Views of the old swimming baths in Stockton. After standing for 30 years its demolition started on 21st May 1999 and it was estimated it would take 3 months to complete. Construction of a new state of the art complex was due to start in October of the same year. 
Picture Stockton Archive
A Pictorial History of Stockton-on-Tees
In the late 60’s we went to old Stockton baths on a bus from Frederick Nattrass. Got my 25, then 50 yards and white survival cert there. So if your pet brick drowns or like night time swimming in pyjamas I’m available.
I went to Grangefield Grammar from 1961 to 1966 and we went to the old Stockton baths in a Stockton Corporation Transport double-decker bus which (I think) waited outside until we finished. I remember the clothes baskets which you had to collect from and hand in at a counter for safe keeping until you came out of the pool. It was basic but functional.
Hi. I love these pictures I am so interested in them and I can’t believe what the swimming baths used to be like in those days compared to now. How small is the pool it looks tiny and how many people can fit in it? The pool is probably around ten metres. As you can see we don’t know how lucky we are now compared to then. I am going to the swimming baths today called splash in Stockton and it has 2 slides, 2 hot tubs and 3 pools one of which has a wave machine. It’s a big glass fancy building you should take a look on the internet for a picture, it is so cool I just love it. It costs £3.00 per person as well.
Eve,
I learnt to swim in these baths whilst attending Fairfield Secondary Modern school, and often went with pals when I was very young. We got a 25 yds certificate so that is the length of the baths. We went there by a double decker bus. Then in 1964 FSM school had completed its own baths.
Second thing I noticed with this photo, or am I completely wrong. Is that there is no diving board shown on the deep end, or was it added at a later date than this photo. If you look on the left side you can see the two walkways that lead into the pool, ie one for the boys and one for the girls. I have since about 1958 ish always known the board or steps ? to be there. Anyone got an answer for this.
It was as I remember always 4d to get in and then spend another 2d on a Pete’s dip bun, those were the days.
Dave.
Does anyone remember the charges for swimming in the old swimming baths. I seem to think that around 1955 they were four old pence for children
Fred School swimming for us was free and we went on the bus from Richard Hind to keep us all together if there was an air raid.
The slipper Bath was two pence and you got a towel and sliver of soap but plenty of hot water.
Billingham was nearer for us and cost two pence we walked there and back across Billingham Bottoms. Those Public Baths did a wonderful job with their bagwash swimming and slipper baths much easier than getting the old tin bath down and filling it.
Fred it was 4 pence to get in the baths, me and my old Swainby Road mate Freddy Newby lived at old Stockton baths, this was in the days before plastic, thats right before plastic came in big time like now, couple of empty Newcastle Brown ale bottles to brown jug off door, lemonade bottles and domestos bottles taken to Jim Turners shop near Swainby Road, we would go to old Stockton baths 2-3 times a day, god knows how we kept our eye sight given the chloride in the water, you could smell old Stockton baths from Norton Road. Hour after hour of endless fun, question! Who went to old stockton baths in those days and got out of the water to go for a pee! Not many if any. Great old days.
All the best.
Derek
Just wondering if people can help me – I’m after some information regarding my grandfather (Jonny Munro). He was a keen swimmer and swam against Jack Hatfield in the River Tees, circa 1950’s I think. I believe he was a member of this club at some point. His name ring any bells with anyone?
That’s where I learnt to swim back in the 60’s and yes it was cold in there and those weird wire baskets to put your clothes in are well remembered. One of my memories is the vending machine for hot drinks, if you were lucky it would serve something tasting of coffee/tea mixed – if the previous user had had the hideous soup you were out of luck and got tea or coffee soup mix.
I used to swim for Stockton swimming club from the age of 11 till 14 and we would often have training sessions in the ‘old baths’ which are pictured here. This was c1976 to 1979. I vaguely re-collect being really nervous when our club was invited to join with Teesside club (green and yellow trunks and a much higher standard than I was) and the first joint session was in this pool. I could never beat two guys called Graham Tighe and Paul Richardson who went onto swim for Stockton aquatics.
I think that shortly afterwards, Teesside was then disbanded and Stockton aquatics club was born. (blue and red trunks).
Happy days, I’d forgotton this stuff until I saw the photo.
My eldest brother Paul Catchpole used to swim for both Teesside and Stockton Aquatics. He won 100m Freestyle I think in about 1975/76 when he was 10/11. I think it was either Northumberland and Durham or North East Counties. Do you remember the name? He was best friends later with Sean Willis who was pretty good at breaststroke if memory serves well. They later joined forces together in a national life saving competition when they were about 14/15.
I worked at the old baths between 1965 to Teesside forming when I transferred to other facilities throughout the County.
The pool was very well used by public, schools and clubs.
