I was looking at some images of the Derby Pool but one of the images looks odd because the buildings at the end of the pool are not the same as all the other pictures. Maybe it was renovated at some time.
incidentally, I was comparing the timelines with New Brightons pool. The New Brighton pool used to get too busy in summer and there was no room left to accomodate everyone so people would then travel to the Derby Pool. I didn't realise that the prom was extended in 1939 to accomodate the traffic and people, and connect the two pools.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWhxNSX1mak
Picture of the short length of the prom in 1934.
https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW045208

New Brighton baths had some changes similar to those as well.

With the rocket battery and ack-ack guns being placed at New Brighton together with anti-tank traps at Moreton, it makes you wonder if the new promenade and sea wall didn't have a military strategy as well.

If German ships heading into the Mersey came under fire from Fort Perch Rock, the beach would have been relatively unprotected from an easy landing party.

I know the dates of constructions don't tie up but in those days we planned ahead, not behind!

Very interesting thought there DD.
The prom wall would almost be impossible to get past, even at high tide. Makes you think eh?

As an ex Royal Engineer, I don't think the prom wall would have stopped anything.

Neither would the tank traps but its all part of layered strategy.

Then the pea-shooters on Fort Perch Rock were no match for the guns used on many German ships either. Ships throwing greater than 500lbs shells at a range of nearly 40,000 ft against 32lb shells with a range of 15,000 ft

I don't think the German's invasion plans were to go for New Brighton in an invasion.

Its been a while since I saw the maps, but I think the plan was to land at Moreton and then head south to capture Hooton and establish a beach head.

I'd have thought it would be almost impossible to sail the Irish sea without being noticed.
If you still have the maps Gibbo, post them up please.


It would be a deterrent at least.

Nice article in the Echo today all about our outdoor swimming baths.
https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/merseysides-lost-lidos-whats-today-18190452

I remember Harrison Drive during the war being turned into a single carriageway and some big grey. naval guns being installed on the seaward side .Although they may have had a fixed line of fire they could have done some damage to enemy ships.

Slow news day I think, they recycle that article every year!

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/wha...ing-pools-baths-lidos-merseyside-9128734

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/new...e-nostalgia-look-back-liverpools-5096123

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/new...orgotten-outdoor-swimming-pools-16962614

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/what-happened-lidos-wouldnt-lovely-14835247

They certainly do recycle a lot of news.

I'd never heard of this and just found an article about West Kirby outdoor swimming baths in Heswall Magazine.

By 1900 the West Kirby Swimming Club had been formed, using the Marine Lake for galas and competitions and for regular pleasure swimming.

Locals used to swim in the Marine Lake but the council didn't allow this so provided changing rooms on barges. You were only allowed to swim after 9am from the changing barges, and there was a fee to be rowed out to the barges. In 1913 they started building the baths shelter on the promonade, and continued building it during the war.
https://www.heswallmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/pdf-light-viewer/274-pdfs/page-00030.pdf

Here is a link to all of our long gone outdoor pools.
https://peoplespool.co.uk/pools-we-love/local

"The Magnet" was on Talking Pictures TV (again) yesterday. Lovely scenes at the lido




http://www.historyofwallasey.co.uk/wallasey/the_magnet/index.html

I watched this again just to see New Brighton as it was. I loved seeing the pier and the indoor fairground , that's how I remember it and that side alley that led up to the bus stop. Floral gardens looked lovely , arr memories..