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| Azzabuv Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/29/2004 1:41:09 PM by Azzabuv | Langley Swimming Baths posted on: 9/29/2004 12:54:34 PM The only word which springs to mind in connection with the L.S.Bs. is HELP. As a just-about teenager, this is where i was FORCED to learn to swim, or suffer the consequences back at school. Someone with a grim sense of fun in the education hierarchy, had decreed that these 'Swimming Baths' were to be the cachement for all schools in the area to educate their pupils in the enjoyment of the art of swimming. Nothing but a poor travesty of the truth. If these Swimming Baths were in operation to day, they would be closed tomorrow on the grounds of health and cruelty to children. For 90% of the swimming season I.E. dull, cloudy days or even ordinary summer sunshine, the water? in the baths was COLD, as were the bare wooden changing rooms. At least, that's what they called them. The high trees standing behind the TALL corrugated high tin sheets surrounding the pool, were extremely capable of keeping most of the sunlight off the surface of the pool at the best of times. Only at the height of Summer, for a few days when the tarmac on the roads was literally bubbling, did the pool come anywhere near the truth for the lucky pupils. If you ever saw a teacher in the water briefly, it was at such times. When swimming day dawned at Loscoe Road Boys school, it was remarkable how some pupils suddenly took ill, or even had the day off. As for myself, when rolling my swimming trunks up in the towel, Before going there, it was best to let the mind blank out, or suffer the disheartening thoughts of the waiting freezing water. On one occasion, lined up at the side of the pool waiting for the delerious command from the teacher to "Jump in", one by one, the vacant eyed lads collapsed forward and in. Seeing my class-mates surface and holding rigidly onto the hand-rail, eyes popping and shivering painfully in unison, i refused, telling the teacher i hadn't come here to suffer the horrible fate staring up at us. One swift move by him and i was in and i was staring upwards as dead-brained as the rest of the class. This wasn't just cold, it was utter bone numbing purgatory for one and all. I should think many a pupil was put off swimming for life by such repeated experiences. Only on the hottest of hot days did the pool ring with laughter, especially in the Summer Holidays. I only remember going there freely twice and enjoying it, sharing the pool with innumerable wind-blown leaves, floating, jumping and squeaking unknown bugs, some of which i'm sure hadn't been named by science then, or now. On such as these days, some of us lads found our gallant nature, when a shriek of terror would echo around the murky watered pool, as some girl or other would suddenly find herself face to face with an approaching black or multi-coloured unknown of nature, as it plodded, jumped, hopped, skipped, or wriggled its way across the surface of the water in her direction. When the place was eventually closed, the pupils who were about to be initiated into the 'art' of rustic swimming at the pool, must have sighed with the greatest of relief of all. Elsewhere, the cheers must have been loud and clear. Freedom from THE purgatory at last. Does anyone else have similar memories, or even 'happier' ones of 'The Devil's Dyke'. Azzabuv.  |
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frano
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/29/2004 8:32:54 PM That brings back nightmares.We had to walk in crocodile fashion from Mundy St School to the baths.I know it sounds like a music hall joke but boy one brought a note from his Mother saying her lad wasn't going to the baths until he could swim.Mr Boam was the caretaker then and we daren't swing on those pipes across the bath when he was around. There was a boiler house thowing out plenty of smoke but it didn't make much difference.On the bottom of the small pool there were some black blobs which when pressed would squeak.Goodness knows what they were. |
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RMMee
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/29/2004 9:37:04 PM We marched up from Langley Mill for ours - I think the memories are the same for everyone who remembers them. One question though (and please ignore what it says on the website) - does anyone know for definite when the Langley Baths shut? The date quoted on the website has been queried, and I can't find the original source of that information. But please, no conjecture - if you know, then let me know. (I know that there was a gap between Langley baths closing and Heanor Baths opening) |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/29/2004 10:45:50 PM by Azzabuv |
Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/29/2004 10:44:43 PM The 'Squeaky Blobs' were some of the unknown which hadn't hatched then. We knew there was something on the bottom of the baths, but the water was so thick with whatever, we could never see the floor and we didn't want to anyway. It was a case that some parts felt slippier than others when you skidded along. Sometimes, it makes you wonder how you survived that time period? Azzabuv. |
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RMMee
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/30/2004 6:58:45 PM I take it that all are aware that prior to being a swimming pool, it was a fresh water reservoir for the town. Just think, you could have been drinking it, rather than swimming in it!!!! |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 9/30/2004 9:30:18 PM by Azzabuv |
Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/30/2004 8:28:51 PM Robert, stop it. Some people might have just eaten their dinner or similar.........but no doubt the drinking water was a lot cleaner. I can't remember any early 1900s epidemics in the area through foul drinking water? If the Heanor population's drinking water had been in the same state as the swimming bath water? we wouldn't be here now. So, i'll drink to that. Azzabuv.
