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| Gloucester Park Swimming Pool |
| Broadmayne, Basildon |
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Location: Gloucester Park Photographer: Unknown Year of photo: 1996 Copyright: Scan © Basildon History Collection Comments: |
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Location: Gloucester Park Photographer: Unknown Year of photo: 1994 Copyright: Scan © Basildon History Collection Comments: |
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Location: Gloucester Park Photographer: Bix Year of photo: 02/06/2003 Copyright: Basildon History Online Comments: |
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Location: Gloucester Park Photographer: Bix Year of photo: 02/06/2003 Copyright: Basildon History Online Comments: |
| Gloucester Park Swimming Pool |
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Gloucester Park swimming pool was officially opened
on June 19th 1968 at a cost of £500,000. The main pool was built to championship size (33⅓ x 12½m) with a
depth of 12½ft. It was designed by Basildon Council architect Kenneth Cotton and the main
contractor was Norman Sinclair Ltd. There was much debate in the years prior to opening as to
the dimensions of the pool - International or Championship size, with cost being the central
issue. An original feature was the 2 storey diving tower and the poolside spring board. The centre board or 'second board' as it became known was fitted with a spring board though 'top board' remained a platform until closure during the 1980s. It was the diving area that accounted for the buildings sloping roof. Other features of the building include a teaching pool, first floor cafe and a spectator gallery. Following an extensive refurbishment in 1989/1990 the diving tower was removed and the cafe resited on the ground floor. During 1995 the poolside diving board was resited when a flume was installed. Years later it was removed leaving the pool without any diving facility. A fitness gym (The Pulse Fitness Centre) later opened on the 1st floor where the cafe once traded. Many additional activities take place within the building and these have included a creche, sauna, solarium and sun booths/beds. Gloucester Park was also home to two swimming clubs; Basildon and Phoenix, who regularly participated in competitions and galas. In 2005 the swimming pools long term future was thrown into doubt when plans to build a 'centre of sporting excellence' to include a 50m International size pool at the northern end of Gloucester Park were announced. This would later become known as the "Sporting Village" when, following approval, construction got underway in 2009 and Gloucester Park swimming pool closed on Sunday 24th April, 2011. The Sporting Village opened on Saturday 30th April, 2011. Text researched and written 2002 with revisions 2002-2006,2011. Copyright © 2002-2006,2011, B. Cox - Basildon History Online. All rights reserved. |
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