The changing rooms were heated by means of warm air being drawn off from the public laundry. The laundry was approached through the car park at the side of the building and there was a storage area for prams which users brought there washing. The laundry had sinks/scrubbing areas, washers, tumble dryers, ironers, drying horses, and extractor spinners for taking excess water out of washed clothing.
There was also male and female slipper baths so named because of the shape of the baths. Eventually there was also a steam room, dry heat room and two bedrooms all located on the on the first floor.
Regarding the request for the size of the top board in the newer pool – this was 5 metres.
These are the old baths we started school swimming lessons in. Can anyone tell me the height of the top diving board for the new baths next door where we progressed to please. My husband does not believe I jumped off the top board during a visit there. This was in about 1974/5
Yes Brian I am the same John Buckley. I was on that swim team, used to train after school in icy water smelling of strong chlorine. I was actually faster than than both Les and Paul but was only one who could swim backstroke. needless to say I came last (Bill Bury if you’re still alive thank you very much lol)
i remember les and paul.. must have been same age. my brother Eddie reeves went to st bedes but he was younger than those two. does anyone remember him and has anyone got class photos? our eddie died just over two yrs ago .. i remember him being very popular with the girls when he was young.. he used to come along to mbro with me sometimes. it was when the stockton green was fashionable! do you remember it? everyone seemed to be getting suits made in it..i could have been a gok!! i remember that i used to spray paint my shoes and bags to a bright colour so id be different.. told people id been to london for them! i also remember making a dress[ like pebbles of the flintstones] out of a very large washleather . it was in the eighties, i also made a plaited headband to go with it.i use to stick tiny diamontes on the side of my eyes and told fellas that id had my eyes pierced ! they believed me as well!! think that was when i used to go to the red lion at redcar… i remember seeing the free there..brilliant. does anyone remember that awful false tan? tanfastic? you went very orange with it… before we were so careful about sundamage i use to put cooking oil on and sunbathe.. laid on a roll of tin foil of course.. iv just aquired aqua manda original perfume from the 70s.. oh such bliss… bringing on back the good times!iv just got a fab cd from the twisted wheel days.. got pic of wheel on front . maybe around late 60s.. i love it. all northern soul… keep up the good work everyone
Re the comment from John Buckley. If you are the John Buckley that went to St Bedes I remember you leaving to go to Australia and the praise you received in front of the whole school from the headmaster (was it Brother Baptist or Brother Leander?)for your record of never missing a days school. Shortly after you left, St Bedes moved to Bishopton Road and swimming lessons were held at Stockton baths before the school pool was built. I remember the green corporation buses that took us there every week and the time Les Corcoran jumped off the high board and landed on Paul Sleightholme. It took a while for the blood to clear but we still finished the lesson. I wonder if Les still has the scar?
This picture is definitely the old Stockton baths. I swam there from the age of around five to age 13 in 1963 when I left for australia. I also dropped into Petes snack bar but I bought a 2d dipped bun lol.
Bloomers or Cobs and Chips On a Saturday morning after spending an hour ‘or longer if you didn’t get caught’ at the baths. Cant remember if the half loaf was a Bloomer or a Cob, but that is the first thing we bought, one each, we meaning my mate ‘Pete White ex gas works area followed by Roseworth’ and me. We walked around the town eating these loafs from inside to out, just leaving a little hole at the top just big enough to get your hand in, then it was off to Pete’s Snack Bar to get them filled up with chips, 4d that’s all cant remember how much the bread was but I bet it wasn’t off today’s prices £1+ and the rest of the morning walking down by the river and after we had finished, walked home to Roseworth for our Dinner. Never did learn to swim. Saturday afternoons and Wed evenings were spent with The Stockton Ramblers Association up on the North York Moors or somewhere equally as nice. ‘How did you spend your Saturdays then?
Who could forget Pete”s Snack Bar and his penny dip “n buns – delicious. It was always my first port of call after a training session at the baths.
Barry, I have just read that you were born in Norfolk Street. I was also born there in 1947 at No.22, my maternal grandmothers house (Mary hudson) wife of Bob. I also attended Pop Showell”s Oxbridge junior school
I spent many a night ploughing up and down those lanes at Stockton Swimming Club.
I lived in Bishopton in the 60s right behind the Bluebell Inn which was owned by Peter Staples (jnr). This pub was judged to be the busiest pub in the UK (for its size) – probably because it was open all day!. I knew Pete, Jean & his kids very well and would love to know where they are. Email me at KevinWDavies@comcast.net if you have any info.
