Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History New Brighton Open Air Bathing Pool

I think my mum-in-law knows her.I will ask and pm you.

When the 'New Brighton Rock' concert took place you could hear the noise the other side of Wallasey. There must have been a bit of a breeze blowing in from the sea that night, not just because it carried the sound so far, but because when they showed the show on telly The Weather Girls had tears streaming down their eyes. Must have been bloomin' cold or they were totally overwhelmed by the whole experience!

Didn't they also film an episode of 'It's a Knockout' at the Pool? Don't think the New Brighton team won though.

theres photos of its a knockout or summat similar on the net.

I've got two memories of that place - swimming one summer in the early '80s - it was the coldest pool I've ever been in - froze my little toes right off

I also remember going to a fireworks display there in the pouring rain and the rockets had got wet and wouldn't light. The storm finished it off but it was in a bad way beforehand as the maintenance had all gone to pot.

Shame cos it was a magnificent building!

its was a bit chilly and the slides were a bit bumpy.

I've got New Brighton rock on DVD. Copied it from a VCR recording. Remember it originally being shown on the box. Very wet and windy.

can u upload it to you tube? I would like to see it!

Have many happy memories of the baths. My Nan Flo Caisergues worked in the ladies lockers & my uncle Malcolm Mcleod was a lifeguard so my friends & I used to get in for free. They both also worked at Guinea Gap & I can remember getting tickets to watch the dolphins there.

This is the earliest photo I have (or have seen) of NB Baths. A note on the back says "Cafe block and ladies dressing rooms on north-east side" and it is dated 13 April 1934. There still seems plenty of work to do, but exactly 2 months later was the official opening by Lord Leverhulme.

great pic,thanks for sharing

Great pic there with all the benches made from the deck wood salvaged from the Mauritania when she was scrapped.

Not heard that story before - I thought the Mauretania was scrapped in 1935 and her last voyage was after the baths had opened.

Some one who worked there years ago told me that one and I was sceptical too but a mate of mine's grandad was one of the joiners put to work to make the benches and he said the wood definately came from the Mauritania's decks.

The timber used for those benches in the photo could not have came from the Mauritania, the baths opened 13th June 1934.
May 1935 an auction was held at Southampton for the sale of fixtures and fittings and in July the ship was taken to Rosyth for breaking up.

The Benches are made of Teak the same as ships decks, my mates widow still has one and my mates brother, they were bought when the baths finally closed for a fiver each. When we cleaned the years of crap off them they were as good as the day they were made.