An iconic lido that welcomed generations through the decades was the 'equivalent of Disneyworld' to Merseyside kids.
A jewel in Wirral’s holiday crown, New Brighton Baths was opened in 1934 by Lord Leverhulme and was once the largest outdoor pool in Europe. In the first two months after opening, more than one million people are said to have passed through the turnstiles, drawn in by its magnificent art deco styling and high diving boards.
It was so impressive, there was once talk of holding the Olympic Games there. In 1937, the pool celebrated its millionth visitor, Mary Drew and by the 1950s, the pool was attracting around 150,000 people on a bank holiday weekend.
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Over the years, it played host to wrestling competitions, midnight bathing, dances, firework displays and the Miss New Brighton contest. For decades, the competition saw hundreds of women from across the country come to the site in hopes of taking home the title.
In 1984, ITV staged a spectacular outdoor concert at the pool. New Brighton Rock starred Nik Kershaw, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Spandau Ballet, the Weather Girls and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in a four-day musical extravaganza.
But as holidaying habits changed and families were tempted abroad on cheap package deals, life at the resort started to decline. But many still have fond memories of summers there learning how to swim or watching people dive off the big boards.
What are your memories of New Brighton Baths? Let us know in the comments section below.
Life at New Brighton Baths has been revisited through the years, with many people writing in to share their memories or reminiscing of days on the much loved site. In 2010, Alfred Mahone said: "I was 15 or 16 at the time, it was a nice summer afternoon and I was at New Brighton baths.
"I cannot be sure of the year – it was 1948, 49 or 50. There were events taking place, a parade of beauty queens and a diving and swimming exhibition.
"The diving exhibition featured a lady who was to demonstrate her skill from the top board. A photographer was there to capture the moment for a local newspaper.
"At the decisive moment he must have forgotten where he was standing and he took a step backwards into space. I still smile at the memory of this unfortunate chap flying backwards, arms and legs waving in the air before coming down with a great splash. It brought the house down."
That same year, the ECHO reported how Art Attack's Neil Buchanan, from Aintree, was coming to New Brighton to play at Fort Perch Rock with band Marseille. At the time, he said: "I’m really looking forward to coming to New Brighton because I haven’t been there for about 30 years.
"We used to go over on day trips and visit the fairground and New Brighton Baths – I remember sitting in there shivering. It was an exciting holiday resort and the equivalent of Disneyworld for us."
Over the years, ECHO readers have also shared their fond memories of New Brighton Baths on our Facebook page. Mel Davies previously said: "Loved it here. So many memories."
Margaret Yates said: "Used to love going swimming in the pool at New Brighton." Jen Dunn commented: " Many happy childhood memories here with my mum. I used to imagine I was abroad. Used to watch in amazement at the brave lads diving off the high concrete diving platform."
John Murphy wrote: "Used to love this place. Where my arl fella taught me to swim." Philip Dolman posted: "Spent many a weekend with mates used to get Mersey ferry over and just have a laugh and the high board was great."
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Jo Smith wrote: "I spent most of the summer holidays in the baths it was iconic." Joanne Fieldhouse posted: "This was our playground when we were little even took our children when we got married, they should have rebuilt it, it was unique."
Eileen Bell said: "Spent some lovely days there as a child." Ian Foster commented: "The water was freezing .and full of sea weed. But loved it."
And Emma Irwin commented: "I loved it here as a child. Will never forget being rescued by the lifeguard from near the diving boards."
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By the 1980s, with the ferry link from Liverpool gone, attendances were down to 30,000 from their 1970s peak of 80,000. But many will remember how the fate of the site was changed the following decade.
On February 26, 1990, the Mersey burst its banks and an estimated 13 million gallons of seawater flooded an area of the baths, which was designed for only a million gallons, punching a huge hole in the foundations at the exposed northwest corner of the complex, the ECHO previously reported.
The damage threatened to cause structural collapse. The ECHO also previously reported how the huge cost of repairing the pool, estimated at nearly £4m, was cited as a reason for its demolition.
Fast-forward to 2011, the shopping and leisure complex Marine Point opened its doors on the site of the former lido - a development which cost around £65m and included a casino, a Morrisons supermarket and a cinema. The following year, work began on building the kids entertainment centre Bubbles' World of Play in the former Lido building which still remains there today.
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