Hampton Pool (by Bushy Park)
1922 to 1980

Hampton Pool 1959, courtesy of Brenda Whittaker

“Hampton pool (by Bushy) I used a lot when I was at secondary school in the late 1950's and early 60's when my Grandad worked there distributing the clothes baskets after he had retired and I got in free!

Hampton Pool 1959, courtesy of Brenda Whittaker

Hampton pool had it's changing cubicles along one side and the baskets were handed in and were collected when finished swimming. I don't remember there being much of a grassy area at that time, and it certainly wasn't heated.” (Brenda Whittaker)

"Hampton Pool has undergone some changes since it was opened in 1922.
Hampton Pool was opened in 1922 as a 25 yard pool. It was lengthened in 1939 to a 40 yard pool and pool filtration was added.  In 1959  the pool  was widened and the current building constructed.
It was closed in 1981 along with Twickenham Lido..After the pool was reopened in 1985 as a heated open air pool by the community it gained popularity. Only 7000 people had been to Hampton Pool in 1981 but in 1985 over 25,000 people visited in its first summer season.. In 1988 Christmas day opening was introduced and the next year the summer season was extended to include autumn but in 1995 the pool opened 365 days per year. Christmas Day remains very popular with a record of over 1800 people swimming between 6 am and 1 pm!

In 2004 the pool was rebuilt and tiled, the building roof was renewed.  In 2006 the building was remodelled and refurbished, in 2007 the gym was refurbished. And 2010 the changing rooms were refurbished."
(Grahame Hadden, Hampton Pool Trust) www.hamptonpooltrust.org.uk

One resident remembers:
"Hampton Lido (by Bushy), which opened in 1922, closed in 1981 when my children were very young but following a campaign by local people it was reopened under new management in 1985.

The campaign raised £60,000 – including grants from the Greater London Council and Hampton Fuel Allotments.

I remember the lido was a very popular place for children to meet their friends and have picnics by the pool. Hampton was the lido of choice as the Twickenham lido had closed."

If you would like to participate in this memories project please email contact@lidosalive.com