A photo of the early work on the Derby Pool. A Wallasey Borough Engineer and Surveyor's Department photo dated 14th October 1931, annotated: "Harrison Drive Baths. Excavation in Bath." The name is interesting - I wonder at what stage it was named the Derby Pool. From memory, the baths opened in 1933.
Doesn't look as though it was a warm day. I bet they were wondering what idiots would swim in an openair pool in such an exposed spot! (Well, me for one, but only in the summer...)
By the look of it thats before the main prom was built?
That would be right. At the same time as this photo was taken work had just started on the first section of King's Parade prom which only went as far as the Red Noses. This was completed in 1934 and included the building of New Brighton Bathing Pool which opened the same year. The second section to Harrison Drive was not finished until 1939 (don't know when it was started but assume shortly after 1934). Presumably the only way to get to the Derby until then was through Wallasey Village.
According to the the "Rise and Progress of Wallasey" the Derby opened in 1932. Looking at the photo it seems work had not long started by October 1931 so for it to be completed and open by the following year is pretty damn quick even by today's standards.
Quite possibly my grandfather is one of those doing the digging. Killed him though!
You're not going to leave it at that are you, Helles? Sounds like a sad but interesting story there!!
Not really, he worked on the new promenade and associated works, had an accident which caused septicemia (sp?) and he died. Nice bloke I understand. Left a widow with nine children to bring up. Oh for antibiotics then!
They must have had quite some wealth in Wallasey back then, to be taking all all those mammoth building works and build 2 major swimming pools... makes you wonder how it was all funded? What would it take to do all that today?
They must have had quite some wealth in Wallasey back then, to be taking all all those mammoth building works and build 2 major swimming pools... makes you wonder how it was all funded? What would it take to do all that today?
I was wondering something like that yesterday. It was the height of the depression years and must have been a god send to some families to have regular work.
They must have had quite some wealth in Wallasey back then, to be taking all all those mammoth building works and build 2 major swimming pools... makes you wonder how it was all funded? What would it take to do all that today?
Don't know about the Derby, but the estimated cost for King's Parade and the infrastucture was £1,023,328 which in today's money is approx £29.5 million.
I am just amazed by these - I was beginning to think there were no more pictures anywhere, of my teenage years' summer holiday haunt! (my brother & me, we were there, almost every single day, every summer (school) holiday!
There's a talk at Greasby library on 6th June 2011 - "Wirral Lidos" a history of all the open-air swimming pools on Wirral. Details - www.wirral-libraries.net/events?layout=view&eid=654 How many is "all"? You'll be surprised.
The talk is preceded by the AGM of the library 'Friends'.
