A regular visitor there went on to become a famous actor
Fishponds Lido in 1973 colourised with the Memory Lane tool
The wild swimming boom has brought back a love for outdoor lidos, almost a century after their ‘golden era’ in the 1930s. There are long-promised plans for a pool to return to Eastville Park, but this is not the only east Bristol location that once had people splashing around.
A 2007 report in the Bristol Times, part of the Bristol Post, shared the story of the Alcove Road Lido in Fishponds.
It reopened in the 1960s under the ownership of Bristol businessman and entrepreneur Raymond Purnell. The lido had thrived before, in the 1930s, having previously served as a quarry then a clay pit in the Victorian era.
The 1960s takeover was said to be designed to “inject new life into what was an ailing attraction”, spanning some nine acres. According to reports from the time, it was marketed as “Bristol’s island in the sun” with “all the colour and excitement of a holiday resort in the heart of Bristol”.
Writing in the Bristol Times in 2007, Gerry Brooke wrote: “[The lido] consisted of landscaped shingle beaches and illuminated promenades, as well as a children’s playground. There was safe swimming in a shallow area (although it did get deeper) and screened paddling pools.
“And it only cost three shillings per day – half price for children – to get in. In July, there was even a Miss Lido competition.” The lido expanded in its second year to introduce two houseboats, the Spyglass and the Golden Hinde, which were claimed to be among the largest in the world.
Mr Brooke’s report continued: “The latter, open until 2am, could cater for up to 200 people. These houseboats were in fact fully licensed floating pubs, offering extensive catering and dancing facilities. Equipped for receptions and the like, they became very popular venues.
“But throughout the Seventies, the excitement of the lido palled against inclement weather, cheap overseas holidays and changing fashions. Much of the site was sold off for development by Barratt Homes and the rest, the deep ponds, now belong to an angling club.”
Alcove Angling Club still exists today and its website still refers to the lake as ‘The Lido’. The lake is still a peaceful spot surrounded by greenery, despite its proximity to housing estates and the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.
The Bristol Times report from 2007 prompted many former regulars of the lido to write in, including Kingswood resident Pam who recalled frequenting the pool with her older brothers. Pam said at the time: “It was all very basic in those days but great fun and affordable. It became our seaside.
“We had some wonderful times there and it became a favourite place for the family to go. I am now in my 70s, but the lido still holds a special place in my memory.”
Another reader, Mrs Ashman of Eastville, wrote in: “In those days it was relaxing to go there for a few hours while out shopping. It was so much more convenient than going all the way to Weston.
“When I was about 14, I jumped from the top diving board – but only the once as I didn’t think I would ever return to the surface. My husband treated me to a meal on the houseboat there to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Although we’ve been married for 51 years, I remember it well.”
Also sharing a journey down memory lane was June from Pensford, who said she used to cycle to the lido as a teenager from her home in Headley Park. She said: “I think we paid a small entrance fee but can’t remember any changing rooms.
“There was a hut of sorts that sold teas and soft drinks. The lido was a natural lake with trees and bushes around most of it. There was a diving board and a raft we used to swim out to. We were told it was very deep (more than 100 feet) so we didn’t venture too far out.
“It was quite safe to leave our bikes and clothes and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. And, of course, the summers were always good.”
Jack from Kingswood wrote in: “The lido was very popular with families and teenagers and at weekends became quite crowded. In those days there were no overseas holidays for ordinary folk, so places like this were where you went to get a bit of sun on your body.
“There was a cafe and a children’s play area with swings and a sand pit, as well as grassy banks that gave the impression that you were at a lake in the countryside. There were a few places where the weed grew quite thickly, and although I knew it was not life threatening, I hated the feeling of it sliding past my body when I was diving.
Fishing was not allowed near to the main swimming area, but was permitted on the far bank. There was a concrete apron at the water’s edge from which chubb or carp could be seen, and a slippery springboard which had seen better days…It was never sophisticated, but we had some memorable times there.”
Others remembered swimming out to a wooden raft in the middle of the lake and diving in from there, while more than one shared that the lido was frequented by the late David Prowse, who went on to become a celebrity actor with his portrayal of Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Horfield resident Angela said she used to work at Co-op in Castle Street and she would go to Fishponds Lido to swim and sunbathe with a colleague. Angela claimed: “David Prowse was always there with his friend, John Hill.
“Dave always wore daps (plimsoles) even when he swam. We were told that he didn’t like people to see his feet. There was a jukebox there and I remember dancing to one tune called You Butterfly.”