Okehampton Open Air Pool – Simmons Park Devon
Okehampton Lido – Devon. The Open Air Pool above situated alongside the Okement river, in Simmons Park
A note: Have Received some info – huge thanks to Christine Marsh…
Okehampton Open Air Pool – Simmons Park Devon
Enlarge++ The original swimming pool closer and alongside the Okement river 1964. If one looks carefully a few remains can be found.
Who said cold water swimming couldn’t be the rage back in 1976?!
Mr Eric Furze, a retired council officer takes his customary swim in the old outdoor pool. The colder the better. He tests the water and if over 42F he swims four lengths, if under, two lengths and has swum as low as 36F
Earlier Frolics
Enlarge ++ Some earlier ? late 19th century at the pool – alongside the Okement river.
Recap: I had spent a couple of hours helping a friend teach swimming at this pool during a brief visit 1980s. It remained a mystery until today? I wondered if it still existed? has it been refurbished. No-one could help. I had difficulty finding information on this lido as it is in this picture. Did I dream it?…..no…..this postcard came to me and said “You were here – Okehampton Swimming Pool” …Sadly contacts come and go and have lost those that could have helped at this time. I can now add more![…]
Read more… another pool in the park…Horsham Lido. A cool hotspot!
THEN! A Greenlight about Okehampton Lido – Devon
It seems that the original riverside outdoor pool, – pictured above – was replaced by a more recent pool?
Initial information from Tanya @LidoWriters who set me on the correct path. It lay in Simmons Park. Thus aerial pictures from google earth see comments below… I contacted the Town Clerk’s office from the Simmons Park Website, they kindly put me into contact with Christine Marsh who guided me.
The more recent outdoor swimming pool was built in what is now the play area of the Simmonds Park and later a roof was installed. It was eventually demolished and the remains could/can be seen near the play area of the park.
Enlarge ++ General aerial view + and closer view+ Just see some of the surrounding walls of the more recent pool which was set more into the park. Now play area – Google Earth
Will expand to full view+++ The site of Okehamptons pools. ? the original outdoor pool site along Okement river, and site of the more recent pool showing the remains in the play area…OR is it the same pool???
Please see Steve Ansells Comment below. Thank you Steve. If anyone else has updates I will be pleased to hear from you. Anne
Thank you Steve for this very helpful comment. I actually did wonder about this. I will return to the page. The coloured picture was sent to me after I had helped the swimming instructor with the class in that pool during a short stay in Devon in the 80s.
If there is further info to help I would be very pleased to hear from you. What is the bathing/swimming pool situation these days? Sadly my original informer in the 80s would be of very advanced years now.
Thank you
Anne
Re Okehampton pool, your colour pick is the pool in Symons park, which opened in the late 1960’s, near the east Okement river.
The black & white pic’s will be the old pool just up river & opposite Okehampton Castle on the West Okement river which was river fed.
There was also a separate paddling pool in Symons Park
Dear Anne,
My name is Christine Marsh and I understand you would like some information on the swimming pool that was in the Park.
I have quite a bit of information on it when it was built, money raised,the covering of it and finally the demolition of it.
Maybe you could let me know exactly what you would like to know.
Christine.
Anne: Have received information. Huge thanks Christine
I think I know it…or rather the shape as it was…it was situated somewhere behind the Children’s Play Area in beautiful Simmonds Park. There may still be a paddling pool there