Southampton Lido

In 1929-31 the Lido was modernised and tiles replaced the pebbles! A filtration house was built due to the black plague of oil swirling around in the waters.
For 80 years, the pool welcomed high numbers of sun worshippers, and during one summer alone, saw 197,463 bathers - a few more than the previous year of 171,624. It was so popular that floodlight bathing was called for, which would have been appropriate had it not been asked for during the war years in the blackout!

The high patronage was a worrying period for one particular superintendent, being responsible for 301,000 human beings. These included non-swimming young children plunging in at the deep-end wearing motor bike tyres.
The Lido was closed for two years in the forties, because of smoke and grit wafting over from the electrical generating station close-by. A major overhaul took place, and despite the grim portrayal, it was reopened and was to become a unique, favourite valued haunt for its locals and visitors.

This Lido, built on the Western Esplanade, didn’t have tiles on its pool bottom but... pebbles! It was served by the then unpolluted waters of the River Test. In its day right up to the 1930’s it was said to be one of the biggest and finest in the country.