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Beach Bathing Station
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Beach Bathing Station

Historic Photographs
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Beach Bathing Station
Historic Photographs
99
Beach Bathing Station
The interior of the Beach Bathing Station, where generations of Aberdonians learnt to swim in the fresh water pool. The Bathing Station was designed by City Architect, John Rust, and opened on 13th July 1898. A distinctive red brick chimney dominated the beach skyline. The Bathing Station was eventually filled in and demolished, the door having finally closed to the public on 11th July 1972.
Aberdeen Beach
Buildings, General Buildings
A19_21
Aberdeen Local Studies
Correspondent Ed Fowler has been in touch with his memories of the baths:

"The small swimming pool was like a sunken lido with a large low profile skylight above the pool.

Entry was via a descending staircase and the room included an upper viewing gallery which was used as changing rooms during busy periods for both sexes. Along the 2 sides there were simple continuous curtains for nominal privacy.

At pool level, there were wooden doored changing lockers down both sides of the baths but no security.

There was a slipper bath for feet washing and, in depth, the pool ran from 3ft to 6ft at the deep end. Spitoons were provided in strategic positions at the poolside between wooden grab rails.

There were no diving boards just tiered boards at various heights for those that were confident enough to use them. It did have a slide chute from the gallery.

It was generally claimed it was easier to learn to swim in the Beach Baths as it was salt water of higher density but this was a fallacy as it was chlorine treated fresh water, not sea water.

One attended the Pool with as little possessions and as few clothes as possible and simply your 'cossie' wrapped up in a towel for drying off purposes. Generally used by the great unwashed public as a leisurely alternative to a family communal tin bath in front of a fire for one's ritual weekly ablution. Hence the ready spread of poliomyelitis virus in that era."
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