New addition to The Played in Britain Historic Pools Directory

A new pool has been added to The Played in Britain Historic Pools Directory, this is the database that was established from the detailed work that Simon Inglis, Dr Ian Gordon and Jackie Spreckley carried out for the books Great Lengths and Liquid Assets, and is now managed by Historic Pools of Britain.

This invaluable resource is used to create a national picture of historic pools and is regularly reviewed and updated.  However, it is rare for the addition of a pool to be made to the directory.  This came following an enquiry to the HPB website and led to a site visit by  Simon Inglis and Dr Ian Gordon to Thomas More Catholic School in Croydon and the Herbert Gorringe Indoor Swimming Pool, built in 1896 in memory of Herbert Gorringe. The red brick building with Bath stone dressings and a timber roof was gifted by the parents of 21 year old Herbert Gorringe, who believed, as someone who loved sport, nothing would have given their son greater pleasure, and so that every boy and girl in the school could learn to swim.

The pool can be hired for swimming lessons, with more details available here.

You can read more about the team behind Great Lengths and Liquid Assets here.

1930 image of Herbert Gorringe Indoor Swimming Pool,
provided courtesy of Played in Britain