Name: Motcombe Pool Location: Eastbourne Current status: Closed Date built: 1904 Architect: Peerless Dennis and Sons Listed building status: Not listed Lead organisation: Motcombe Community Pool CIC
Description
Built in 1904 and opened in January 1905, the site was originally called ‘The Motcombe Slipper Baths and Pool’.
The pool comprised men’s and women’s slipper baths and a central pool with poolside curtained changing cabins. A caretaker’s cottage adjoined the facilities.
The baths were routinely used for schools bathing, men’s and ladies’ clubs, lifesaving classes and water polo.
Facilities
17m x 8m pool
The Slipper Baths are now changing rooms
Glass Edwardian roof
Caretaker’s cottage
Notable fact
The main pool was equipped with a diving board and springboard. Originally the pool was all one depth, to allow bathers to launch themselves in directly from the changing cabins, using the looped ropes attached to the ceiling for the
purpose.
When it opened the pool was fed by a pump which tapped into underground spring water – the source of the River Bourne. The well head is now part of the 1950s extension which was constructed to provide an electric pumping system and a purification plant. These are still in use today.
The slipper baths were still being used until at least the late 1950s, when most of the pre-Edwardian homes in Old Town had no indoor bathing.
Current plans
The pool was closed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time some significant maintenance issues and modernisation requirements were identified. Since this time the pool has remained closed..
A Community Interest Company (CIC) has been created so that fundraising efforts can be focused on reopening the pool.