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suzard
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 9/30/2004 11:59:39 PM You nesh lot!!! As well as going from school, I used to go almost everyday in the school hols-rain, hail or shine! Very often there was only me and my friend in there- which was great, as we got a "tyre innertube" to float on-however my friend's brother did stay in awaiting our arrival home to witness both of us "looking all purple"! One advantage was at the swimming baths they sold lovely crisps-made in Langley and a penny cheaper than "Everest" (the most common name for crisps of the day!)They were called "Castle Crisps"-maybe they were made on the site of the folly known as Langley Castle???=and some packets contained 2 blue twists of salt!!!! |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 10/1/2004 11:53:16 AM by Azzabuv |
Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 10/1/2004 10:40:43 AM Surely not nesh, Suzard. Merely Self Preservation kicking in. I didn't know they used to sell crisps Etc. I never hung round long enough to establish that fact. Even on the best of the few days that were - once finished in the water? - home and away - for a good hot, long soak and scrub-down. Are you certain your "Looking all purple" effect, was o n l y the effect of the cold? Remember those squeaky black blobs on the bottom of the pool? Perhaps in the quiet times, such as when there was only you and your friend there, they liked nothing better than to detach themselves from the floor and have a quiet ooze around just beneath the surface of the water. Why do i suddenly hear the original 'Jaws' theme? Tell me truthfully, you NEVER used to eat those crisps while you were still inside 'The Devil's Dyke'.................? Azzabuv. 
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suzard
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 10/1/2004 1:25:49 PM The crisps were saved for the long (shivering)walk home! The corrugated tin -concrete floored-changing rooms used to cause me the most concern-the gaping holes which the wind whistled through=and the fear(or excitement)-of boys peeping in and seeing me in my hand knitted vest!!!!Remember the little shower cubicle (at the side of the junior pool) which you had to go in to make sure your feet were clean before you entered the pool! The shower was ice cold and the floor so slimey you could barely stand up! Girls had to wear bathing caps -to save long hair from contaminating the pool!!! They were really keen on health and safety in those days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Azzabuv
Quote | Reply | This message was updated on 10/1/2004 3:22:40 PM by Azzabuv |
Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 10/1/2004 3:18:41 PM Ah yes. Those cubicles were a wonder to behold and that almost permanent windy down-draft - when that wrapped around you, that was half the battle lost straight away. That small splendid icy shower IT. I always thought the foot-wash was for when you came out of the pool, to stop you taking something home with you. As for the boys peeping through the holes in the pretend wall - surely not. We were all brought up to be the gallant gentleman and never, ever, absolutely not even, dream of doing anything so untoward - surely? Azzabuv. |
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Azzabuv
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 11/22/2004 12:27:47 PM Suzard. I've just heard a song on the radio which used to bounce around the air-waves of yester-year frequently at one time. It straight away brought back memories again of the Langley 'Devil's Dyke'. So apparently, someone else appears to have undergone the confined delights to be encountered there once. The song is 'The Purple people Eaters'. Shades of those unknown, un-named "Black squeaky blobs" which apparently thrived in the Bath's murky depths. Perhaps you and your friend were lucky not to turn "purple skinned" enough while there, but only later? Azzabuv.
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Iceboy53
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 11/22/2004 1:15:51 PM I remember Langley baths well, we also used to go there quite often, bit sad really I know. I remember the wire shopping baskets for your clothes and the awful smelling changing cubicles. I remember lying outside the baths sunbathing munching on your paket of crisps with the blue salt bag. |
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Azzabuv
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 11/22/2004 1:44:16 PM Hi, Iceboy53. (1953?). Where you used to lounge about, eating your crisps - was this the small grassy area outside of the Bath's entrance? I remember on each of our rapid departures from the pool? there always seemed to be more people on the grass than there was inside the Bath's itself. Anyway, it was far more enjoyable there too - and wiser. Azzabuv. |
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Iceboy53
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 12/3/2004 1:32:18 PM yes it was just outside the entrance, where the grass verge was, we'd lay out our towels and eat our crisps and absorb the suns lovely rays. |
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suzard
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 12/6/2004 1:43:12 AM Never ate inside-only on the walk home!I remember my first school swimming gala there-I was in the beginners width-we had to swim in the "big" pool and I was pushed so far down the starting line I was out of my depth. I swum three quarters of a width-realised I was out of my depth-so turned round and swam back!!!!!Not very bright for a "Grammer girl"!!!! There was a good excuse for not getting the black blobs between your toes-pretend you had veruccas and then you were allowed to wear rubber "pumps" in the water!!! |
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Azzabuv
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Langley Swimming Baths
replied on: 12/6/2004 11:51:08 AM The one good thing those baths really did for me, was to learn me what was and was not good for me physically and mentally for my future years. Anything i later came across in life and the what-ever situation brought a quick glimpse of the Devil's Dyke suddenly to mind - then the message was - avoid at all costs and i did. So all that physical and mental torture endured among the blobs and the devastating cold was not entirely in vain. I wonder if the recipe for those 'Castle Crisps' is still in existence somewhere? Azzabuv. |
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