Swindon Coate Water- 1935. Famous Diving Boards
Swindon Coate Water Diving Boards above. All that remains agj 2011
Swindon Coate Water was originally built as a reservoir by the Wilts and Berks Canal Company.
Mammoth crowds flocked to Swindon’s “Lido” opening.
The Diving Boards were a remarkable structure and became a great asset, attracting important diving events.
National Diver Miss Cicely Cousens gave a demonstration of “fancy” diving and was followed with exhibitions from Les and Bram Tomkins, S.A. Nash and F.Scott.
Diving Tower in it’s prime 1939. Courtesy of the Amateur Swimming Ass. (Diving Manual 1936)
Ladies, Men’s and Girls Western Counties Diving titles were held by Coate Amateur Swimming Club, and the club became distinguished by having Cicely placed third in the Ladies British Empire Games.
Coate was the first provincial club in the country to boast a further achievement of Cicely gaining Ladies National Diving Championship of England 1935/36.
OUTCOME:
The end of an era came in 1952, when swimming was forbidden in Swindon Coate Water, due to pollution of the lake from Chiseldon’s Sewage Works.
There were various suggestions for the diving stage. Some were – “turn it into a cascading waterfall, clean the lake up, or “Blow it up”[…]
Read more…Heritage listed Diving Boards in a Garden Centre.
Other ideas included – paint it and add ornamental lights, or deck it with flowers. None of these public suggestions materialised.
The diving tower remains standing proud, patched up here and there, painted, and provides a perfect home for wildlife. I believe it has now secured a Heritage Listing.
Peaceful lovely setting in an area of outstanding beauty – but… no more diving. Diving Stage Heritage Listed. One of the few that survived WW2 agj 2011
The lake is a tranquil calm setting, just right for reminiscing, and relaxing. This nature reserve is an active centre for ramblers, bird spotters, and study. There is a small cafe situated on the lakeside, providing various refreshments and beverages. A wonderful day out.
Each year there is a lantern carnival with the local school children taking part.
The lantern lights flickering across the water are breathtaking.
2022 restored. Cleaned, mended and original looking diving board safety railings applied.
Thank you Sue for your comment. The small pool area remains but is now a water splash facility. I do remember when a swimming pool. Yes you are quite correct to say the Coate Water reservoir is not a true Lido, however at one time did invite swimmers, divers and boaters until around the 70s when the swimming aspect was taken away due to pollution, mentioned on my page dedicated to Coate Water. It still remains a beautiful place for relaxing, leisure, walking and picknicking.There is a little cafe on site too! I have visited many times. Great news that the diving boards are being refurbished at the moment, and I look forward to seeing the end result. Once upon a time they just escaped demolition. They are Heritage Listed due to, possibly one of the reasons, being one of four diving stages in UK surviving WW2. There are regular candlelit etc events that take place too.
I truly recommend a visit to anyone finding themselves with or without dogs! on the M4 near Swindon turn off. Again, thank you so much for contacting. Anne
You have on your list the reservoir at Coate Water being a Lido. Not so…There was actually a real Lido at the Coate Water park, I remember it very well, the big turnstile doors, the row of changing rooms and the fountain we could sit in at the end of the pool. It was very popular and we went there a lot as children. It was set separately from the reservoir which was no longer used for swimming due to pollution, but I can’t find a photo of it. There was also a children’s paddling pool which was apparently shut for health and safety reasons although I went there as a child and took my own children 25 years later. That was filled in and climbing frames and so on erected instead. I believe the actual structure is still intact underneath it all. Sacrilege!
Regards
Sue