Wigan Album

Mesnes Park looks better than it does now. Beautiful flower beds then.

'New Swimming Baths' suggests 1960's

Late 60s at the earliest. I watched the baths being built from our flat on 10th floor Woodcock House. Mum & dad got the flat as first tenants around 1964/5. I Was at Wigan Grammar School and we did swimming badges as part of summer games. When you got your Bronze Medallion you got a years free pass to the baths. I swam virtually everyday. I left WGS in 1968

Just googled it. Baths opened in 1968.

The baths were called Wigan International Pool and I recall in the early days there was a lot of events held there. Then, whether its rumour ir true, Wigan pool was dropped from the events calendar because it was found to be too short. Does anybody know if this is true.

Dave yes it's true, an International meeting was held at the pool I think it was against the USA and all the swimmers personal best times. When they measured the pool they found it was a few centimeters short of the required 50 metres. It was said that they had measured the pool in construction and forgot to add on the thickness of the tiles when it was tiled. Hence no more internationals.. I remember going there soon after it opened to watch a swimming show and Brian Phelps was demonstrating different dives.