bloemfontein Open Air Swimming Bath, White City 1955 | |
 | |
| 51°30′39″N 0°14′08″W / 51.510739°N 0.235453°W | |
| Location | Wormholt Park Bloemfontein Road, W12 0LQ |
| Opened | 1938 |
| Closed | 1979 |
| Demolished | 2003 |
| Operated by | Hammersmith and Fulham London Borough Council |
| Length | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Width | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Depth | 7 feet (2.1 m) |
| Features | |
| diving platform | |
Bloemfontein Lido was a lido in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham located next to Wormholt Park. It first opened in 1923, converted to an indoor centre in 1990 and was demolished in 2003.
History
[edit]Wormholt Park opened on 27 June 1911. The desirability of providing an open-air swimming bath in the Borough was first considered by the Baths and Wash-houses Committee in April 1919.[1] In October 1921 the matter was brought forward again, and work finally started in February 1923.
The Open Air Swimming Bath on Bloemfontein Road, W12, was formally opened on Saturday 4 August 193.[2] Bloemfontein Lido's main entrance was centrally placed with dressing boxes placed to either side – females to the left and males to the right. The pool had its deep end in the centre, measuring 7.25 feet (2.21 m). It was 150 feet (46 m) long and 75 feet (23 m) wide. The floor of the pool was granolithic paving and all footways were paved in artificial stone. Facilities included refreshment areas, tea rooms, store rooms for clubs and a cycle park.
The 150 feet (46 m) open air pool featured water polo matches, international swimming events and diving exhibitions from the 13 feet (4.0 m) high staging.[3] The pool hosted swimming and diving championships and an International Water Polo Match, notably the Penguin Water Polo Players (based at Lime Grove Baths) v. the USA water Polo Team.
In 1979, the lido became an indoor "Tropical Lagoon" under White City pools. The site was renamed to the Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre in 1990, after the first black Mayor of London Hammersmith.
In 2003, the centre was demolished. A swimming pool now honours Janet Adegoke within the Phoenix Leisure Complex further up Bloemfontein Road.
References
[edit]- ^ Libraries, LBHF (2014-12-22). "Bloemfontein Open Air Swimming Baths". H&F Libraries and Archives. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
- ^ Libraries, LBHF (2015-01-06). "Wormholt Park: the first hundred years". H&F Libraries and Archives. Retrieved 2024-08-03.
- ^ Jessel, Anne Green (1997-07-15). "Bloemfontein Lido - 1923 Hammersmith Pride. An International venue". Finding Lidos - Dive into Lost Lidos. Retrieved 2024-08-03.