Outdoor swimming pools of Nottinghamshire that are long gone but not forgotten
Crowds would go to the outdoor pools every summer.
In the past, Lidos in Nottinghamshire served as a gathering place for summertime activities and treasured memories.
Crowds would gather around these outdoor pools each summer for a day of diving and swimming.
While many of these lidos were built in the 1930s, University Park’s Highfields Lido dates back to 1924. It was one of
the many kind presents that Sir Jesse Boot, the founder of Boots the Chemist, gave to Nottingham.
Crowds would go to the outdoor pools every summer.
In the past, Lidos in Nottinghamshire served as a gathering place for summertime activities and treasured memories.
Crowds would gather around these outdoor pools each summer for a day of diving and swimming.
While many of these lidos were built in the 1930s, University Park’s Highfields Lido dates back to 1924. It was one of
the many kind presents that Sir Jesse Boot, the founder of Boots the Chemist, gave to Nottingham.
Despite local objections, Bulwell’s sole surviving lido closed its doors in 2003. Low patronage and the high expense
of the required repairs were the reasons given for the closure.
Later, housing took the place of the pool. There were further lidos in Calverton, Papplewick, Carrington, Clipstone,
and Newark, but these were shut down starting in the 1980s.
Both the younger and older generations enjoyed these outdoor pools, and they would arrive at 9 a.m. and stay until
closing. To get their memories, we reached out to people on the Old Nottingham Pictures Facebook page.
Among the hundreds of responses, one common memory stood out – the icy cold water in the pools, which lacked the
heating facilities of today’s indoor swimming baths.
Tammi Bere shared her experiences at Calverton Lido: “I remember the good old days at Calverton Lido. It was
always rammed with so many people but we didn’t care then. It always seemed a nice hot summer too. The
water never got above freezing, but great fun trying to pluck up the courage to jump in. You couldn’t do it
slowly – all or nothing.”
Discussing his preference, Eric Butler remarked: “Bulwell Lido was often very busy, I preferred Highfields. I
remember my father being whistled at and told off for floating on his back in the deep end because he was
getting in the way of people who wanted to dive in. The last time I went to a lido was Carrington in the long hot
summer of 1976.”
Nico-Steve Nixon recalled: “Bulwell lido great days in the summer you’d go down there with your big lorry
innertube” with a sense of treasured nostalgia.
“All good fun in the sun, outdoor swimming in a space space,” Michael McCarthy said, recalling his trips to
different outdoor swimming locations. All filled in and vanished due to maintenance costs. Most have since
built upon it.
“I’ve never known such cold water,” he stated, referring to Monday mornings before the sun had a chance to
warm the pool. However, we made it through, and the reward was getting to purchase a waggon wheel from
their tuck shop when they were extremely large.
However, Anthony Hopewell does not have the same pleasant feelings. He stated: “In March, we were
transported to Highfields Lido from Roundhill Junior School! We were practically shoved in at the deep end,
while teachers stood around in coats, hats, scarves, and gloves. None of us looked forward to those lessons,
but we all made it through! That’s the kind of enjoyment I believe I could have avoided!”
According to Cheryl Lovegrove, “I grew up in Clifton and every Sunday my mates and I would ride down to
Lenton Lido with a picnic and spend the whole day there – best summers ever.”
Andy Easom added, “The water in the Highfields was cold towards the Trossachs. Over the years, I’ve been to
all the city ones. On the hottest of days, Carrington used to have to post the ‘House Full’ signs. Fantastic
times… I’m sure one could have been kept in use. For a dip these days, you have to go to Ashby or
Hathersage.”
“Bulwell Lido was the place to be in the summer,” says Bernice Evans, looking back fondly on her early
summers there. During the mid- to late-seventies summers, my best friend and I would reside there. Some
youngsters found my signet ring after I misplaced it in the water. Additionally, I eat tepid, soggy sandwiches for
lunch, but primarily I
“Skinny dipping in Bulwell Lido after the pubs shut was always a great laugh,” Adam Rigby recalled cheekily.
Martin Harrison’s recollection of Carrington Lido was marred by a mishandled truancy episode.
He recalled: “We used to spend a lot of days at Carrington Lido when we were kids. We frequently spent the
day there during our final year of school, 1974, as part of our games and leisure activities, always with a
teacher there. We all got into a lot of trouble the following day after a number of us decided to skip school and
do it alone one afternoon. We were photographed and interviewed by the Evening Post.
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