Uxbridge Lido
Encyclopedia
The Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex is a leisure centre in Uxbridge
, operated by Fusion Lifestyle on behalf of the London Borough of Hillingdon
. The complex is centered on the Grade II listed outdoor swimming pool, known as Uxbridge Lido until 2010, when the newly built centre and refurbished pool were opened. A new indoor pool was built beside the lido
as part of the redevelopment works, opening in February 2010, followed a day later by the outdoor pool.
The outdoor pool was built in 1935 in the "Moderne" or Art Deco
style, at a cost of £24,500. It was closed in 1998 and became subject to heavy vandalism. In 2007 it was announced that the pool would be restored in time to be used as a training pool for the 2012 Summer Olympics
.
, two fountains, an entrance building and a grandstand structure, all of which are Grade II listed.
At opening the pool measured 220 by 72.5 ft (67.1 by 22.1 m), and took the form of an elongated 12 sided star in plan - it is the only remaining example in the country. It was the second longest open air swimming pool remaining in London. The two fountains are arranged in a line one to the north and one to the south of the pool. These are octagonal concrete structures each with a base and central column supporting two basins.
The concrete and brick entrance building at the northern end of the complex has a single storey and has a splayed "U" shape in plan. The short central brick bay features a pay window. The grandstand on the eastern side of the lido is built of reinforced concrete
and has three levels including the open flat roofed viewing terrace.
As part of the new development, the Hillingdon House Farm athletics track nearby was refurbished to become part of the new complex. The building beside the outdoor pool comprises a new 50 metres (164 ft) pool, sports hall, health and fitness facilities, café and changing rooms.
. The chairman of the council, Reverend Luther Bouch performed the opening, while Alf Price became the first superintendent.
The architect for the lido was G Percy Trentham. Before the opening of the pool, many residents swam in a section of the Frays River
near Harefield Road, and the Colne
.
Athletes participating in the 1948 Summer Olympics
in London were housed at the nearby RAF Uxbridge
, and used the pool to train in.
Hillingdon Council closed the pool after the 1982 season and did not open it in 1983. It was then reopened by Uxbridge Pool Action Group
in 1984, following a £148,000 grant from the Greater London Council
. They installed solar heating panels and a huge water slide
, as well as additional dry-side activities to try and improve the viability of the pool. However, it did not prove to be a viable proposition in the long-term and the Council eventually took the pool back in 1989.
Lidos historian, Andy Hoines, wrote: "Subsequently the pool closed down a second time, but was reopened again by the Yiewsley Pool Trust by the time of a visit I made in 1993. The current closure after the 1998 season was prompted by damage attributed to incursions from travellers, as well as the perceived need for major expenditure to bring the facilities up to recent Health and Safety standards
."
The pool, pavilion building, entrance building and both fountains were granted Grade II listed status in 1998. Despite the listing and the pool becoming closed to the public, the buildings became subject to heavy vandalism.
would oversee the project to restore the lido.
Planning permission
for the main swimming pool and sports centre was granted on 8 June 2005. In January 2008, the contractors Leadbitter, with a design team headed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, began work on the £21m swimming pool complex that will be used by budding Olympians in the run up to the 2012 games. Sharron Davies
, the former Olympic swimmer, commenced the building work in a special ceremony. The outdoor pool will be completely restored to its former glory.
The athletic track was completed in April 2006, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
Funding was provided by London Borough of Hillingdon (£22m), London Development Agency
(£2.02m), Sport England
(£1.5m) and the Heritage Lottery Fund
(just under £1m). In May 2009 a topping out
ceremony was held attended by councillors, the construction firm and members of the local residents' association.
The indoor pool and sports complex opened to local residents in February 2010, and was officially opened by the Mayor of London
, Boris Johnson
, on 21 March 2010. The unheated outdoor pool re-opened the following day.
On 8 September 2010, the 75th anniversary of the first opening of the lido was celebrated at the pool.
Uxbridge
Uxbridge is a large town located in north west London, England and is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon. It forms part of the ceremonial county of Greater London. It is located west-northwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres...
, operated by Fusion Lifestyle on behalf of the London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hillingdon
The London Borough of Hillingdon is the westernmost borough in Greater London, England. The borough's population was recorded as 243,006 in the 2001 Census. The borough incorporates the former districts of Ruislip-Northwood, Uxbridge, Hayes and Harlington and Yiewsley and West Drayton in the...
. The complex is centered on the Grade II listed outdoor swimming pool, known as Uxbridge Lido until 2010, when the newly built centre and refurbished pool were opened. A new indoor pool was built beside 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:...
as part of the redevelopment works, opening in February 2010, followed a day later by the outdoor pool.
The outdoor pool was built in 1935 in the "Moderne" or Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
style, at a cost of £24,500. It was closed in 1998 and became subject to heavy vandalism. In 2007 it was announced that the pool would be restored in time to be used as a training pool for the 2012 Summer Olympics
2012 Summer Olympics
The 2012 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the "London 2012 Olympic Games", are scheduled to take place in London, England, United Kingdom from 27 July to 12 August 2012...
.
Description
The oldest parts of the complex are the unheated outdoor swimming poolSwimming pool
A swimming pool, swimming bath, wading pool, or simply a pool, is a container filled with water intended for swimming or water-based recreation. There are many standard sizes; the largest is the Olympic-size swimming pool...
, two fountains, an entrance building and a grandstand structure, all of which are Grade II listed.
At opening the pool measured 220 by 72.5 ft (67.1 by 22.1 m), and took the form of an elongated 12 sided star in plan - it is the only remaining example in the country. It was the second longest open air swimming pool remaining in London. The two fountains are arranged in a line one to the north and one to the south of the pool. These are octagonal concrete structures each with a base and central column supporting two basins.
