For decades Southport has been at the centre of people's summers with Merseysiders and tourists alike heading to the seaside town to enjoy the sunshine.
Through the generations, Southport has offered families and friends a place to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city, with many having fond memories of visiting the likes of Pleasureland, Pontins - and Southport's Sea Bathing Lake. An ever-popular attraction, for years the town's open-air swimming baths saw thousands try to get a spot in the pool on hot summers days.
A stylish place in its hey day, the Sea Bathing Lake first opened in 1914, with a new and improved design on Princes Park opened by the Earl of Derby on May 17, 1928. It was 330ft long and 212ft wide, cost £70,000 to build and could seat more than 2,500 spectators.
Read More:
From heavy metal bands to Tory MPS: What became of Liverpool's children's TV stars
Lost Liverpool nightclub filled with 'a motley crew of characters'
The shape resembled a Roman amphitheatre, with a café covered by a glazed dome roof. A 230ft by 12ft covered arcade also ran around the sea-facing side of the lake.
In October 1928, the Skegness News reported how Southport's Sea Bathing Lake had closed for the season and that the final returns showed receipts at £10,800, bathers 155,290, and spectators 321,230. The sea bathing lake was filled with filtered seawater by a pumping system, which was upgraded in the 1960s at a cost of £35,000.
The attractive pool even tempted Hollywood stars to take a dip. American actor Clark Gable arrived unannounced at the Southport Sea Bathing Lake sporting his United States Army Air Force uniform, drawing a crowd of hundreds.
Bob Couzens was there to see the relaxed Gone With The Wind star posing for pictures and soaking up the sunshine. Speaking to LookBack in 2008, Bob said: "He must have been passing through RAF Woodvale on duty.
What are your memories of Southport's Sea Bathing Lake? Let us know in the comments section below.
"There were crowds and crowds – maybe about 300 people. They must have recognised him straight away. They were all delighted to see him – they were all shouting and screaming, so he didn’t really have a chance to speak.
"At that time there were a lot of servicemen in Southport that stayed in the Palace Hotel." In 1969, Black Sabbath, headed by Ozzy Osbourne, also played to huge crowds from a platform in the middle of the pool.
Southport resident June Naylor previously recalled the days of the Sea Bathing Lake. In 2010, she said: "Like a great many people, fond memories of Southport Sea Bathing Lake will stay with me forever.
"It was a magical place with a most wonderful atmosphere, it was so packed on hot sunny days with residents and visitors enjoying themselves the whole day long. The structure itself was so unique and beautiful, there was nothing like it anywhere.
"It was a special place to be, as well as the water activities, the café and dancing, the beauty competitions were also very popular. My husband Bryan Naylor came up with the idea in 1970 of creating a transparent dome over the lake.
"But sadly it was decided by Sefton Council, that it would be demolished. That together with many other parts of Southport’s heritage."
By the early 1980s, the ECHO previously reported how Sefton Council was losing around £40,000 a year on the pool and it was leased out to a private operator for the next four years. In December 1992, the Southport Visiter reported how a decision was made to demolish Southport's Sea Bathing Lake, which had been closed since the last lessee went bankrupt in 1989.
In July 1993, the Midweek Visiter reported how a "crusade to save Southport's Sea Bathing Lake hotted up at the Southport Carnival" and that nearly 10,000 people had signed a petition to have it retained. But later that year, the site was demolished for good.
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
On our Sefton Live Facebook page, we recently shared a classic photo of the site and many ECHO readers shared their memories. Paul Dobb said: "Spent my summers here as a teenager best place on Earth."
Pauline Austin said: "Many Happy memories spent there. So sad when it was demolished." Judy Reed wrote: "I’d always end up with horrendous sunburn after a day there with my bestie. I was also banned from going one year when we were having such a good time (not with boys, I hasten to add) I was 2 hours late getting home. Mum was on the verge of calling the police."
Dorothy Cross Bingle posted: "Wonderful memories spent there with family and friends. I think the last time l actually went there was 1968. Brother Ged home on leave from the Navy and my first trip back to UK." Sue Wright wrote: "I remember winning the Miss Rosebud competition there. Happy days."
Carol Doolan-Marks commented: "Loved it there, my Mum used to take me with egg butties and a flask! If I was lucky we'd get an ice cream, happy days x." And Anne Fell posted: "Spent time there with my family, such a great attraction as the first swimming baths I’d ever seen."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Read Next:
Johnny Vegas' 'superstar' relative who was 'the Messi' of his trade
Liverpool streets that were a children's 'playground' in the 1960s
- Lost hotel where clubbers had 'many a good night out'
- Look back at Scouse radio station that made Liverpool 'unique'
- Dark past of the Liverpool crypt where thousands are buried
