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 !!

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