A now lost lido offered Mancunians a chance to enjoy a seaside experience without having to travel to the coast or abroad.
Norden Riviera opened in 1935 during the golden age for open-air swimming in Britain. Located just off Edenfield Road in Norden, Rochdale, the Riviera was 'Rochdale by the sea' for many who could not afford a longer journey or who preferred something nearer to home.
The open-air pool itself was heated and came equipped with diving boards, slides and spectator stands. But it was more than just a swimming pool, surrounded by attractive gardens, a cafe, a sports field with horse riding facilities, fences for show jumping, cricket pitches and areas for ball games.
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In the evening you could go dancing to an orchestra and be waited on by page boys wearing white uniforms with gilt buttons. Coloured lights were strung around the surrounding trees while the pool was spot-lit.
A brochure issued at the time of its opening said the complex had "nearly all the pleasures of a cruise on an ocean liner." In the Rochdale Observer in 2016, historian Gary Heywood-Everett, who had written a book on the lost pool entitled 'Norden Riviera: Rochdale by the sea', said it was "the place to be in Rochdale".
He added: "A lot of people in Norden don’t know about it - it closed in 1966 so some of the older generation might remember. It was quite ambitious for its time - it wasn’t just a Riviera it was a leisure centre too. People called it the ‘Rivvy’.”
A flavour as to what it offered Rochdale can be found in a write up of the newly opened complex in the Manchester Guardian newspaper on August 17, 1935. It said: "The Norden pool, which measures 80ft by 40ft and is from 2ft 6in deep to 9ft deep is situated in the grounds of what, before the war, was Tenter House, just beyond the bleachworks at Norden, and the stables, where horses are kept for hire, belonged to this residence."
The piece added: "It is surrounded by green deckchairs and by an outdoor café, where one may have tea (or other meals) under green and yellow umbrellas. All around are delightful woods, beyond which one can see a shoulder of hill - but not the three factory chimneys lower down the valley.
"A round paddling-pool satisfies the children too young to swim, and the conservatory of the old house has been turned into a ballroom. Next season, tennis courts, a gymnasium, a miniature golf course, and a children's playground will be added to the attractions of the Norden Riviera.
"Bathing in the warmed water often continues till late by the light of powerful electric lamps."
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Some who regularly used the pool before its closure don't quite remember the water being as warm as this description. Despite this, the open-air pool proved successful, with more than 3,000 pleasure seekers using the complex in one particular year and regularly over 500 season tickets sold.
Unfortunately, following the Second World War, the Riviera became less attractive as overseas holidays, television and other weekend recreational activities became popular. After a brief revival in the 1950s the place fell into disrepair and became too expensive to refurbish.
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It closed in 1966 and WAS demolished with the site now home to housing. Some also believed Norden Riviera to be haunted.
According to the Paranormal Database, a "phantom male figure" was said to have been seen standing outside the open air pool. It's unknown if the apparition was seen again after the pool was demolished in the mid-1960s.
Announcing the closure of the Riviera, the Rochdale Observer wrote: "It has always been a popular venue, known from Manchester to Burnley, but the Rochdale summers were never hot enough to make it a money-spinner."
Following a post on the Rochdale Local History Facebook page about Norden Riviera in 2016, people took to the comments to share their memories of the place.
Keith Greenwood, said: "Remember it well - kids paradise then."
Sheila Morris, posted: "I remember it. I loved going there - great memories."
Joyce Whittaker, said: "Surprised to read it was a heated pool, always cold as we remember. Happy memories."
While Rita Barber was also surprised to hear the pool was supposedly heated. She said: "It was always freezing even on the hottest days but a great place to spend the day - so sad when it closed."
Does Norden Riviera awaken any memories for you? Or perhaps there's another attraction you miss that you would like to read a story about? Let us know in the comments section below.
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