A recently uploaded photograph of a now demolished Liverpool swimming baths prompted a flood of fantastic childhood memories.
Photographs of William Roberts baths, better known as Broadway Baths in Norris Green, were posted on a Liverpool memories and history Facebook page. One particular colour photograph showed the swimming baths in its heyday, full of people enjoying the pool as sunlight beams through the high glass windows into the blue water below.
The William Roberts baths opened in April 1936, just a few months prior to its identical Harold Davies swimming baths opened in Dovecot. Both of the baths sported an array of diving boards and three pools with a tiled walkway separating the large adult pools from the two smaller swimming areas.
READ MORE: 38 pics show how the city looked before Liverpool ONE
Sadly, the William Roberts baths closed in 1993 due to structural issues, leaving just the boxing and weights room available to use at the facility. Despite a campaign that saw a petition attract 10,000 signatures to save the baths, the baths remained closed and the building was demolished a few years later.
Bizarrely, in the early 1970s, the baths were used to stage a show involving dolphins. One 350lb dolphin, naturally named Flipper, had been part of a show that had also toured Garston baths.
An advertisement for the show printed in the Liverpool Echo in 1973. The advert read: "Flipper and his friends are back in the sensational FLORIDA DOLPHIN SHOW! All the way from the USA, the FLORIDA DOLPHIN SHOW is back in Liverpool once again. Come and marvel at this world-famous troupe of dolphins as they perform their wonderful tricks. They'll be at William Roberts Baths (Norris Green) from January 29th to February 28th."
Whenever photographs of the now lost baths have appeared on social media they have always sparked nostalgic memories in those lucky enough to use the baths back in the day.
Back in 2020, one person commented on Twitter: "Used to love going to Nogsy baths! Getting a cup of chicken soup out of the vending machine before jumping on the 14 to go home."
Another said: "Noggsey baths every Saturday morning, then the cafe in Broady."
When an image of the baths appeared again on Facebook earlier this week, fond childhood memories came flooding back for many people. One woman posted: "Wow, memories came back of taking my sister there, we walked of course, coming home damp and with wet hair."
A second woman said: "Loved those baths in the 60’s. Three pools. The diving pool was the best. I think it was about 12ft deep. You only get leisure pools now about 4ft/5ft deep."
A third woman replied: "Great baths plenty of space to swim used to go in the morning before the school kids came in."
A fourth woman said: "I learned to swim there. After we moved from Norris Green we used to walk from Kirkby to the baths and stay for hours then walk home."
Love nostalgia? Have the best articles emailed to you for free with our nostalgia newsletter. Click here to see all the Liverpool Echo newsletters
While one woman commented: "Omg!!! What a blast from the past, love this.... happy days, swimming there!" And a man posted: "My wife learnt to swim in those baths in the 50's."
