South Bay Pool Scarborough Page 2
Pic 2;2. A view across the pool in 1998, from the position of the high diving board. The 15 ft deep end is straight ahead, to the right, one of the shallow sections. The two shallow fountain sections gave the pool's lifeguards particular concern. Former lifeguard Kenneth Blogg said; 'The most dangerous areas were the two fountain pools. They gave us the most work, youngsters slipping and disappearing under the very wide lip on the bottom tier of each fountain.' (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;3 A view of the same shallow section and fountain c.1979. (picture courtesy Wayne Murray)
Pic 2;4 The pool's bandstand in 1947, showing a performance by what may a Royal Marine band. In the foreground a couple can be seen having tea on the terrace in front of the cafe. This picture was taken from the left hand steps which led up to the beach huts. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;5 A slightly different view, also looking down towards the pool from the left hand steps, in 1997. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic. 2;6. A view of the pool from a 1934 brochure. This large inflatable ball was a distinctive feature of the pool's entertainments in the 1930's and 40's and can also be seen in postcard pic 1;4. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2.7. During the 1950s and 60s a thrust stage was often in place, on which various acrobatic and theatrical performances were staged. When not in use for shows, the stage platform was sometimes removed leaving the frame shown here (other pictures show swimmers sitting on it with the platform intact) . (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;8. A view across the South Bay Pool Pool in 1998. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;9 A very similar view of the pool c.1935. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;10 The pool c.1960. The band stand can be seen centre right, and prior to the 1960s regularly featured a brass band and a coloured canopy. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic. 2;11. A view across the pool c.1939. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;12. The pool needed to be repaired following the great storm of January 1953, which destroyed a section of the pool's wall. For the summer season of 1953 (and probably remaining in place for a few years afterwards) the wall was patched up and the missing section replaced with concrete-filled sand bags. Additionally, a new semi-circular wall was built around the damaged section. Sometime around 1959, this was replaced by a large concrete walkway which ran all the way around the pool. A lifeguard can be seen, stood at attention, on the curved wall of the shallow fountain section. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;13. The sun begins to set on the snow covered pool in January 1998. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;14 An amateur snap showing virtually the same view in the late 1940's. In the foreground can be seen the frosted glass ceiling over the men's locker room. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;15 Looking down towards the pool in 1998. By this point the mens' locker rooms glass ceiling had been covered over with green boards to prevent vandalism. (D Stuart Photography)
Above; Video footage of the pool which I took in May 2000. There is no sound on this video.
The Tunnels
The South Bay Pool was connected to the changing rooms via two underground staircases and tunnels, for men and women respectively. These tunnels emerged alongside each other in the centre of the pool, and came out under the bandstand.
When the pool was first opened, the changing rooms were each divided into two sections, the far ends of which were designated 'School Changing Rooms', and these had there own additional tunnels. In 1934 these school changing facilities were removed and their tunnels were sealed up and inaccesible. (Yorkshire County Record Office)
On one occasion in 1999 I found the central women's tunnel unlocked, and was able to get inside. I was never able to get into the men's tunnel, but due to the symmetrical layout of the building it would have presumably been identical.
Pic 2;16. The entrance to the central underground tunnels c. 1949. Above the tunnel was a circular bandstand, often featuring a brass band and displaying a canopy as shown here. The water chute installed in the 1930's can be seen in the bottom left corner. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;17. The entrance to the pool's tunnel in the 1920s. (D Stuart Collection)
Pic 2;18. Myself in the South Bay Pool on a summer evening in 1999. I am standing outside the entrance to the central underground tunnels, and the mens (nearest) and womens entrances can be seen behind my left shoulder. (picture; J Peters)
Pic 2;19. The womens' tunnel at the pool end, turning left or right would take you straight out into the pool. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;20. The womens' tunnel in 1999, looking down from the changing rooms. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;21. The womens' tunnel looking up towards the changing rooms, 1999. (D Stuart Photography)
Pic 2;22. This picture from the late 1930s shows the central tunnels on the right hand side. On the left can be seen a hatchway behind the new water slide, this is the entrance to the boy's 'school changing rooms' tunnel, which by this point was boarded up and disused. An identical tunnel was found on the other side for girls. In early pictures of the pool, these entrances are open (see pic 3.10) (D Stuart Collection)
