King Alfred Baths Hove 1936 – requisitioned by the Royal Navy
King Alfred Baths above. Brighton Area Libraries – Helen Catt (1994) Built on the site of the old Medina Baths.
The King Alfred Swimming Baths – Hove. Courtesy of The Swimming Times.
King Alfred Baths Hove 1936 – requisitioned by the Royal Navy
Nearing completion in 1939, these new baths on the Esplanade replaced the SS Swimming Baths West Road “the biggest sea water baths ever ” in Brighton.
The baths were immediately requisitioned by the Royal Navy and named H.M.S. King Alfred…
The original H.M.S. King Alfred was a four funnelled cruiser of the Drake Class (armoured cruiser) and was the flagship of the China Station from 1905 – 1910
This historical start to the building saw the last passing- out certificates being awarded to Cadets during December 1945.
Drilling Cadets in main bath hall. Brighton Area Libraries – Helen Catt (1994)
Polished floorboards covered the large bath and it served as a Recreation Room for the Cadets.
After the war ended, the building, following serving as the Naval Officers Training establishment, permission was granted to retain its name “King Alfred” .
The Baths were officially opened by Admiral Geoffrey Layton on August 3rd 1946.
Exterior of the Baths. The restaurant/banqueting left end, now a dance studio, and the second pool far right end.
There were large roof sun terraces and a licensed restaurant that served up to 250 diners. There was also a banqueting hall for 450 diners called the “Sussex Room”.
The pool had a National diving stage with 5 metres platform and 1 and 3 metre springboards.
The Event of the Year 1952 – Swimming Times 1952
International and National Championships were held in this pool and famous National and International stars, such as Lillian Preece, Jack and Bert Wardrop, Daphne Wilkinson, Helen Orr Gordon, Pauline Musgrove, and Angela Barnwell, to name a few, performed to their heights.
Matt Mann USA Olympic Coach having a talk with potential British Olympic Swimmers at an Olympic Clinic – King Alfred Baths 1951. Swimming Times 1952
OUTCOME: A much changed King Alfred Baths…
The main Gala Bath and smaller pool was eventually floored over and is now used as a divided sports hall with interior corridors leading to a boxing hall, and gymnasium. The past restaurant/banqueting hall with flat roof open air dining, is now a dance studio/ballroom.
Refurbishment and extensions have been built from the main pool area of the building towards the sea. The 6 airy long window are now bricked up . 
A leisure pool extends towards beach. The original King Alfred Baths is now the King Alfred Leisure Centre.
King Alfred Baths built on the site of the old Medina Baths. Geo reference 1900s. Will expand to full view++
You will find further astounding history and picture of the Medina Baths on this link. Copyright of Judy Middleton
A very much changed building in this present day. A lovely streamlined architecturally pleasing building when first built, that lived up to its name.
A lovely description and what fun! Anne
Looking at the King Alfred Baths, Hove, Sussex I remember a wonderful addition to the pools there was in the 1990s. I was teaching in the area, 1990-1991, a tough & exhausting job & used to regularly ‘let off steam’ by rushing down the tubes which were attached to the outside, accessed from the inside by stairs & leading to a sort of plunge pool. The yellow tube was quite boring, simply going round & round on the way down, but the blue & black tubes were fantastic. One had a gravity defying drop very near the beginning which sped you down at a great speed, the other being dark with pin points of light & a series of steep drops. I absolutely loved them & was always daring my friends to go down them.