Maidstone swimming baths

This should be Maidstone swimming and washing baths.

By all accounts this was the last of the Victorian pools still in use in England prior to its closure.

Maidstone baths stood in Fairmeadow right next to the electricity generating company. I am sure many of you will be able to picture it as easily as I can, you would queue, with your trunks rolled into your towel like a swiss roll; when the sessions were about to start you would pay at a ticket window just under the arches of the building.

Because many people did not have bathrooms you could use the bathing rooms at the swimming baths. Sounds primitive by today’s standards but that is what many used to do.Of course being posh we never did, in fact we had our own bath tub that was brought in from the garden once a week and placed next to the fire and take it in turns to use. First one in was ok but as I was the youngest and they thought the water should be coolest it was not a pleasant experience.

I remember the lady who was the superintendent at Maidstone baths but cannot remember her name. Can someone help, please?

Although the lady in question never taught me personally to swim, I do remember when she tested us students for our twenty-five yards certificate. She would walk on the edge of the pool in front of us, holding what looked like a copper pole, in case we swimmers being tested lost confidence and had to make a grab for it. What delicate children we were.

I also remember this lady using what must have been the oldest bike in Maidstone and the rustiest to commute to work, and if my memory serves me well had a nasty squeak unless it was her ageing knees.

Maidstone I remember it well: I remember swimming lessons at Maidstone Baths in the early 60's, a Miss Hollingsworth who had greasy grey hair and rubber shoes, and would push us under with a long pole. The changing cubicles were awful, you could see under the doors if you were in the pool. I too remember thinking how strange it was that people came to have a bath...

Thank you I've been scratching my head for ages trying to think of the name of that lady instructor.

I do wonder if some of the mums had ulterior motives in sending their off-spring to swim because we all went home looking very clean.

Barry Newman

Maidstone I remember it well: I remember the small pool, where I learnt to swim, and the big pool, where I failed to drown. BUT most of all I remember the Eccles cakes afterwards with the chlorine sting in the eyes, and a drowsy wellbeing.

Kevin

Maidstone I remember it well: Do you remember a male instructor who used the phrase 'come on my ducklings' he was tallish and was balding and he also used the pole. Remember the clothes baskets and red arm bands with the basket number written on in biro.

Christine

Maidstone I remember it well: We spent many a happy hour at Maidstone baths in the mid fifties, there was always a lot of children in there. I think we referred to the tall balding instructor as Percy.

anonymous

Maidstone I remember it well: Yes, remember well the old Baths, where `Old Ma Hollingsworth` would try to drown us with her pole & her booming,echoing voice - but what relief,joy & pride to swim your first whole length of the pool!

viv

Maidstone I remember it well: So Miss Holligsworth and her long pole was still teaching school children to swim in the '60's I was taught by her in the late '40's. On the first lesson we were all lined up at the shallow end with instructions not to get in until Miss Hollingsworth blew her whistle and that we were to be careful and hold tight to the rail once in. Sammy Halligan promptly made an impressive dive but unable to swim floudered and was going under -in jumped Miss H to rescue him much to the excitement of the rest of us. Another memory I have of the baths is of my father telling me about his stay there with his sister when they were young as their Grandfather was for a while the live in Superintendent. He apparently used to entertain people by swimming a length under water with a lighted cigarette in his mouth and on emerging at the other end would take it out and send up a cloud of smoke. How times have changed !!

Doug Lindsay

Maidstone I remember it well: My recollections of the Swimming Baths were the intense smell of chlorine and, as someone said, the stinging eyes afterwards!! The male instructor was, I think, a bus driver or conductor as well as I often saw him on the buses outside of swimming, can't recall his name though. A later recollection I have was when I was working at Chiesmans, and at Christmes all the staff seemed to get drunk, me included, and I was only about 17. Anyway one Christmas eve we had been in the 'Old House at Home' in Pudding Lane where all the permanent staff from Chiesmans went whilst the temporary staff manned he shop!! (imagine that now!!) I was plied with too much drink and felt awful by about 3.30 pm, but was aware that I needed to get sober as it was always a big night out at The Star Ballroom on Xmas Eve, so I thought if I go to the Baths and have a shower it may sober me up...so off down Medway Street to the Baths, paid my 4d or whatever it was for a shower and towel, and into a nice shower. However, I must have slumped to the ground in my drunken state and the next thing I recall is being absolutely frozen, laying under a cold shower!!! Obviously the water had gone cold and I had eventually woken some half hour later!! Still, it did the trick, I was now sober, and got dressed and back to work to sign off, then home to smarten up for a very good night out at The Star!!! And what a superb time we all had at The Star Ballroom..we used to go Fridays, Saturdays, and even Sundays later on when it opened on Sundays too. Also Monday nights were dance nights too. It was THE place to be in the late 50s and early 60s. There was occasional 'trouble' on Saturdays when the American Air Force chaps from West Malling came to town and tried to 'pull' all our local girls, often as we left at midnight the Military Police 'redcaps' would be outside rounding up the drunken airmen!! There was a very good sprung dance floor there, only surpassed by the sprung floor in Chiesmans 'Georgian' ballroom/Restaruant, that really was sprung well. The Star had three ballrooms too, the main one, The Kings Hall, then the Queens Hall and even the Princes Hall downstairs. On notable occasions such as the 'Tech Arts Ball' all three ballrooms would be used for the same event...fabulous night that was!! Anyone else remember the super nights at The Star? Later on about 1963/4 they started having guest 'disc jockeys' there and such names as David Jacobs and Alan Freeman put in appearences. One night when Jimmy Saville was the guest I won the 'twist' contest with a girl called Pam from John Street (it made the KM newspaper with picture!!) and Jimmy took her home in his Roller much to my annoyance!!! However, some 25 years later when I was a guest at a 'Jim'll Fix It'show in London, I met up again with Jimmy, and he even remembered the occasion and remembered her name!!!

