History:
Broomhill Lido in Ipswich opened in 1936 as an outdoor swimming pool and quickly became a popular spot for locals. It was built in the Art Deco style, featuring a large pool surrounded by green spaces for sunbathing and socializing. The lido became an important part of the community, hosting swimming events and offering a place for families to relax.
However, by the 1980s, outdoor swimming pools started losing popularity, and Broomhill Lido faced financial challenges. It eventually closed in the early 1980s due to maintenance costs and a decline in use.
In recent years, Broomhill Lido faced a period of neglect and abandonment. After its closure in the 1980s, the site fell into disrepair. For many years, the pool was unused, and the surrounding area became overgrown. The lido’s condition worsened, and there were concerns about its future.
In the early 2000s, discussions about the fate of the lido began, with some local groups advocating for its restoration. The site remained closed to the public, but the idea of reopening it gained traction.
By 2006, a campaign to restore the lido to its former glory began to take shape. There were various plans to bring it back as a community resource, but the process was slow, with funding and long-term planning being key obstacles. The pool area and buildings were deteriorating, and there was a need for significant investment to revive the site.
In 2008, the lido reopened but as a limited-use facility rather than a full-time swimming pool. It became more of a community space for events and leisure, with the pool often used for special occasions or smaller, seasonal events rather than daily public swimming.
Despite its partial reopening, the lido still faces challenges, with periodic concerns about its upkeep and the need for ongoing investment to ensure its future as a local heritage site.
The Explore:
This was really quite a relaxed explore again as access wasn't very difficult and the locals seemed chill enough when they witnessed me wiggling through the top of the changing rooms. Interestingly enough as we entered we found 3 other lads also exploring the place. They were nice enough and gave us a tour around the place and helped us access the more difficult areas which we may have not otherwise even really noticed.
At the end I have included archive pictures from 2007 & 2009 from TheEthers original explores to illustrate the drastic dilapidation over the years.
Photos:
Archive pictures:
Broomhill Lido in Ipswich opened in 1936 as an outdoor swimming pool and quickly became a popular spot for locals. It was built in the Art Deco style, featuring a large pool surrounded by green spaces for sunbathing and socializing. The lido became an important part of the community, hosting swimming events and offering a place for families to relax.
However, by the 1980s, outdoor swimming pools started losing popularity, and Broomhill Lido faced financial challenges. It eventually closed in the early 1980s due to maintenance costs and a decline in use.
In recent years, Broomhill Lido faced a period of neglect and abandonment. After its closure in the 1980s, the site fell into disrepair. For many years, the pool was unused, and the surrounding area became overgrown. The lido’s condition worsened, and there were concerns about its future.
In the early 2000s, discussions about the fate of the lido began, with some local groups advocating for its restoration. The site remained closed to the public, but the idea of reopening it gained traction.
By 2006, a campaign to restore the lido to its former glory began to take shape. There were various plans to bring it back as a community resource, but the process was slow, with funding and long-term planning being key obstacles. The pool area and buildings were deteriorating, and there was a need for significant investment to revive the site.
In 2008, the lido reopened but as a limited-use facility rather than a full-time swimming pool. It became more of a community space for events and leisure, with the pool often used for special occasions or smaller, seasonal events rather than daily public swimming.
Despite its partial reopening, the lido still faces challenges, with periodic concerns about its upkeep and the need for ongoing investment to ensure its future as a local heritage site.
The Explore:
This was really quite a relaxed explore again as access wasn't very difficult and the locals seemed chill enough when they witnessed me wiggling through the top of the changing rooms. Interestingly enough as we entered we found 3 other lads also exploring the place. They were nice enough and gave us a tour around the place and helped us access the more difficult areas which we may have not otherwise even really noticed.
At the end I have included archive pictures from 2007 & 2009 from TheEthers original explores to illustrate the drastic dilapidation over the years.
Photos:
Archive pictures:
