Hampton Pool Explained

Address:High Street, Hampton, London
Postcode:TW12 2ST
Coordinates:51.4183°N -0.3579°W
Opened:1922
Operator:Hampton Pool Trust
Type:open-air, heated
Length:36
Width:14
Website:hamptonpool.co.uk

Hampton Pool is a heated open air pool or lido in Hampton in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is unusual for being open 365 days of the year. It is currently managed by YMCA St Paul’s Group.[1]

Description

The pool, which has two slides, is 36x. There is also a small 12mx7mm (39feetx23feetm) pool for children.

Other facilities include a gym, fitness-studio and cafeteria.

It is operated by the Hampton Pool Trust, a registered charity (number 294117)[2] and not-for-profit company (number 01870925).[3] It is managed by YMCA St Paul's Group on behalf of the Trust.[4] [5] The Trust's fund-raising activities also include summer open-air concerts.[6]

History

The lido was built in 1922 after plans approved in 1914 were delayed due to the outbreak of the First World War.

In 1939 a diving pit and filtration system was added. Further improvements in 1961 included widening the pool, and adding a new building and a car park.

By 1980 Richmond Council decided to close the lido for financial reasons. After local community campaigning, in which over £60,000 was raised, the pool was reopened in 1985. The management of the pool was transferred to Hampton Pool Ltd, a company created by the campaign group.[7] [8]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: YMCA St Paul's Group Swimming. 10 April 2012.
  2. Web site: Hampton Pool. Charity Commission for England and Wales. 12 August 2012.
  3. Web site: Company details. Companies House. 12 August 2012.
  4. Web site: Hampton Pool. YMCA St Paul’s Group. 7 July 2020.
  5. Web site: Legal structure . Hampton Pool. 25 January 2022.
  6. Web site: Summer Picnic Concerts . Hampton Pool. 25 January 2022.
  7. News: The Guardian. 6 July 2002. Travel: On the cheap: Lidos: The city's beaches: If you can't make it to the coast, try your local lido. Ashley Norris samples eight in a day. Norris, Ashley. Finally, a little dazed by the sun and tired from driving, I arrive at Hampton Lido in west London. I couldn't have picked a better time to visit, for it is 80 years to the day that the pool first opened. The lido still looks in pretty good shape. The 36m pool is heated, open all year round and caters for families as well as serious swimmers..
  8. For a detailed history of this lido, see Book: Liquid assets: the lidos and open air swimming pools of Britain. Smith, Janet. English Heritage. January 2006. 0-9547445-0-0. Page 162, and Web site: Our History . Hampton Pool . 27 September 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090928012031/http://www.hamptonpool.co.uk/5_b_history.htm . 28 September 2009 .