About a year ago now, Wigan Baths closed down in preparation for the demolishing of the old pool and the building of a new swimming and leisure centre. I read about it about six months ago when I was searching for photos to post on this blog. We spent many a Saturday afternoon at the baths when we were kids, both before and after we could swim. School swimming lessons were also at the pool.
I didn't actually learn to swim at Wigan Baths (I taught myself at Great Harwood Baths - a splashing, struggling doggy-paddle, at first), but I spent a lot of time swimming here as an eleven and twelve year old. So I was a bit sad to hear they'd drained the pool and demolished the baths.
We used to throw a penny into the sixteen foot six end of the baths, then try to dive down to the bottom to get it. I can't remember any of us actually making it to the bottom. I do remember feeling the pressure as I swam down.
We all used to go up on the diving tower and steel ourselves to jump (never dive) from the second stage. The top stage was always roped off.
Wigan will be getting a new baths in a couple of years. Strange to think that these baths would've been new and modern when I first went to them.Photos posted by Brian at http://www.wiganworld.co.uk/newgallery/gallery4.php?opt=baths
Great pictures Chris, I feel sad when these big old pools go under, as it were! Leeds international pool has been demolished recently as well. My teenage pool for all that diving for armbands stuff was Harrogate - knocked down quite a while back now. It had a separate diving pool with scary high boards - thrilling Saturday afternoon entertainment!
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