The concrete and brick entrance building at the northern end of the complex has a single storey and has a splayed "U" shape in plan. The short central brick bay features a pay window. The grandstand on the eastern side of the lido is built of reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete
Reinforced concrete is concrete in which reinforcement bars , reinforcement grids, plates or fibers have been incorporated to strengthen the concrete in tension. It was invented by French gardener Joseph Monier in 1849 and patented in 1867. The term Ferro Concrete refers only to concrete that is...
and has three levels including the open flat roofed viewing terrace.
As part of the new development, the Hillingdon House Farm athletics track nearby was refurbished to become part of the new complex. The building beside the outdoor pool comprises a new 50 metres (164 ft) pool, sports hall, health and fitness facilities, café and changing rooms.
History
The opening ceremony for the pool was held on 31 August 1935, organised by Uxbridge Urban District CouncilMunicipal Borough of Uxbridge
Uxbridge was a local government district in north west Middlesex, England, from 1849 to 1965, based around the town of Uxbridge.Uxbridge was one of the first towns in England to adopt the Public Health Act 1848 in 1849 and form a local board of health. Under the Local Government Act 1894 the local...
. The chairman of the council, Reverend Luther Bouch performed the opening, while Alf Price became the first superintendent.
The architect for the lido was G Percy Trentham. Before the opening of the pool, many residents swam in a section of the Frays River
Frays River
Frays River is a river in England that branches off the River Colne at Uxbridge Moor and rejoins it at West Drayton.The Frays River leaves the River Colne between Uxbridge and Denham, Buckinghamshire at Denham Weir. It passes Cowley and Yiewsley where it is joined by the River Pinn. It is also...
near Harefield Road, and the Colne
River Colne
There are several different rivers named River Colne in England:* River Colne, Essex — passing through Colchester* River Colne, Hertfordshire — tributary of the River Thames, passing through London Colney and other parts of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Greater London and Surrey* River...
.
Athletes participating in the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
in London were housed at the nearby RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge
RAF Uxbridge was a Royal Air Force station in Uxbridge within the London Borough of Hillingdon. Its grounds covered originally belonging to the Hillingdon House estate, which was purchased by the British Government in 1915, three years before the founding of the RAF...
, and used the pool to train in.
Hillingdon Council closed the pool after the 1982 season and did not open it in 1983. It was then reopened by Uxbridge Pool Action Group
Action group
In sociology and anthropology, an action group or task group is a group of people joined temporarily to accomplish some task or take part in some organized collective action....
in 1984, following a £148,000 grant from the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
. They installed solar heating panels and a huge water slide
Water slide
A water slide is a type of slide designed for warm-weather or indoor recreational use at water parks. Water slides differ in their riding method and therefore size...
, as well as additional dry-side activities to try and improve the viability of the pool. However, it did not prove to be a viable proposition in the long-term and the Council eventually took the pool back in 1989.
Lidos historian, Andy Hoines, wrote: "Subsequently the pool closed down a second time, but was reopened again by the Yiewsley Pool Trust by the time of a visit I made in 1993. The current closure after the 1998 season was prompted by damage attributed to incursions from travellers, as well as the perceived need for major expenditure to bring the facilities up to recent Health and Safety standards
Health and safety regulations in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom there are many regulations relevant to health, safety and welfare at work. Many of these give effect to European Union directives.-Regulations made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974:...
."
The pool, pavilion building, entrance building and both fountains were granted Grade II listed status in 1998. Despite the listing and the pool becoming closed to the public, the buildings became subject to heavy vandalism.
Restoration
In October 2000 the London Borough of Hillingdon proposed building an indoor 50 metres (164 ft) indoor community pool with movable booms and floors beside the outdoor pool, with a centre for performance training. Under the plans, the outdoor pool would be restored to allow for outdoor swimming, and the new development would include a health and fitness suite, restaurant, health suite and sports hall. English HeritageEnglish Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
would oversee the project to restore the lido.
Planning permission
Planning permission
Planning permission or planning consent is the permission required in the United Kingdom in order to be allowed to build on land, or change the use of land or buildings. Within the UK the occupier of any land or building will need title to that land or building , but will also need "planning...
for the main swimming pool and sports centre was granted on 8 June 2005. In January 2008, the contractors Leadbitter, with a design team headed by FaulknerBrowns Architects, began work on the £21m swimming pool complex that will be used by budding Olympians in the run up to the 2012 games. Sharron Davies
Sharron Davies
Sharron Elizabeth Davies MBE is a retired swimmer from the United Kingdom. She won a silver medal in the 400 metre individual medley at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, and two gold medals at the 1978 Commonwealth Games in Edmonton...
, the former Olympic swimmer, commenced the building work in a special ceremony. The outdoor pool will be completely restored to its former glory.
The athletic track was completed in April 2006, and was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
Funding was provided by London Borough of Hillingdon (£22m), London Development Agency
London Development Agency
The London Development Agency is the Regional Development Agency for Greater London, England. It is a functional body of the Greater London Authority...
(£2.02m), Sport England
Sport England
Sport England is the brand name for the English Sports Council and is a non-departmental public body under the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
(£1.5m) and the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
(just under £1m). In May 2009 a topping out
Topping out
In building construction, topping out is a ceremony held when the last beam is placed at the top of a building. The term may also refer to the overall completion of the building's structure, or an intermediate point, such as when the roof is dried in...
ceremony was held attended by councillors, the construction firm and members of the local residents' association.
The indoor pool and sports complex opened to local residents in February 2010, and was officially opened by the Mayor of London
Mayor of London
The Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
, Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, on 21 March 2010. The unheated outdoor pool re-opened the following day.
On 8 September 2010, the 75th anniversary of the first opening of the lido was celebrated at the pool.