Oldham Leisure Centre
I don't usually do permission visits, but when opportunity knocks I could not turn down this chance to have a last stroll around Oldham's Sports Centre.
Many a happy hour was spent here; early 90's saw the centre installing a climbing wall. It was just a bouldering wall, possibly just a little high in places, but at the time it was stunning and better still it was local. Being an old romantic my first hot dates with my now wife was at the climbing wall. Both my daughters learnt how to swim here. I have canoed in the pool, dived off the boards.
History wise there's not too much, a plaque on the wall says it was open in 1985 by Bobby Charlton.
The Sports Centre closed last year when a new £15million state-of-the-art leisure facility was opened on the other side of town.
So on with the explore, I met my contact and 2 security guards who provided access to the site, the guards were very helpful making sure lights were on as well as providing additional lighting in the darker areas. We headed straight to the swimming pools.
The last time I was in here i was watching my daughters learning how to swim, warm chlorinated air and the shrieks of children enjoying themselves in the pool echoing around.
The diving board felt a lot higher as the dive pool was now empty.
Emergency alarms you probably never noticed while enjoying the pool when it was open.
And the childrens/learner pool, always nice and warm, but wonder if that has contributed to the yellow water mark around the tiles?
Final shot of the pools, view I often had watching the daughters swim.
Not sure who this dude is, but he has always sat in the main entrance area.
This was nice in the changing area, messages from the local swimming club saying farewell to the sports centre.
From here we headed down into the huge basement where all the plant rooms and machinery to keep the pools clean and circulating are located.
Back upstairs I managed to pay my respects to the climbing wall, centre of my training, socialising and courting in the early 90's.
Well you have to manage a selfie with all these mirrors.
From here it was through the dry changing rooms to the main sports hall.
Didn't spent any time in here when it was open, the only team sport I did was climbing. I'm sure this was used as an entertainment venue, well a few boxing matches were hosted in here.
This is another alien environment to me, it's where all the hamster wheels, rowing machines and weights were located, have always preferred just to have a stroll on the hills for exercise and it's free.
Finally it was the indoor bowling green, stunning place with just enough light to make an interesting image.
Well that's Oldham Sports Centre, glad I got the chance for one final stroll around here. Many happy memories associated with it. Currently well sealed and alarmed, demolition work starting in the very near future.
Was glad of the permission visit, a bit of a strange concept walking around with a couple of security guards in a disused sports centre. They were top lads and was great to have a relaxed wander around the building,
Cheers,
TLR.
I don't usually do permission visits, but when opportunity knocks I could not turn down this chance to have a last stroll around Oldham's Sports Centre.
Many a happy hour was spent here; early 90's saw the centre installing a climbing wall. It was just a bouldering wall, possibly just a little high in places, but at the time it was stunning and better still it was local. Being an old romantic my first hot dates with my now wife was at the climbing wall. Both my daughters learnt how to swim here. I have canoed in the pool, dived off the boards.
History wise there's not too much, a plaque on the wall says it was open in 1985 by Bobby Charlton.
The Sports Centre closed last year when a new £15million state-of-the-art leisure facility was opened on the other side of town.
So on with the explore, I met my contact and 2 security guards who provided access to the site, the guards were very helpful making sure lights were on as well as providing additional lighting in the darker areas. We headed straight to the swimming pools.
The last time I was in here i was watching my daughters learning how to swim, warm chlorinated air and the shrieks of children enjoying themselves in the pool echoing around.
The diving board felt a lot higher as the dive pool was now empty.
Emergency alarms you probably never noticed while enjoying the pool when it was open.
And the childrens/learner pool, always nice and warm, but wonder if that has contributed to the yellow water mark around the tiles?
Final shot of the pools, view I often had watching the daughters swim.
Not sure who this dude is, but he has always sat in the main entrance area.
This was nice in the changing area, messages from the local swimming club saying farewell to the sports centre.
From here we headed down into the huge basement where all the plant rooms and machinery to keep the pools clean and circulating are located.
Back upstairs I managed to pay my respects to the climbing wall, centre of my training, socialising and courting in the early 90's.
Well you have to manage a selfie with all these mirrors.
From here it was through the dry changing rooms to the main sports hall.
Didn't spent any time in here when it was open, the only team sport I did was climbing. I'm sure this was used as an entertainment venue, well a few boxing matches were hosted in here.
This is another alien environment to me, it's where all the hamster wheels, rowing machines and weights were located, have always preferred just to have a stroll on the hills for exercise and it's free.
Finally it was the indoor bowling green, stunning place with just enough light to make an interesting image.
Well that's Oldham Sports Centre, glad I got the chance for one final stroll around here. Many happy memories associated with it. Currently well sealed and alarmed, demolition work starting in the very near future.
Was glad of the permission visit, a bit of a strange concept walking around with a couple of security guards in a disused sports centre. They were top lads and was great to have a relaxed wander around the building,
Cheers,
TLR.
