SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Hi everybody.Well...I'm a Leeds boy, just doing a bit of reminiscing about my boyhood up there. Those memories just don't go away.I have great memories of mum and dad taking us swimming to the kirkstall baths. I guess they're long gone now. I remember it being a great pool, but way too cold. Changing cubicles along the side of the pool.Just wondering if anybody has any information what happened to them? Any pictures would be great.Thanks.Dave.

I found this photo on Leodis. There's a similar one also.

Welcome, Harro!Yes, the watter in Kirky baths was always too cold! Only went occasionally with our old gang, in our early teens.Stopped going altogether, when one of my mates jumped in and got a three inch sliver of glass through his foot!.Had to evacuate the pool as the water was crimson within 30 seconds! The blood was pouring from his foot.Think he severed a tendon or two as well.He allus used to boast that he got £1000 compensation, which was a lot of dosh for a 14 year old in the late '60s.

Remember them well, having lived in a back ta back in the early 60’s with an outside loo and no bathroom, I used to go down every Saturday to use the baths (not the swimming pool). Believe me when I tell you it was absolute luxury in them days. Ah memories flood back.

Here's a pic of Kirky Baths that 'Arry found, which predates the 60's Soz it's a bit large, but if I reduce it any more, it's too dark to see owt! This is already ½ the size of the scan that 'Arry sent me!

I learned how to swim at Kirky baths,but I agree it was always cold,even in summer,proberbly due to the back door being open most of the time.A warm shower was essential to thaw out.The changing facilities were spartan by todays standards.

scandylad! Thanks for posting that for me,but tha' missedoff the text what I writted! I too passed my 1st,2nd and 3rdcertificates there in 1941,The cubicles were a bit crude but it was worse if youhad to go up on the balcony (Lasses had the poolside cubicles!)There was a long curtain on the balcony and some joker would always 'Flash' any poor guy getting his keks off,by rippingthe curtain back! (Squeals of delight from the lasses below!)cheersArrydad

arry awk wrote: scandylad! Thanks for posting that for me,but tha' missedoff the text what I writted! I too passed my 1st,2nd and 3rdcertificates there in 1941,The cubicles were a bit crude but it was worse if youhad to go up on the balcony (Lasses had the poolside cubicles!)There was a long curtain on the balcony and some joker would always 'Flash' any poor guy getting his keks off,by rippingthe curtain back! (Squeals of delight from the lasses below!)cheersArrydad I seem to recall it was ladies on the right,gents on the left.The ladies cubicles had a small curtain across the top to stop anyone'peeping'from the opposite balcony!

Hi SteviefYes, I seem to remember that system on 'Mixed Bathing'days but the baths used to get crowded (I'm back in the early 40's now!),and even the lasses had to use the balcony on the other side. at times.The 'dare' was to run across the adjoining balcony,(which we were forbidden to venture on!) and shout, 'woo-woo' at the girls!Trouble was, the attendants could spot anyone running across theopen end balcony and many a joker got told to 'get dressed and report to the supervisor in the entrance'!A few lads, also, got turfed out for jumping off the balcony into the 6ft end! (You could climb over the balcony rail in those days).I saw one wazzock come out of the single warm shower,(5ft.square)behind the diving stage and dive into the pool fully 'soaped up'!Said there were so many bods 'warming up', in the shower, he couldn't get enough water to rinse to soap off! He got turfed out too! You could hire a 'cozzy' and a towel for 1penny each. The 'costume'consisted of 2 'triangles' of harsh cotton material joined by tapes! one bit fore and the other aft. very revealing! OOPS! out of spacehere! cheers. Arry