Shirley

Maidstone I remember it well: I have lived in Maidstone all my life and well remember the Trolley buses, as we lived on the Tonbridge Road they came came past our house.I have often remarked that I would like to see them back on the road. But i'm writing about the swimming instructor, the woman scared the life out of me.I think the guy that everyone liked was called Percy. I too remember the bread rolls, we were always starving after our swim.

Garry Wilson

Maidstone I remember it well: I spent lots of happy Saturday afternoons at the Maidstone swimming baths were I learnt to swim with my dad and we went right up to the point when it closed .we used to park across the road were the new flats are now there were two queues one for swimming and one to have a bath/shower, I to remember the strong smell of chorine . This was in the midd to late 60’s ,I also use to rush home to watch HR puff and stuff which was on at 5pm

You lucky devil so you had tv eh!

jane alexander

Maidstone I remember it well: Gosh what a lot of memories! I also learned to swim in the 1960s at the pool with the the lady who pushed us under with a long pole if we weren't good enough swimmers. That wouldn't happen nowadays! Also remember the poolside doors that you could see under. We lived on the London Road and I went to Brunswick House Primary School. Mrs Foster was the head teacher.I can remember the lovely Miss Gooding and also being kept in by Mrs Beynon. I went to the Tech for three years before moving away. My grandfather and great uncle ran the Beehive Stores in Week Street-endless memories of being in there with all its nooks and crannies. Happy days!

Sue Maidstone I remember it well: I think the swimming instructor who used to say "Come on you ducklings" was called Mr Wright. He was kindly and taught the beginners in the small pool. It was a bit of a shock to graduate to the large pool and meet the lady with the long grey hair who was always rather stern.

Lesley Shaffer

Country: United States Maidstone I remember it well: Gosh, I can remember Dave Kingsman very well in 1957,his sister was married to one of the "ginger twins" and I dated the other one. The lady at the swimming pool with the long pole was a terror, she did however teach me to swim, which stood me in good stead when I lived in Kenya,The philipines, California, Hawaii, Florida, etc. My husband was in the U.S. Navy so we always lived close to the ocean. The reason some of us are confused on the cinama names is because two of them burnt down, and the names were changed when they re-opened in another location. I love the website.

Anna Collins

Maidstone I remember it well: I learnt to swim at the old baths, first in the small baths with Mr Wright - woe betide anyone who wouldn't duck your head under as he used to drop bucket of pool water over your head and the obligatory verruca check before you went into the water. I also remember the vending machines 2.5p for crisps and 2.5p for a hot chocolate and Miss Holllingsworth in her black costume swimming up and down the pool

Titch Price (nee Fletcher)

Maidstone I remember it well: I am a triplet and we were taken for our first swimming lesson in about 1955 I guess. My brother & sister obediently joined the class and were taught by Miss Barker (aptly named). I locked myself in a cubicle & screamed the place down! It was thought I needed 1:1 tuition and was put in the care of a Mr Sedgewick. He popped me on his back and swam up & down & in no time I was swimming alongside him! I adored him & often think about him. I went on to swim competitively and also teach swimming many years later. I recently made a pilgrimage to Maidstone & cried for the loss of the old baths. I love this site!

Trudy

Maidstone I remember it well: In the 60's my family travelled over from Strood to the indoor swimming pool in Maidstone. I remember leaving the train at Maidstone Barracks station and crossing the river near the Sharpe's Toffee factory. We walked through a public Garden or park and on to the old Swimming Pool. I distinctly remember the smell of the Brewery - happy days! I really must visit Maidstone again soon but will probably not recognise anything now!

Alison Llewellyn-Jones

Maidstone I remember it well: I remember the Maidstone Old Baths. I have been reading all the entries with sheer delight and I am very proud to be able to say that Mr. Percy Wright was my grandad's brother. My "Uncle Percy" was the best swimming teacher there at the time. I am so proud to know that others remember him too. From that frightened little girl emerged a woman who now teaches children to swim as her career!!! A little kinder than the old way, however it must be in the genes.

Who remembers the horrendous water spiders that seemed to survive from week to week to terrify you? And the small balcony overlooking the small pool? And the small room where the crisp machines were... I used to stand there for ages trying to choose a flavour, but always opted for the salt n vinegar in the end. And the bus journey home to Barming with stinging eyes, but so proud in my Maidstone Swimming Club tracksuit with all its badges on down the sleeves. There was also a man by the name of Malcolm, who moved to the "New pool" in the 1970's.

Anyway, Percy Wright was brother to my grandad, Charlie Wright. It was my grandad that drove the buses, for those that remember him. Percy would have been seen hanging around the old bus station in Maidstone. My dad was Tony Wright from Barming, a sportsman involved with the cricket on the heath and football. He never learned to swim, and sadly died before I had a chance to teach him...

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