Parliament Hill Lido
Encyclopedia
Parliament Hill Lido, Parliament Hill Fields, Gordon House Road, Hampstead Heath
, North London, is next to Gospel Oak railway station
. The lido
, also known as Hampstead Heath Lido, is a public unheated open air swimming pool, open for 12 months a year. It first opened in 1938.
The lido is open for the Summer Season from mid May to mid September.
From September to April it is open from 7am to 12 noon for Early Morning swims only, one of only two unheated Winter Swimming venues in London, the other being Tooting Bec Lido
.
Another swimming venue, the Highgate Ponds are a short walk away.
There is a users' group for the lido (and the ponds), the United Swimmers' Association of Hampstead Heath.
Parks Department) and is nearly identical in design to Victoria Park Lido and Brockwell Park Lido. There was a diving stage, shutes and a cafe, with areas for sunbathing and spectators.
Costing £34,000 to construct, this was the most expensive of London County Council's 13 lidos built in the 1920-39 period.
In 1976 after the death of a 15 year old boy, further safety measures were taken, including removing most of the diving facilities and increasing staff. The last diving board was removed in 2003.
Refurbishments after the late 1980s included hot showers, cycle racks, paddling pool and CCTV. In 1986 the lido was taken over by the London Residuary Body
and in 1989 by the Corporation of London.
The lido was Grade II Listed in January 1999.
49,000 visitors were recorded in 2003.
In 2005, the custom for free swimming before 9.30am was dropped and a £2 entry fee introduced. Refurbishment in 2005 included a stainless steel pool lining, the first of its kind for an outdoor pool in Britain.
Hampstead Heath
Hampstead Heath is a large, ancient London park, covering . This grassy public space sits astride a sandy ridge, one of the highest points in London, running from Hampstead to Highgate, which rests on a band of London clay...
, North London, is next to Gospel Oak railway station
Gospel Oak railway station
Gospel Oak railway station is in the borough of Camden in north London. It is on the North London Line and is also the western passenger terminus of the Gospel Oak to Barking Line...
. The lido
Lido
The Lido is an 11 km long sandbar located in Venice, northern Italy, home to about 20,000 residents. The Venice Film Festival takes place at the Lido every September.-Geography:...
, also known as Hampstead Heath Lido, is a public unheated open air swimming pool, open for 12 months a year. It first opened in 1938.
Description
This unheated pool is 200 by 90 ft (61 by 27.4 m) and is owned and operated by the Corporation of London, who also own the whole of Hampstead Heath.The lido is open for the Summer Season from mid May to mid September.
From September to April it is open from 7am to 12 noon for Early Morning swims only, one of only two unheated Winter Swimming venues in London, the other being Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Lido
Tooting Bec Lido is an open-air fresh water swimming pool in South London. It is the largest swimming pool by surface area in the United Kingdom, being 100 yards long and 33 yards wide....
.
Another swimming venue, the Highgate Ponds are a short walk away.
There is a users' group for the lido (and the ponds), the United Swimmers' Association of Hampstead Heath.
History
The lido was opened on 20 August 1938. The lido was designed by Harry Rowbotham and TL Smithson (London County CouncilLondon County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
Parks Department) and is nearly identical in design to Victoria Park Lido and Brockwell Park Lido. There was a diving stage, shutes and a cafe, with areas for sunbathing and spectators.
Costing £34,000 to construct, this was the most expensive of London County Council's 13 lidos built in the 1920-39 period.
In 1976 after the death of a 15 year old boy, further safety measures were taken, including removing most of the diving facilities and increasing staff. The last diving board was removed in 2003.
Refurbishments after the late 1980s included hot showers, cycle racks, paddling pool and CCTV. In 1986 the lido was taken over by the London Residuary Body
London Residuary Body
The London Residuary Body was a body set up in 1985 to dispose of the assets of the Greater London Council after the council's abolition in 1986. Similar residuary bodies were set up for the metropolitan counties. After the abolition of the Inner London Education Authority, the LRB took control of...
and in 1989 by the Corporation of London.
The lido was Grade II Listed in January 1999.
49,000 visitors were recorded in 2003.
In 2005, the custom for free swimming before 9.30am was dropped and a £2 entry fee introduced. Refurbishment in 2005 included a stainless steel pool lining, the first of its kind for an outdoor pool in Britain.
External links
- Oliver Merrington's website www.lidos.org.uk
- The Outdoor Swimming Society 2008 festive dip amateur video footage.