Sunday, November 22, 2009

Saltdean Lido, Saltdean

Saltdean LidoThe Saltdean Lido was designed by architect R H W Jones and was opened in 1938.

Saltdean and Rottingdean Local Historian, Douglas d'Enno, author of The Saltdean Story has provided some wonderful information for the www.saltdean.info website. The site includes historic photos of the lido and details of Saltdean during the pre-War period.

d'Enno draws comparisons between the Saltdean Lido and the 1935 De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. There are certainly common elements.

Lidos were very popular in the UK during the 1920s and 30s but now many have survived into the 21st Century. It is nice to see Saltdean Lido is one of the rare survivors.

Posted by David Thompson
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6 comments:

  1. ANovember 23, 2009 at 3:05 PM

    Gorgeous posts the past few days. Love the pool

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  2. David ThompsonNovember 23, 2009 at 3:22 PM

    Thanks for the feedback Amanda. I think 99% of them are gorgeous and it is nice to know someone else out there thinks some of them are too.
    David

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  3. HelsNovember 23, 2009 at 4:04 PM

    I had been fascinated with the idea of leisure centres in the late 19th-early 20th centuries, especially those connected to healthy living and sporting activity. But then the Deco pavilions arrived in the 1930s totally unexpectedly... 35 years later, in fact.

    I examined Bexhill On Sea in http://melbourneblogger.blogspot.com/2009/08/bauhaus-in-britain-chermayeff-and.html and now I am delighted to see Saltdean Lido.

    I will create a link to your Saltdean reference which said:
    "By the end of the 'thirties, lidos were to be found at Prestatyn (opened 1922), Blackpool (1923), Plymouth (1928), Exmouth (1929), Skegness (1932), Hastings and St Leonards (1933), New Brighton and Wallasey (1934), Brighton (1935), Penzance (opened 1935), Morecambe (1936), Weston-super-Mare (1938)... Bournmouth....

    thanks :)
    Hels

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  4. David ThompsonNovember 23, 2009 at 4:31 PM

    That's interesting Hels. Do you think the WWI caused a delay or changed the nature of the health centres. I'm guessing that the 20s & 30s versions were more liberated in terms of dress and mixing of the sexes as English Society came out of the Victorian & Edwardian eras.
    David

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  5. Glen/Kent Today & YesterdayDecember 8, 2009 at 11:51 PM

    Hi David - I really enjoyed looking at your pics. I'm interested in Art Deco buildings too. Unfortunately there are not too many of them still left nowadays.

    I have some pics of some art deco buildings in Northfleet, England which are sadly facing demolition on my blog post http://kenttodayandyesterday.blogspot.com/2009/11/w-t-henleys-aei-cable-works-northfleet.html

    Best regards,
    Glen

    Kent Today & Yesterday

    ReplyDelete
  6. David ThompsonDecember 9, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    Thanks for the info Glen. A great shame about those beautiful buildings just falling about before they get demolished.

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