Report (Permission Visit) Arthur Hill Memorial Swimming Pool, Reading August 2020

[mookster]

This was a permission visit for myself and a local friend kindly organised by the council, prior to the site being imminently redeveloped. The building is absolutely chock full of very loud alarms placed by all of the windows and doors as well as in other rooms and kept well secured, so permission really was the only way to go with this one - less fun as far as exploring goes, but it got us in which is what matters really.

Arthur Hill Memorial Pool is the oldest sports facility in Reading, being opened in 1911. Initially the land had been earmarked for a gymnasium and rifle club however a swimming baths ended up being built instead. Swimming clubs and Schools Instruction moved from Kings Meadow Open Air Baths soon afterwards in 1912. Swimming from then on would benefit from all round year practises plus enjoyment facilities for the general public. However, 1920 saw the closing of the pool between every October and April, due to reduced patronage and heating costs. The slipper baths however continued in use. Winter closure was discontinued in 1935 and it was agreed it would be heated all year round.

The dimensions of the pool were 30ft x 90ft, and originally the building featured six individual hot baths as well as a laundry in the basement, both of these features were removed many years ago. The pool used to have a diving platform too however this was removed in 1959. Around the outside were the changing rooms (originally curtained off but later replaced with doors), and above the changing rooms ran two viewing galleries. The pool closed in 2016, and plans are approved for demolition of the building with retention of the front entrance which will be incorporated into the development of apartments.

Thanks for looking


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[jtza]

That's lovely! Really nice job

 

[HughieD]

Like that. Not done a really recent pool yet...

 

[Calamity Jane]

Nice this

 

[Bikin Glynn]

Nice that like a pool

 

[Wally_urbex]

Nice 1 mate. We tried this 2 years ago but couldn't find a way in. It has been done before though by a local lad.. Altho he's not to be trusted as likes to go running to the local rag every time he does an explore in reading!

 

[mookster]

Nice 1 mate. We tried this 2 years ago but couldn't find a way in. It has been done before though by a local lad.. Altho he's not to be trusted as likes to go running to the local rag every time he does an explore in reading!

That was also a permission visit - like a lot of the stuff he does. It's done up so tightly with limited scope for access and is so well alarmed that wangling permission is the only way to go about it sadly.

 

[Wally_urbex]

That was also a permission visit - like a lot of the stuff he does. It's done up so tightly with limited scope for access and is so well alarmed that wangling permission is the only way to go about it sadly.

Ahh was it. He didn't state that!, told me he got in through the roof!. Not been to reading since this pandemic started . But last time I was there I did see work had started. Do u no what there doing with it?

 

[mookster]

Ahh was it. He didn't state that!, told me he got in through the roof!. Not been to reading since this pandemic started . But last time I was there I did see work had started. Do u no what there doing with it?

The pool is being demolished, only the front reception lobby is being kept and retained with a new apartment building constructed on site.