The Lost Lidos

The blip picture is of Risca Lido. It opened in 1929 and closed in 1991, under Taff Ely Council. In 2007 there was talk that Caerphilly Borough Council were to demolish it, but it remains in the state you can see. There appears to be a move to keep and restore Lido's as a link to our past. I was working at Risca in 1990 and remember the Lido closing and didn't think much about it, but now we know how important these old buildings are.

The Lido era and boom mainly started before the days of war in the 30s – some alas met their early demise during the war, but many lived on for decades. An average Lido life lasted between 50 – 80 years. They were an escape from those dark days – paradises set inside the golden balmy days of summer. Around a lido the sun always seemed to shine.

In the days of the Lidos, there were no cheap flights and package holidays to the Mediterrannean. No snugness of domestic central heating, but, as these temptations eventually lured the average family, then patronage of the lidos dwindled. Even as early as the 50s, holidays in Europe were becoming cheaper than train journeys to UK coastal resorts. Our lovely lidos were becoming unprofitable. At the same time they were reaching grand old age and were developing structural defects.

Goodbye those lovely lost lidos and baths. With todays technology I believe the Lidos today that are linguering and threatened are beginning to come back! Their chances are much higher. The many campaigns to save them will make it all possible. One local Lido that just re-opened after restoration was Pontypridd Lido, which I blipped here

I try and take photographs of local buildings as things are always changing and it's good to look back and see how they once were. Hopefully, Risca Lido will be saved - it's on the list of potentially re-opened Lido's.