Wigan Album

not a hard hat, high viz or barrier in sight - those were the days
Vehicles parked right up close the site as well

i was never in favour of the swimming baths being there,the site was never big enough for an olympic size pool

It was supposedly to be an olympic sized pool baker boy, but due to a schoolboy error by the planners converting imperial to metric it was later found to be three inches too short to allow olympic swimming competitions, so it is not just the modern day council that makes blunders, they've always done so.

That comment seems a bit harsh Cyril. At the time did council employees actualy design and build the pool, or was it all done by outside contractors?

These baths have been demolished and have been replaced by The Healthy Living Zone at Wigan Life Centre.

Cyril that’s not true they found a shaft which was later though to be a well so they couldn’t fit the eighth lane in

Used to go to Wigan baths every Saturday and absolutely loved it especially the diving boards. Eventually became brave enough to go off the top board - gosh it was scary up there but I got used to it. Always a gang up there as you had to ask permission off the attendant to go up there as they had to blow their whistle and clear the diving area for safety reasons so they let groups up at intervals. I am late 60's now and truly miss those Saturdays, it's a shame that Wigan Council cheap skated on the replacement by not including the diving boards even as a separate area as it has spoiled the whole experience and there is nowhere closer than Manchester that has high diving boards.

Robert, as you say there is nowhere local with a decent diving board Got to say.. Loved you in IVANHOE..