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Who?
Who is taking the challenge on?
Dr Ian Dungavell has been Director the Victorian Society for seven years. A keen swimmer, he was heavily involved in the fight to save his local pool, Grade II-listed Kentish Town Baths, which Camden Council recently pledged to refurbish. The pool is closed for restoration work until 2010, otherwise it would have been the fifteenth pool on Ian's list.
Ian wants to hear your thoughts about historic swimming pools. Are you involved with a battle for a listed or unlisted historic pool? Perhaps you've got a story about one of the pools Ian will be visiting this summer? Email ian@1000yearswim.com and let him know.
Users Comments
Re: Who?
Posted By brianmccann 1 July 25, 2008 01:17:59 PM
Dear Ian,
Congratulations on a great initiative.
Are you aware of Chester City Baths? See www.chesterswimming.talktalk.net.The baths have been run by a Trust since 1977 and the local authority have recently agreed to reduce the restictions they had previously placed on public access.
Please let me know if you like to add the Baths to your list.
Regards
Brian McCann
Chester Swimming Association
Chester City Baths
Posted By Ian_Dungavell 1 July 29, 2008 02:15:11 PM
Dear Brian McCann
Yes! I'd love to see them. They were designed by the great Chester architect John Douglas (1830-1911), but we'd ruled them out because we thought that access was limited to club sessions. By the same token I don't get to swim in the beautiful pool at the RAC Club, London.
The Chester Swimming Association has set a great example by showing how such baths can be kept in use, and I'd love to come and swim in them! You can teach me some stroke improvement, too!
Best wishes
Ian / The Victorian Society
Endorsement
Posted By Adam_Schwartz 1 August 9, 2008 05:03:15 PM
Dr. Dungavell,
I applaud you for your campaign to save Victorian public pools. I've swum in municipal pools here in America, and even the most humble of them can have a charm all its own. They're worth saving perhaps not for a tangible reason but simply because they add beauty to our lives. When we contrast these old pools to the modern, totally unesthetic counterparts, it's easy to see what we've lost.
Adam Schwartz
Bloomington, Indiana
USA
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