EPW047540 ENGLAND (1935). The Woodbank Sports and Social Club swimming pool, Stockport, 1935

Haven't lived in the Stockport area for 40+ years, but I remember exploring the river bank from Woodbank Park in the early 1960s; we came to a fence at the top of the bank, looked through and were astonished to see the pool. It was as if it had just closed for the season; although needing repainting, almost all the structures in the main aerial photograph were present: the 2 empty pools, mounts for diving board, the slide and the main building, but not the raised spectator seating. It seemed to have been forgotten.

Ornamental Fountain Woodlands Park

More Woodlands Park

The Woodbank Sports and Social Club swimming pool was built by Stockport Co-Operative Society for their employees and families. When all the local C0-Ops were amalgamated it was handed over to Stockport Council and was renamed Woodlands Park to avoid confusion with Woodbank Memorial Park to which it is linked(today it is Woodlands Recreation Ground). The swimming pool/boating lake, paddling pool, café, toilets and bowling green have all gone. The old Pedalo Boats are still in store in Woodbank. The name Woodlands is from the former Woodlands House.

Site of the Woodbank swimming pool, Woodlands Park,Stockport, 26/08/2014

Site of the Woodbank swimming pool, Woodlands Park,Stockport, 26/08/2014

Site of the Woodbank swimming pool, Woodlands Park,Stockport, 26/08/2014

Site of the Woodbank swimming pool, Woodlands Park,Stockport, 26/08/2014

Site of the Woodbank swimming pool, Woodlands Park,Stockport, 26/08/2014

Woodlands Park, Stockport, 26/08/2014

Woodlands Park, Stockport, 26/08/2014

oodlands

Woodlands Park, Offerton, Stockport ??

Clearly this is the same location as EPW047541 which has been so ably located by Knotty as Stockport. Everything fits for the Stockport location. See EPW047541 for more details. It is stunning that this pair of photos has been located after all this time. Egypt, Burnham Beeches, Windsor have been scoured and it is located in Stockport! Well done Knotty!

Fabulous! Thanks so much for spending time on this image and its pair. We’ll update the catalogue and post the new details here in due course, with very great pleasure.



Yours, Katy

Britain from Above Cataloguing Team Leader

I've just had a look at the suggestion that this might be Egypt in Hampshire which is near to Sutton Scotney. I've had a good look round and checked the contemporary Ordnance Survey maps and I can't find a trace of this swimming pool there. This is a real mystery photo.

It looks like a public swimming pool with the smaller pool and slide, public viewing area and bleachers, also a grass area to sit beneath parasols or picnic on the grass?

The pool is 20-25 meters long.

Basis for this quick estimate: there is a person standing at one corner of the pool, and the pool is 12-13 times as long as the person is tall. Assume a male, 1.75m tall. Then the pool is 1.75 * 12.5 = 21.9m, or somewhere in the 20-25 m range.

I have had a look at the location suggested by Rivet at NY272880. The location suggested is some 300 metres above sea level between Boykenhopehead and Ward Hill near the Trough Burn. This is a relatively remote area of Scotland which would be unlikely to prove the eventual location of this lowland open air swimming pool. I suggest that we continue to regard this as unlocated.

How about the Egypt/Burnham Beeches area???

See also EPW047541.