Morecambe’s long-lost ‘tremendous swimming stadium’

The stays of a Thirties seaside lido, stated to have been the biggest out of doors pool in Europe on the time of its development, are to be excavated forward of the beginning of labor on the Eden Project Morecambe.

The Morecambe Super Swimming Stadium was opened by the governor of the Bank of England, Sir Josiah Stamp, on 27 July 1936, and included a championship swimming pool, a synthetic seaside and two grandstands.

It closed in 1975, after falling into disrepair, and was demolished the next 12 months.

Oli Marshall, from structure charity Twentieth Century Society, stated the stadium was “almost in a different league to other surviving lidos we have – in terms of scale and ambition”.

Built on the location of TW Ward Ltd’s shipbreaking yard, the Morecambe Super Swimming Stadium additionally included a water polo space, diving stage, three-deck promenade, solar terrace and cafe.

At its peak, it hosted round 27,000 swimmers over two days.

After World War Two, it turned a venue for nationwide and worldwide swimming and aquatic occasions, in addition to the Miss Great Britain and Miss World magnificence contests.

Famous guests included comedy double act Laurel and Hardy and Wigan-born entertainer George Formby – who judged magnificence contests there – stated Anne Green Jessel, who runs the Lost Lidos web site.

She described the previous stadium as “spectacular”, including it should have been “an enlightening place for many”, coming, because it did, within the aftermath of the darkish days of World War One.

Oli Marshall stated Morecambe’s misplaced lido “was more of a stadium than an outdoor pool, accommodating some 1,200 bathers and 3000 spectators”.

A Lancaster City Museum spokesperson described the stadium’s development as a grand gesture, with the Morecambe Corporation wanting to outdo native rival Blackpool’s large neo-classical South Shore Swimming Coliseum of 1923 – which was additionally later demolished.

Designed by outstanding architects Kenneth MB Cross and Cecil Sutton, following a contest, the stadium was meant “to harmonise with the adjacent Midland Hotel”.

At the opening in 1936 – days earlier than the Berlin Olympics – Stamp stated: “Bathing reduces rich and poor, high and low, to a common standard of enjoyment and health”, including “when we get down to swimming, we get down to democracy”.

A big silver mannequin of the constructing, created to rejoice its opening, is on show at Lancaster Maritime Museum.

Remnants of the stadium are set to be uncovered throughout floor investigation work for the Eden Project Morecamber happening over the approaching weeks. forward of the beginning of development.

The Eden Project Morecambe will to be constructed on the resort’s central promenade, subsequent to the Grade II-listed Winter Gardens and Midland Hotel.

A venture spokesperson stated work would additionally uncover the stays of a Thirties sea wall and the Bubbles Leisure Complex.

The shell-inspired construction, a sister website to the unique Eden Project in Cornwall, is is anticipated to draw hundreds of individuals to the Lancashire city.

It is because of open in late 2028.