User:Staceydolxx/Derby baths

http://www.lostlidos.co.uk/2013/07/18/blackpool-the-derby-baths-1939/

http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/news/features/dip-into-the-past-1-436425

The creme-de-la-creme and the jewel in Blackpool's crown was the magnificent Derby Baths which opened in 1939, just before the start of the Second World War.

Swimming galas for all the schools were held every July and November. The diving board was 10 metres with 16 feet of water to dive into. Walter the pool attendant would blow his whistle for top board divers and the pool became still.

http://www.blackpoolcitizen.co.uk/news/772617.famous_pool_roof_recycled/

The likes of John Lennon swam at the pool, next to what is now the Hilton Hotel, and former Olympic gold medallist and original big screen Tarzan, Johnny Weissmuller, starred in the Derby Baths summer show.

But the 1920s building reached the end of the line in 1988 despite a desperate fight to preserve it.

Among the many unique features of the baths was its roof, made from green Westmorland roofing slate, quarried in the Lake District at the time of the construction back in the 20s.

When the demolishers moved in, many of its historic features were lost for good, but the roof tiles have now gone full circle and been returned to the Lake District, where they will provide roofing for holiday cottages in the Coniston area.

They were acquired by Coppermines, the company behind the cottages, at the time of the demolition 18 years ago but have now been put into place after planning concerns were met.

"As we're committed to reclamation and recycling we have always used items like reclaimed timber in our buildings and bringing the Westmorland Slate back to this area tops' our continual conservation work within Coppermines," said company boss, Philip Johnston.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OlliNP2sfUEC&pg=PA132&dq=derby+baths+blackpool&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GS2IVLauHsGI7AaKkYEw&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=derby%20baths%20blackpool&f=false Demolished 1990.

https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0gwqAQAAIAAJ&q=derby+baths+blackpool&dq=derby+baths+blackpool&hl=en&sa=X&ei=GS2IVLauHsGI7AaKkYEw&ved=0CE8Q6AEwCQ Costing a colossal £270,000 and named after Lord Derby, the Derby Baths on the North Shore, Blackpool, was the first publicly funded, long course competition pool in Britain. Designed by Borough Engineer JC Robinson and opened

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000473/19530508/008/0001 International water polo game against Holland

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19511020/091/0006 British Olympic trials

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000672/19491008/140/0008 Great Britain Police swimming championships

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19540906/093/0010 National Swimming championships

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000672/19450915/179/0007 Sea cadets national championships

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000711/19400622/062/0002 Blackout tenders invited

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000473/19480402/082/0006 Scotland water polo team (4 members from motherwell team) won for first time in 51yrs

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000687/19511002/039/0002 English School Swimming association national championships -400 children. Residents housed competititors for free.