Swimming baths with ‘metal hangers’ and ‘chicken soup in a cup’ where thousands learned to swim

Many people can still remember the strong smell of the chlorine

Interior of Balliol road swimming baths (Image: Liverpool ECHO)

A lost swimming baths that is said to have had once “filtered water in from the River Mersey” remains in the memories of many who visited it and learned to swim there. Bootle’s Balliol Road swimming baths was at the centre of recreational life in the town for decades and thousands of children would visit with schools, friends and family.

Opening in 1888, for generations it was a major part of the Bootle landscape and continued to be so for many years. In 2003, Peter Woolley, chairman of Bootle historic society said: “Generations of people learned to swim in these baths, and they are well loved mainly because of their architectural beauty.

“People used to go to wash their children in those pools because they did not have the water at home. Apparently the best days to go were Monday and Tuesday because by Friday the water was like pea soup with all the dirt.”

The last chapter of the baths’ history came in the 1990s when the baths closed. After the closures, most of the building was demolished to make way for a car park and today only a façade remains.

Balliol Road baths(Image: Livepool Echo)

Hundreds of people have been sharing their memories of the lost swimming baths on the Liverpool ECHO Facebook page. Karen Curtin wrote: “Always remember the metal clothes holders which were bigger than me and I had to hold over my head whilst they banged on my legs ouch.” Jenn Wright also reminisced about the metal coat hangers, adding “The little metal coat hangers and a chicken soup in a cup.”

Plenty of memories flooded back for John Stevens, who wrote: “I can hear the noise resonating, of pure fun.

“Smell the chlorine and the heat when you walked in. I can taste the soup. And the drive back to school in a double decker bus. Quality times”

Kath Melville wrote: “They would put the metal cloths holders beside the pool. When your time was up to get out the pool. X. Your clothes would be soaked.”

Ann-Marie Fisher commented “Oh the memories, a verruca sock, bright orange arm bands, strong chlorine smell and a chicken soup out the vendor machine.”

Shirley White posted: “The bovril out the machine an bovril crisp mmm wen u got out ye clobber was wet in them metal things, memories.”

The baths even saw a world record broken there in 1906 during the National Long Plunge Championships. Major W. Taylor glided an 82ft into the water to beat his previous record set in 1902.

On February 25, 1997, the ECHO reported how children “dipped deep into history” when they dived into the town’s swimming pool for the final time.

It added: “But there was also sadness when Balliol Road echoed to the splashes and laughter of youngsters at its last public session. They were allowed in free to mark the event.”