The 'Lido' Grange over Sands. Then and Now
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- Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
- The below information was obtained from weebly.com
In the 1930's there was a nationwide health movement, which led to the construction of over 180 new open air swimming pools, with Lidos being built all around the coast. The word ‘lido’ derives from the Latin litus and originates from a resort in Italy. It initially became associated in English with beach resorts in Europe but was gradually used to describe out-door pools.
A Lido for Grange was first discussed in the 1920's when the Urban District Council had proposals to build one below Bay Villa (where Main Street car park now is) - but the then owner did not sell the land, so the proposal was shelved. In 1929 another proposed pool was costed up (around £12,000), which would have been built near the bottom of Bailey Lane on the foreshore.
The current site was finally decided on - mainly because there was also the ability to build a car park and bridge over the railway, which meant that access to the pool would not be a problem. The Berners level crossing also meant that construction and maintenance traffic had good access.
Construction took a year or so (after the tide and rain delayed matters), costing around £18,000, and the pool was formally opened on 18 August 1932 by Lord Derby (although it had actually been open and in use for around 6 weeks by then!). LMS even ran special trains from Morecambe (and possibly elsewhere) to the event.
The Lido was filled with sea water through a filtration system, and was unheated. It was immediately popular with locals, tourists and schools. On August Bank Holiday in 1932 over 6,000 people visited in one day, with around 60,000 a year. It continued to be popular, and in 1968, over 47,000 swimmers went to the Lido. There were numerous Beauty contests and swimming competitions.
By the 1980's problems started to appear with falling numbers, structural issues and maintenance difficulties, partly because of damage sustained in 1977 when storms flooded the machinery and buildings. This led to closure in 1993. Since then there have been numerous ideas and proposals to redevelop or re-open the Lido - but as yet they have come to nothing.
The Lido was listed Grade II in 2011.
Facts and Figures
The Lido was 165' long, and 11'2" wide (1,615 square yards) - with depths ranging from 1'6" to 10' under the diving boards. It also had water chutes and a water polo area. It's capacity was 445,000 gallons of sea water.
It cost £18,000 to build.
Opened in 1932, closed on 1993.
As a child in the 1960`s and early 1970`s my parents took myself and older brother to Grange many times for holidays at Easter or Christmas. We always stayed at Berners Close Guest House, which with it`s extensive gardens can be seen directly behind the 'Lido'. Now it has been turned into apartments. Very happy memories from a more simple time! Thank you for this video.
Thank you for viewing and for your kind comment. Glad it brought back some happy memories.
Kind regards and best wishes for 2022..
I remember stopping at Berners close as a child and playing in the lido , wonderful memories. Hope they restore it
I used to go there with my parents when we were on holiday in the mid 1970's. In the hot summer of 1976 it was amazing, the place was packed & there were queues to get in. Your video brought back happy memories of my childhood but at the same time it's such a shame to see a place once so full of life & people enjoying themselves left to rot away.
Good afternoon Chris.
Thank you for taking the time to comment..
I used to love this place. We travelled from Kendal in the 70's. I was born in '64. The Diving boards were so high. No chance health and safety would allow now.
Let's just hope they still get the funding to refurbish as planned..
Loved the lido as a child. I lived at Meathop and used to walk there and learned to swim there. Very sad to see it derelict last time i came to Grange.
Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Good news however, apparently the local council are going to restore the site..
We had a caravan in Flookburgh on a sight called the Ponderosa, we went to the lido all the time 1970 to 1974.
Hopefully they will restore it to it's former glory.
@Martin West I'm not to sure about that my friend, there seems a lot of local opposition about demolishing or changing it..
Hello
Can I use some of this footage for Lido project I'm creating for Lidio grange over sands trust?
Good evening Thomas.
Thank you for asking re using the video footage.
Feel free to download it and use it as you wish, I hope it assists you with your project. Regards..
@@gps-gps Thank you very much really appreciate it!
@@ThomasEdward Hello Thomas.
Just a thought, if your project involves a youtube video, send me a link and I will add it to my video to get you some views.
Best Wishes..
@@gps-gps Hello 👋 Yes it is for RUclips video I’ll definitely get link to you when it’s officially uploaded
@@ThomasEdward Thanks. Looking forward to it. In the meantime, stay safe.
The one they used in "The Bay" I think?
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Not sure about 'The Bay', I'll have to do some research..
@Martin West Thanks Martin..
Sad to see the lido looking so sad and neglected
Good evening LeighMac. Thank you for taking the time to comment. I've heard that, thankfully, the local council are going to invest some money into renovating this Lido. Fingers crossed.
Seem to remember it being a sandy beach ??
Sadly I never got to swim in there.
Never say never Claire. If the local council actually do refurb as planned, there's hope yet. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
@gps 0315 that's true
hi i lived in grange in the 60s and 70s spent many a happy time at the pool and there was no sea grass it was all sand and ston all along the prom
Well all u can say is that residents and councils should be totally ashamed of themselves to let this happen!!!!! Do they not realise what a little goldmine they have there.
And hopefully it will live again. Sadly the covid pandemic might well delay things.
soon much for rising sea levels