The Old Baths
My memories of the old Dewsbury swimming baths (at the back of the police station) feels like memories from an earlier era older than myself. I used to visit the baths with my school once a wk for swimming lessons/excerise. I was always fisinated with the internal structure/decor and thinking back to the rows of changing rooms either side of the pool, with their swinging three quarter doors makes me shiver.
What trust we had in each other back them to simply leave our belongings in those, while we went off to enjoy ourselves.
There was the fancy steel railings too that made up the front of the balcony above the ground changing rooms, think there was changing rooms above too.
Are the baths still in use, I know the building is still there. Its not often I return to the town itself when I visit my family. I now live in Herfordshire, have done for the past 11 yrs.
Memories Links
Other memories of Town Centre c1960
Add a Memory for another place
Tips & Ideas
How has this scene changed?
Do you know who lived or worked here?
Why is this photo significant to you?
Particular points of interest - transport, architecture, fashions etc.
Comments
8 comments have been shared so far in response to the memory "The Old Baths".
Why not get involved and post your comments using the comment form below.
Comments
RE: RE: The Old Baths
The old baths in Dewsbury were at the back of the library near to Victoria Boys School, not at the back of the police station which was situated in the town hall.
I too went regulary with schools and also at every and any opportunity in the 1960s. I have some wonderul memories, that I look back on fondly, to a much more innocent life that most of us led back then. The old baths had two pools, one for Ladies only, oh the peace, not to have to keep an eye out for any boy who fancied giving you a ducking.
The Baths are still there. I do not often find myself in that part if town but the last I heard they were Squash or Badminton Courts.
Comment from Megan Clarkson on Wednesday, 8th October 2008.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
You are dead right about the location of the baths and I am trying to remember the name of the guy that used to be an instructor there, something like Mr Grimsby ???? sounds like, that was pre 1960s when I went to Victoria Boys School, which I believe is no longer, it's sad.
Comment from Richard Parkin on Sunday, 2nd November 2008.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
You are dead right about the location of the baths and I am trying to remember the name of the guy that used to be an instructor there, something like Mr Grimsby ???? sounds like, that was pre 1960s when I went to Victoria Boys School, which I believe is no longer, it's sad.
Comment from Richard Parkin on Sunday, 2nd November 2008.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
Mr Grimes was the name of the resident instructor at the old Dewsbury baths. He taught not only my generation in the 1950s but also my father's. What a guy, and sadly from a generation of gentlemen long gone. I remember the Victoria Boys' School and its reputation as being very hard for the boys, was this correct!
Comment from Megan Clarkson on Tuesday, 4th November 2008.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
I was close with the name ...
I wouldn't say the Vic was "hard", I enjoyed my time there 1954 - 58, we had good teachers, the head master was Mr Sleight and I found him to be fair even though I did get six of the best sometimes.
Comment from Richard Parkin on Friday, 7th November 2008.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
Only just seen this.
I too was taught to swim by Mr Grimes at the Dewsbury Swimming Baths in 1956. He also taught my Mother back in the 1930s. I remember watching in awe as he dived in once wearing a 1930s-style one piece swimming 'suit' and, being a distinctly large man, caused an impressive tidal wave !
I remember there was a first class pool, costing 4d per session I think it was. The second class pool, which was shallower by some 6 inches overall, cost 3d. The rumour was that the second class pool got the water from the first class pool before finally going down the drain !
For 1d - or was it 2d ? - when finally chilled through by a swim one could have a mug of hot Bovril. There was none of this near body-heat swimming-pool water nonsense like today; about 21-22C was all we got ! You got in, had a swim and got out, sharpish.
I remember also a large photo of celebrated cross-channel swimmer Eileen Fenton (of Dewsbury) was on display there.
Comment from Chris Cowell on Sunday, 23rd May 2010.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
Yes it was Mr Grimes! I remember it well! :)
Comment from Christine Lee on Monday, 12th July 2010.
RE: RE: The Old Baths
I remember Mr Grimes, he was a large man and used to float on his back. He used to say "If I can float then so can you" when we were learning to swim and were frightened of sinking.
Comment from Margaret Inkley Nee Potter on Wednesday, 2nd November 2011.