Hammersmith - Bloemfontain Lido

“The Pride of Hammersmith”
The sleepy leafy Bloemfontein Road saw the opening of the Open-Air Baths by His Worship the Mayor of Hammersmith - Alderman Marshall Hays JP.
The main entrance was centrally placed with dressing boxes placed to either side - females to the left and males to the right.
Amidst refreshment areas, including tea lawns, there were store rooms for Clubs, and a cycle park. The lovely pool had its deep end in the centre - all of 7 feet 3 inches. It was 150 feet long and 75 feet wide. The floor of the pool was granolithic paving and all
footways were paved in artificial stone.
This wonderful lido accommodated water polo matches, International swimming events, plus diving exhibitions from the 13 foot high staging.
OUTCOME: 56 years later in 1979 the well loved and “up to date” swimming paradise was changed to an indoor “Tropical Lagoon.” This lasted for 24 years. In 1990 it was re-named the
Janet Adegoke Leisure Centre.
In 2004 sees an empty space. Once one of the most up to date facilities in the country. Let’s hope this site will be reborn to serve the community. And so it came into being!