A number of requests Burton baths
Swimming In 1870 comprised of a public shed on Ox Hay for the use of swimmers in the river Trent, and Burton Swimming Club had its own sheds to the south on Shipley meadow. The swimming was for men and boys only.
Several requests for a Burton public swimming baths had been made with the only available swimming in the river Trent. These were most strongly voiced in 1853. It would be over twenty years though, before any action was taken.
The swimming baths were built and donated to the town by Richard and Robert Ratcliff, the sons of the Burton brewer Samuel Ratcliff. Burton Public Baths was finally handed over to the improvement commissioners and officially opened to the public in 1875.
The baths, which included two separate swimming pools, was situated at the bottom of the ramp on the south side of the Trent Bridge. Initially, the larger ‘first-class pool’ was restricted to men and boys.
The two sides of the new Burton Public Baths Burton baths with its distinctive yellow bricks, the entrance being from a ramped access down from the Trent Bridge.
Turkish baths were added in 1903. The first-class pool was extended in 1931 and diving boards were added. Changing cubicles lined the baths at both pool and balcony level and it was normal to leave your clothes in one for the period of your swim often resulting new arrivals not being able to secure one.
A swimming attendant was on duty and alternated between the two pools. Once he had disappeared into the smaller pool, it was common practice for the daring to run up the stairs, climb over the balcony barrier and jump or dive down into the pool until he returned with his all too familiar whistle.
There was an open doorway to the other smaller ‘second-class’ pool, that always seemed to be a bit warmer. Swimming clubs for men and boys were established almost from the opening but it was not until 1906 that a ladies’ swimming club was formed.
Burton Baths was demolished soon after the nearby replacement Meadowside Centre was opened in 1980.