A demolished Merseyside treasure still remembered fondly by those who went there saw customers have "the best times of their life."
The Liverpool ECHO recently took a look back at the lost Southport's Sea Bathing Lake, the town's open-air swimming baths that saw thousands try to get a spot in the pool on hot summers days. First opening in 1914, with a new and improved design on Princes Park opened by the Earl of Derby on May 17, 1928, it was a very stylish place in its hey day.
The lake was 330ft long and 212ft wide, cost £70,000 to build and could seat more than 2,500 spectators. In October 1928, the Skegness News reported how Southport's Sea Bathing Lake had closed for the season and that the final returns showed receipts at £10,800, bathers 155,290, and spectators 321,230.
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The shape resembled a Roman amphitheatre, with a café covered by a glazed dome roof and 230ft by 12ft covered arcade also ran around the sea-facing side of the lake. The sea bathing lake was filled with filtered seawater by a pumping system, which was upgraded in the 1960s at a cost of £35,000 - but in its time welcomed thousands of locals and tourists, as well as a few famous faces.
ECHO readers have since been sharing their fond memories of Southport's Sea Bathing Lake from years gone by. On our Facebook page, Lawrence Hunter said: "Spent all summer holidays at the pool. Got on the Ribble Bus 302 in Maghull 65 years ago, great memories."
Michelle Merryfield said: "So many happy memories of that place it was fantastic if I won the lottery I would build another one In a heartbeat!! Summers of fun with your friends there!!."Darren Matthews wrote: "I remember those outdoor slides near the baths, one of them was a 30ft vertical drop, you'd get off it with no skin on the backs of your legs."
Jane Kavanagh said: "Had the best time of my life there as a child." Judith Cookson posted: "Loved that place, many a happy weekend and school holidays spent there!."
Ian Rimmer posted: "Loved it there." Christine Peloche commented: "Loved the pool. Great times had there in 50's and 60's. So sad it had to make way for something else!"
Alvie Jones commented: "We spent most Sundays there in the summer when I was a child xxx took my first Son there as a baby it was 1976 and there was a swarm of ladybirds xxx happy days spent there xxx." Christine Briggs posted: "Brings back some great memories, spent many happy hours in that pool."
Charlie Evans commented: "The long hot summer of 76 I was living in Southport working nights l would go to the outdoor baths and sleep during the day wonderful memories." Belinda Johnson said: "Holds a very special place in my heart as my Mum and Dad worked there - Derek Henderson and Daphne are people I remember. Mum and Dad used to have a great time with their friends after closing time - before they had kids!!!."
Diane Burns wrote: " Brilliant memories of this place when I was a kid. Happy Times with me mum and dad. Me mum would take a big picnic and flasks of tea and soup. Me brothers would go off looking for girls. Ha ha. X." And Raffaele Bradshaw wrote: "That was the best time of my life."
The attractive pool even tempted Hollywood stars to take a dip. American actor Clark Gable arrived unannounced at the Southport Sea Bathing Lake sporting his United States Army Air Force uniform, drawing a crowd of hundreds.
Bob Couzens was there to see the relaxed Gone With The Wind star posing for pictures and soaking up the sunshine. Speaking to LookBack in 2008, Bob said: "He must have been passing through RAF Woodvale on duty.
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"There were crowds and crowds – maybe about 300 people. They must have recognised him straight away. They were all delighted to see him – they were all shouting and screaming, so he didn’t really have a chance to speak.
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"At that time there were a lot of servicemen in Southport that stayed in the Palace Hotel." In 1969, Black Sabbath, headed by Ozzy Osbourne, also played to huge crowds from a platform in the middle of the pool.
Southport resident June Naylor previously recalled the days of the Sea Bathing Lake. In 2010, she said: "Like a great many people, fond memories of Southport Sea Bathing Lake will stay with me forever.
"It was a magical place with a most wonderful atmosphere, it was so packed on hot sunny days with residents and visitors enjoying themselves the whole day long. The structure itself was so unique and beautiful, there was nothing like it anywhere.
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"It was a special place to be, as well as the water activities, the café and dancing, the beauty competitions were also very popular. My husband Bryan Naylor came up with the idea in 1970 of creating a transparent dome over the lake.
"But sadly it was decided by Sefton Council, that it would be demolished. That together with many other parts of Southport’s heritage."
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