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02/02/2025
Blackpool’s lost South Shore open air baths
Costing more than £750,000 to build - a huge amount of money back then - the oval shaped perimeter enclosed around a 376 foot long and 170 foot wide D shaped pool. The pool itself was filled with 1.6 million gallons of treated sea water.
The surrounding building had space for 8,000 spectators and the pool room enough for 1,500 bathers. There were also coffee bars and three cafes for visitors to sit off and dine.
Sadly, as the 20th century wore on, people's tastes and holiday preferences changed. A shift towards the warmer climes and waters guaranteed abroad, as well as reduced government spending, led to a significant decline in use for the UK's lidos.
South Shore Baths closed in 1981 and was demolished two-years later. In its place, the Sandcastle Waterpark was built where the baths once stood.
