The Rotunda & Swimming Pool in the 70's |
When I lived in Folkestone, this was the only swimming pool we had after the indoor
pool was demolished in 1966. This one too has now gone, and then was the
site of the Folkestone Market on Sundays until it moved up into Sandgate Road.
However, the current residents of Folkestone are not deprived, they have
the Sports Centre down near the Royal Victoria Hospital which houses two swimming
pools, a fitness centre, a dry ski slope, a 9 hole golf course and many other
activities. Beyond the swimming pool can be seen The Rotunda, which was owned for many years by Jimmy Godden. I have a separate page on the demolition of this funfair, You can check on the progress of the pulling down, and rebuilding of this site by going to this page Rotunda Demolition However, on this page, we will show it the way it was in years gone by, and the huge fair it became before its demise. |
If any of the pictures remain blank after the page has loaded, right click your mouse
into the space, and click 'show picture', and it should come in for you |
As you can see, the swimming pool was right next to the sea, but the water was fresh,
and well chlorinated. |
I spent many happy hours in here as a child. The only part I didn't like was
walking through the tray of disinfectant when you came out of the changing rooms.
It invariably had dead flies floating on top, and smelled disgusting! |
This boating pool was located between the Rotunda and the Swimming Pool. It
was a real treat to be allowed to go on there. |
Another slightly blurred picture of the boating pool. The parents could sit
with a cup of tea and watch their little darlings trying to sink their friends!
:-) The boating pool also had an indoor cafe that was only recently demolished, even though it has been closed for years. |
A lovely aerial view sent to me by Gordon Bradford of Folkestone. You can clearly
see the Rotunda, and in the background is the Hotel Burstin, and the harbour
and East Cliff Sands beyond. |
This fabulous photo of the Rotunda along with the one below was taken by Ian
Mansfield just before they started pulling it down. |
When this photo of the Rotunda was taken, the buildings in the foreground on Marine
Crescent were in a pretty dilapidated state, but they have now been completely
refurbished and have been turned into condos. I think there are still
a few left if you are quick! Check them out: Marine Crescent Incidentally, you can tell this is a postcard, you will never see the sea that blue! |
This picture from the 1930's was taken from The Leas. I am sure those
steps have disappeared over the years. I do hope this photo was hand tinted, and that the pool was never that colour - can
you say algae? |
A closer view of the swimming pool in 1948. In the background you can see the
Bathing Establishment advertising tepid seawater bathing. |
A 1953 aerial shot showing the whole area. The bathing establishment still
had the umbrella type things outside that they were showing in the 1938 picture
above Close to 20 yrs is a long time to keep the same decor! |
This one was also taken in 1953, the quality of the pictures look older don't they? |
Just a year later, and not much has changed except the photographer invested in some
colour film. |
I don't have a year for this one, but would guess it to be around the same time frame
as those on the right. |
Back to the boating pool again. It is too bad they got rid of this, it was
such a lot of fun for the children. |
And maybe not just the children! That fellow at the bottom of the picture is
no child, and he looks as if he is having a whale of a time! This one was taken in 1965. |
It was a little less crowded on this day. |
Looks like the group of boys sitting on the wall are planning their sinking strategy
before heading to the boats! Actually, they were pretty strict on behaviour, and if you were caught doing anything stupid you were called in. |
This one shows a nice view of Marine Crescent. |
This was the view from the other side of the boating pool. I think this one
must date from quite early on, because that looks like the Victoria Pier in the
background, and I don't see the outdoor swimming pool. I had no idea that this pool was built before the swimming pool, but it must have been. |
I know the one on the right dates from 1953, colour postcards were starting to come
in, but there was still a lot of black & white around. |
Oh now this is a lovely photograph of the Rotunda, taken just before they started
to demolish it. It was taken by Ian Lacey - thanks Ian! :-) |
Another fabulous shot taken during an air show by Cliff Sherwood in 2002. Cliff
is from the Virtual Tourist website, a link to which you can find on my links
page. (Don't you love the teddy bears in deckchairs?) |
This aerial shot from the 60's has everything in it that has now gone! The
swimming pool, the boating pool, the Rotunda and even a ferry! I wonder if
you still get the crowds of people on that beach that you got then? There
is not much there now to attract them except the sea. |
Another one by Cliff Sherwood while it was still intact. The picture below
was also taken by him in 2003, it is of the wooden roller coaster that used to
be a part of the Rotunda. Obviously a great place to get a seagull's eye
view! |
We will finish for now with a couple of photos of the Bathing Pool in its heyday. |
Home |
The swimming pool was eventually filled in to make way for the Folkestone Sunday
market. This shot shows the Rotunda and the stallholders of the market getting
packed up after a day's trading. This carpark and every other carpark
in the area used to be chock full while the market was going on, but as you
can see, once it was over, there was room to spare. |
Dated 1938 and entitled New Bathing pool. Length 165' width 75' |
You can always tell a 60's postcard by the over bright colours, when was the boating
pool or the sky that blue? |
OK, now the Rotunda has gone - the market has gone - what is that area going to be
used for? I don't get to hear the gossip much over here in Canada, so am
relying on someone over there who is in the know to tell me please! |
If you have your own memories of the Rotunda or the Bathing Pool, be sure to share
them with us by jotting them down in the guestbook below |
This page updated September 1/07 |
Irene Saunders directed me to the 'Master Plan' which states that this area is going
to be used mainly for housing. If you would like to read about the proposed
changes to the whole harbour and west beach area, check it out: MASTERPLAN |
