Outdoor swimming pools of Nottinghamshire that are long gone but not forgotten

Lidos across Nottinghamshire were once the hub of summer fun and cherished memories. Every summer, throngs of people would descend on these outdoor pools for a day of swimming and diving.

Many of these lidos were constructed in the 1930s, but Highfields Lido, located in University Park, has its roots in 1924. It was one of the many generous gifts from Boots the Chemist founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to the city of Nottingham.

Upon its opening, it held the title of the largest lido in England, with dimensions of 330ft by 75ft. The staggering 3,400,000 litres of water required to fill it was sourced from the boating lake.

Get the latest news straight to your phone by joining us on WhatsApp

The last standing lido in Bulwell shut its doors in 2003, despite local protests. The closure was attributed to low patronage and the steep cost of necessary repairs.

The pool was subsequently replaced by housing. Other areas such as Calverton, Papplewick, Carrington, Clipstone and Newark also had lidos which were closed from the 1980s onwards.

These open-air pools were a hit among both the young and the older generation, who would arrive at 9am and stay until closing time. We contacted members of the Facebook page Old Nottingham Pictures for their recollections.

Among the hundreds of responses, one common memory stood out - the icy cold water in the pools, which lacked the heating facilities of today's indoor swimming baths.

Hayley Johnson reminisced about Highfields Lido, saying: "On a hot day there was always a huge queue around the block of people with a rolled towel under their arm waiting to get into Highfields Lido. When you felt brave enough you'd slowly try to descend into the icy water... even in a heatwave it was freezing. There was a diving board in the deep end for those brave enough to enter quicker."

"Once out you could get an ice cream or hot drink from the kiosk. There's something magical about swimming in a lido in the open air that a lot of people miss out on nowadays."

Sharing her memory of visiting Papplewick Lido, Jane Love said: "The water was so cold we used to turn blue within seconds! Great fun though, once you were numb to it."

Tammi Bere shared her experiences at Calverton Lido: "I remember the good old days at Calverton Lido. It was always rammed with so many people but we didn't care then. It always seemed a nice hot summer too. The water never got above freezing, but great fun trying to pluck up the courage to jump in. You couldn't do it slowly - all or nothing."

Discussing his preference, Eric Butler remarked: "Bulwell Lido was often very busy, I preferred Highfields. I remember my father being whistled at and told off for floating on his back in the deep end because he was getting in the way of people who wanted to dive in. The last time I went to a lido was Carrington in the long hot summer of 1976."

With an air of cherished nostalgia, Nico-Steve Nixon remembered: "Bulwell lido great days in the summer you'd go down there with your big lorry innertube."

Micheal McCarthy reminisced about his visits to various outdoor swimming spots, saying: "All good fun in the sun, outdoor swimming in a space space. Due to cost of maintenance all filled in and disappeared. Most now built on."

Brenda Etches shared her memories of Calverton Lido, which was fed by natural springs: "Calverton was sooo, sooo cold. Pretty much running water with it being spring fed. Used to cycle from near Shipstone's brewery every Sunday with my schoolmate Marian Thompson. Swim all day, eat our bread and jam sandwiches, drink the water from the taps in the toilets, then cycle home to our Sunday dinner kept warm in the oven by the fireplace. Best lido around as fewer chemicals were used as the water was always fresh."

Joy Lyon fondly recalled the days spent at Calverton spring water Lido: "Calverton spring water Lido was fabulous. As youngsters we would spend the whole day there daring each other to jump into the freezing cold water. There was a shallow toddler pool but the best fun was jumping into the deep end. I never did learn to dive instead I tended to do a very ungracious belly flop."

She also described the routine at the end of a day at the lido: "At the end of the day it was a mad rush to collect your wire basket with your clothes in, hastily get changed then use the hand-cranked mangle to squeeze the excess water out of your cossie before the walk home with your mates. Sadly the lido is long gone although Spring Water is still going as a restaurant."

Generations of school children have fond memories of spending their six-week summer holidays splashing around in the lidos, and learning to swim. David Thorpe, a former pupil at All Hallows in Gedling, recalls his experiences from the mid 50s.

He said: "It was Monday mornings, before the sun had time to warm the water - I've never known such cold water. We survived though and the treat afterwards, was being able to buy a Wagon Wheel (when they were really big), from their tuck shop."

Anthony Hopewell, however, doesn't share the same warm sentiments. He said: "We were taken from Roundhill Junior school to Highfields Lido... in March! Teachers stood around in hats, coats, scarves and gloves while we were almost literally, thrown in at the deep-end. We all survived but never looked forward to those lessons! I think that's the sort of fun I could have done without! ".

Cheryl Lovegrove shared her own memories: "I grew up in Clifton and every Sunday my mates and I would ride down to Lenton Lido with a picnic and spend the whole day there - best summers ever."

Andy Easom also chimed in: "Brrrrr Highfields water was chilly around the Trossachs. Visited all the city ones over the years. Carrington used to have to put the 'House Full' signs up on the hottest of days. Great times ... One could have been kept in use I'm sure. You have to travel to Ashby or Hathersage for a dip nowadays."

Bernice Evans reflects on her youthful summers at Bulwell Lido with fondness, saying: "Bulwell Lido was the place to be in the summer. Me and my best friend would live there in the summer in the mid to late 70s. I remember losing my signet ring in the pool but some boys found it for me . Also warm soggy sandwiches for lunch but mostly I remember the sunburn. Outside swimming is the best and such a shame there's not more facilities to do this."

Adam Rigby cheekily recalled: "Skinny dipping in Bulwell Lido after the pubs shut was always a great laugh."

For Martin Harrison, his memories of Carrington Lido were tainted by an incident where playing truant went wrong.

He recollected: "As children we spent many a day at Carrington Lido. In our last year at school, 1974, we often spent the afternoon there as part of our games and recreation, always with a teacher in attendance. One afternoon a group of us decided to play truant and go on our own only to be photographed by the Evening Post and interviewed which got us all into big trouble the next day!"