History of Maindee Pools, Wales, UK

History and Description of the Building

The Markets and Baths Committee considered the provision of swimming baths in Maindee in the year 1933. A number of sites were inspected, and finally, a site between Victoria Avenue and Albert Avenue was selected as eminently suitable, being in close proximity to the Maindee Shopping Centre and easily accessible from the bus route from the centre of the city and from Chepstow. Powers to purchase the site were included in the Newport Corporation Act of 1934.

In March 1937, tenders were invited by public advertisement, and Messrs E. C. Jordan & Son were awarded the building contract; Messrs Caldwell Limited, the heating contractor; and Messrs Royles Limited, the filtration contract. The site used to have two entrances, the principal one being on Victoria Avenue, whilst the second one is from Albert Avenue and used to give access to the learners’ and children’s pools.

The main entrance on Victoria Avenue leads into a spacious entrance hall with a central pay box, where tickets used to be issued for admission, both for swimmers and spectators, including tickets for bathrobes, bathing costumes and towels. After obtaining tickets, bathers descend a short, wide staircase to the dressing halls on the lower ground floor, while spectators proceed up the main staircase to the Upper Hall on the first floor.

The upper hall gave access to the café and café balcony and, thence, to the gala stands. Adjoining the hall, the Slipper Baths Suite is located in a comfortable club room for the use of swimming clubs. A feature of the design is that spectators approaching their seats obtain a clear and uninterrupted view of all pool activities without the necessity of walking along the poolside, which is restricted to bathers only.

The main pool was 100 feet long by 42 feet wide, having a maximum depth of 10 feet. The bath floor gradually rises from this point to a depth of 4 feet at the shallow end and 8 feet at the deep end. The diving stage had diving boards at heights of five metres, three metres, and one metre above water level. Comfortable seating for 428 spectators was provided on the Gala Stands, while an additional 300 people were accommodated with chair seating around the balcony and a further 300 standing.

Separate dressing halls were planned on the lower ground floor under the gala stands for both sexes, with short staircases leading directly to the poolside. There were 32 dressing cubicles for men and 32 for women. The partitions and backs of boxes are in terrazzo.

On arrival, bathers proceed to counters where the tickets previously obtained from Pay Box are handed to an attendant, who provides them with a combined clothes hanger and basket which are taken into any vacant dressing cubicle.

When ready for bathing, the attendant hands the basket of clothes to the bather and provides them with a numbered disc. By this method, it was possible to manage a much larger number of bathers than by providing a cubicle for each bather. On leaving the dressing halls for the swimming pool, bathers had to pass through foot baths and, adjoining these, showers.

Across the Albert Avenue end of the site is a smaller pool, which is 60 feet long by 25 feet wide and has a maximum depth of four feet. This pool was encouraged for non-swimmers from as early an age as possible to provide for schoolchildren and enable swimming instructions to be given to individuals of all ages. The baths were fitted with a filtration house and plant which had clerestory windows so that the whole process of filtration could be observed by bathers, which it was felt would have sound psychological value.

The baths were also fitted with a purification plant, which was driven by two motor-driven centrifugal pumps at the rate of 65,000 gallons per hour. The plant was supplied and fixed by Messrs Royles Limited, Irlam, near Manchester.

The baths were fitted with heating and domestic hot water supplies. The water supply was taken from the city’s mains, which feed a special storage tank containing 2,200 gallons. All the pipes were easily accessible, being carried through a special duct in the basement, which also provides access to the iron drainage system. The building was equipped with electric lighting, which was directed up onto the ceiling, with the actual source of light not being visible.

The main pool also had twenty underwater lights, which were designed to create special colour effects. At the rear of the main entrance hall was the staff suite, which comprises the general baths superintendent’s and clerks’ separate offices. The house attached to the baths used to be the general baths superintendent’s house, which was a modern, three-bedroom parlour.

The construction of the building included the use of fire-resisting, reinforced concrete. All the windows were of steel and were operated by hand and electric opening gear. A special coloured cement was used for both the external and internal walls and ceiling finishes of the whole building.

Great care was taken in the provision of equipment for the efficient control and administration of the baths. An up-to-date internal telephone system was installed to enable the superintendent to have direct communication with all parts of the building.

Cost

The cost of the site was £1,956

The tenders for the work were as follows:

• General Building Works, including Electrical Equipment: £31,454
• Filtration Plant: £1,755
• Heating and Domestic Hot Water Supply: £2,900
• The Committee accepted tenders for furnishing and equipment amounting to the sum of £820
• The total cost of the building was £38,885

Dolphins Show

From Boxing Day 1983 to January 1984, for 3 weeks, the baths hosted a dolphin show.

Read more about the Maindee Dolphins.

Closure – December 2005

The doors of Maindee Baths were firmly closed on December 23, 2005, and the pool, which gave so much fun for thousands of swimmers, has now been drained. Newport City Council closed down the building because of the amount of money needed to upgrade it to the 21st century; the council thought it was not worth it. All the activities that used to take place in Maindee were transferred to Newport’s International Sports Village, close to the Velodrome and athletics stadium at Spytty.

Fires – 2007

In 2007, arsonists hit Maindee Baths twice in one day. When someone told the council that people were getting into buildings, the council stated that they couldn’t do anything to stop the 21st-century kids.

For Sale – 2008 and 2009

In 2008, Newport City Council decided to put Maindee Pools up for sale, with a guide price of £100,000. A Newport man who wanted a family home later sold it for £76,000. He later then put Maindee Pool back up for sale without the house attached and it was bought by the Gassor family for £56,000.