 |
| Rowheath Pavilion and Bournville Lido at the far right, probably 1940s or 1950s. |
The Bournville Lido was an outdoor swimming pool, one of many across the city, which were very popular in their heyday. Bournville Lido was built on a spring of natural mineral water, and was opened to the public on 2nd July 1937.
1937
 |
| 2 July 1937, click to enlarge. |
 |
| 2 July 1937, click to enlarge. |
The two photos,
above, show Edward Cadbury opening Bournville Lido on 2nd July 1937.
The image,
below, depicts the Lido later that year, on the August bank holiday, when nearly 3,000 tickets were sold.
 |
| 1st August 1937, click to enlarge. |
During WWII it was used by the RAF barrage balloon section, and after the war was rebuilt and reopened in style by the Lord Mayor. The image,
below, shows the event and dates it at 23rd May, but does not include the year.
Mid 1940s
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
About 1947
 |
| c. 1947. Click to enlarge. |
The photo
above is dated 1947 by some and 1950s by others. It shows a district event.
1959
 |
| 1959. Click to enlarge. |
 |
| 1959. Click to enlarge. |
 |
| 1959. Click to enlarge. |
The three images
above are stills from a short silent film of the 1959 Kings Norton Girls School Outdoor Swimming Gala. The full video can be seen
here.
1960
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
In 1960 a short film was made showing the lido being used for baptising Jehovah's Witnesses. See the film
here.
1960s
 |
| 1960s, click to enlarge. |
 |
| 1960s, click to enlarge. |
Above: Two photos of a sunny day at Bournville Lido in the 1960s. Added with permission from Ian Knowles.
1970s
In 1972 the lido was closed down, but a group of local residents raised money to rebuild it, which was done between 1976 and 1977, but at a diminished size to the previous lido.
1977
 |
| 1977. Click to enlarge. |
The photo
above is from 1977, and it shows the lido after it's been reduced, with the workers putting some finishing touches to the pool-side.
The lido was closed again in 1987 and demolished in 1997. The images
below depict some time during those years.
c. 1990s
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
Above is the lido in disrepair, with two more
below.
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
Inside the pool house (
above), and the pool itself (
below).
 |
| Click to enlarge. |
LINKS
Birmingham Forum
