Restoring Cleveland Pools to the heart of the community in Bath

A group of people jump into the newly opened pools on a sunny day
People diving into Cleveland Pools at the celebration event in Autumn 2022. Credit: Suzy Slemen.

Heritage Grants (inc. Capital Kickstart)

Date awarded
Location
Bathwick
Local Authority
Bath and North East Somerset
Applicant
Cleveland Pools Trust
Award Given
£6771400
The oldest surviving open-air swimming baths in the UK have been fully restored and reopened to the public.

The 200-year-old lido closed to the public in 1984, and was placed on Historic England's Heritage at Risk register.

Thanks to a grant of £6.5million from the National Lottery, the Cleveland Pools Trust has restored the original Georgian features to their former glory.

Built in the shape of a miniature crescent, referencing Bath’s renowned architecture, the site includes two bathing pools and the original changing rooms.

Stories from the pools’ history have been brought to life as part of the project.

A black and white image of people Cleveland Pools on a busy day with lots of people in the water and around the pool.
Cleveland Pools was a popular destination in the 1960s. Credit: The Wessex Water Historical Archives.

 

The re-opened pools are naturally treated and heated using the latest technology, enabling the public to swim in the waters all year round.

Paul Simons, Chair of the Cleveland Pools Trust, says: “This has been a marathon swim, often against the tide, but the sheer determination of the local community as represented by the trustees, an army of volunteers, well-wishers, along with supporters such as the Heritage Fund, National Lottery players and our dedicated small number of staff, has seen the project through.”

The first public swim took place on 10 September 2023 after the site was closed for 40 years.

Find out more and plan your visit on the Cleveland Pools website.

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