Sometimes when I went to Stockton Baths with my pals I would help my mother carry the week”s washing in a couple of pillowcases to and from the “Bag Wash” on Bath Lane. She used it in the winter when it was too cold for the old poss tub and wringer in the backyard. Also the washing would either freeze up if she hung it out to dry or fill the house with steam on a clothes horse in front of the fire. The Bag Wash was a large steamy room with lots of washing machines and enormous drying cabinets that pulled in and out on rollers so the wet clothes could be hung over heated bars. My dad sometimes went to the “Slipper Baths” somewhere in the same area, which I assume were so called because the patrons wore slippers.
I have been reading the comments on the old stockton baths and pete”s snack bar, i can remember when you could pay your bus fare, go to the baths, and get a savoury dip from pete”s all for a shilling(5 new pence) Ahhh happy days.
Reading Geds comments about Peter Staples. I remember Peter well. He had a butchers shop in Oxbridge Lane ( I was born in Norfolk Street) and my mother Bertha Robinson worked for Suttons another butchers shop which was next door but one. I was the errand boy for Suttons delivering meat on Saturday mornings only for which I got two shillings. Peter Staples I believe had a restaurant in Bishopton. Staples had a great business as did Suttons. It is wonderful to reminisce about these times.
Great comments re-the old baths. The boiler house used to face onto Bath Lane which led into King Street. Pete”s snack bar was next door to Pages Dress shop and Staples Butchers was next door to it. I dont know about a Penny or Tuppenny dip but I used to go for a free smell of the aroma being emitted from the shop. Peas and savoury duck. Luvly jubbly.
Pete`s Snack Bar was owned by Peter Staples who was a Butcher by trade hence the fine choice of meats available in his Snack Bar. I believe his son owned a well known Pub/Restaurant in Bishopton. I remember the “dip bun” with affection and I think Keith was “diddled”. Like Kevin my dip bun cost a penny. It was the best value for money snack I have ever come across. I have often wondered if this treat was only available to kids.
Pete”s snackbar also did a tupenny dip which was basically warm stuffing in a bread bun – great on a cold night after a trip to the baths
I agree with both Janice & Bob”s comments. Except after the bath”s my memory of Pete”s Snack Bar was a “penny” dip. ( Piece of bread dipped in the fat drippings from all of Pete”s cooking).Great site for us ex-pats to reminisce.
I use to go to Tilery road boys school. We had to walk to the baths and I remember a diving board. I spent a lot of time at the baths in school time and out. From 57-62 I swam for the school and Stockton swimming club.
I certainly remember these swimming baths. just round the corner from “Splash”. we used to have our lessons there from Bowesfield Lane School in the early 70″s. Our clothes were kept in huge white wire hangers with baskets attached to the bottom, and the place was freezing.!
This must be quite a late photo. There used to be a gallery with seats around and cubicles along each side. There were also diving boards at the deep end – which was only 6 feet deep. I remember watching my cousin diving from the gallery in a competition!
I suspect the description was meant to say 300 years. The brick work was very old style. The tiling in the 1960″s was a salt glazed green colour. I think they refurbished it in the early 1970″s after the “New Stockton Swimming Baths” opened and it was used mainly by schools and clubs. The pools tiles were turquoise then I think. I also remember Mr Wilson the Director of Stockton Transport used to be a swimming instructor at both the old and the new baths. THe new baths were excellent when they first opened. Especially the purpose built diving pool which was 14ft deep. It was much harder to pick up the “rubber brick” from the bottom of that pool I recall. Anyone remember the cockroaches which used to inhabit the deep end of the old baths?
The baths in Bath Lane,The pool was 25 yds long. It was a very warm pool. The diving board was 6ft high. The men”s cubicles were each side of the pool and the ladies cubilces were up on the top verander. I believe that during W.W.2 a soldier dived from top of the balcony and was either killed or seriously injured. The deep end of pool was only 6ft deep. The army used to use the baths as a priority. Lots of them were billeted at the Constitutional Hall in Skinner St. In contrast, Thornaby Baths were always freezing.
I agree with Sarah Sheraton, the baths in the picture are the much older baths. I learnt to swim there and also remember the very cold water! Afterwards we used to go to Pete”s Snack Bar(I think it was called that – opposite Maxwell”s Corner) for fourpenneth worth of chips!
Surely these photos are of the much older baths and foreground views are of the YMCA car park. The old baths remained behind the “new” baths (built circa 1970?) for some time and I remember school swimming lessons here where lifesaving techniques were taught both in and out of the water. Very cold and unhospitable place as I recall. Does anyone know when these older baths were built?
I remember going to the swimming baths in Stockton when I was at primary school. Similar in style to Middlesbrough baths, everything was made of concrete 🙂 There was a big pool, a diving pool and a baby pool. THere was plenty of room for spectators and I recall a big Speedo clock that I used to time myself when swimming lengths. Where the big Splash sign is now, you used to be able to look through the glass and see the big pool and entrance to the diving boards. Its a pity we don”t have a big pool anymore, it was great for school competitions.