Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral Now and Then Byrne Avenue Baths - a visit

I've been in touch with
Byrne Avenue Community Trust
and have asked and been told that when they get the lease in the next month or 2 it could be possible to get a tour of it before renovation.
If anyone else is interested in going, I have suggested each donating a couple of quid to the fund

List for interested folks
1 derekdwc

I would love to do the tour.

Use to go there every week in the 60's and 70's and had swim lessons from age four with Mr Huddard...any one remember him? He was a right character.. full of stories. He walked with a bad limp ..said it was a war wound.. but as I said.. he was full of stories.

Lots of happy memories of the place!

Me Derek. I'll happily donate

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD

i cant beleive this has come up now its been on my mind for weeks im itching to get in there before they rip the heart out! thanx for sorting this very much appreciated.

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)

Id love to see the old place again. i used to play table tennis there on a saturday night then hurry back home with chips to watch match of the day. many years ago now

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)
7.Petzl - Dave

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)
7.Petzl - Dave
8.kimpri1

mr huddard taught me to swim, i done my 1st width at 3yr!(them were the days you got thrown in the deep end ha) i also remember lying over a stool in the back room to practice breast stroke ha, i also remember the white floats that you tied around you with rubber inner tubes and does anyone remember all the tins of marvel dried milk he used to have stacked up in that back room ha...oh no im too old lol

[quote=derekdwc]1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)
7.Petzl - Dave
8.kimpri1
9.TC

Still keeping in touch - nothing doing up to now.
They still haven't got the lease yet
clicky

John fenner 0151 353 3807 is the gentleman I've spoke to

oh good as i was going to ask you about it, i was hoping it hadnt fallen through

i would love to go spent lots of time dere i went dere when the pool disco was on

When this does happen, you'll have to confirm whether there really is another empty swimming pool under the temporary floor in Gym as I was always told when I learnt to swim and swan for Birkenhead swimming club there.

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)
7.Petzl - Dave
8.kimpri1
9.TC
10. Rudebox
11. Plusone
12 Croc
13 Kermit

Thanks Degs.

1.Derek
2.Nienna
3.Ste
4.DD
5.rocks
6.wal79 (never been there before, would love to see it though!!)
7.Petzl - Dave
8.kimpri1
9.TC
10. Rudebox
11. Plusone
12 Croc
13 Kermit
14 Alex

Nice one Derek

When I had swim lessons there in the late 60s early 70s there were two pools...one called the family pool and the other was more for serious swimmers ...they held the gala's and sports events there etc.

But this pool was also temporary boarded over a few nights a week for badminton tennis and basket ball teams etc. It was usually opened up again at weekends.

I had heard that years later they only used one pool and it was the serious or gala pool..the one with seats all around it. The family pool I was told was boarded over...maybe it is this you are referring to!

Not logged on for a while due to no internet, have I missed this??

E mailed them the other day - no reply
Will phone next week

sorry double posted somehow

been outside today got a few pics tho any update derek?

update
managed to get hold of chap I've been speaking to about a visit.
He said he'd emailed me but I haven't seen it.
Basically he's said he could arrange a visit or two, not too many folks at once and only during the day not a saturday or sunday.
available for daytime visit list
1 derekdwc
2 kimprii

1 derekdwc
2 kimprii
3 TC
4 rocks
5 rudebox
6 plusone

Me please... plus a partner who would also love to see byrne ave again as he went swimming there every week.

Hope this is possible.

1 derekdwc
2 kimprii
3 TC
4 rocks
5 rudebox
6 plusone
7 Wheels

derekdwc
2 kimprii
3 TC
4 rocks
5 rudebox
6 plusone
7 wheel
8 Nienna

update off pm
We need to sort a date and time and number of people who can do it of a daytime

Hello Derek,
You will see a lot of activity over the coming months and I might as well move into BA the amount of time I am going to spend there. However, I am happy to arrange a visit for you to take pictures. Please give me some notice and a Monday or Friday would be preferred?
Kind regards,
John


1 derekdwc
2 kimpri

1 derekdwc
2 kimpri
3 Nienna

1 derekdwc
2 kimpri
3 Nienna
4 rocks
5 TC

1 derekdwc
2 kimpri
3 Nienna
4 rocks
5 TC
6 Ste

1 derekdwc
2 kimprii
3 TC
4 rocks
5 rudebox
6 plusone
7 Wheels
8 w10694

Er my name was missed off... so have put it back.

1 derekdwc
2 kimpri
3 Nienna
4 rocks
5 TC
6 Ste
7 rudebox
8 plusone
9 wheels
10 w10694
11eddy

I used to play 5-a-side football in a league at Byrne Avenue Baths in the 60s. Not as daft as it sounds. They used to put planks over the pool. It was a very successful venture. Anyone else remember that? I think one of the planks used to play centre-forward for us!!

Yep my OH used to play that and also basket ball on Monday nights I think it was in the 70's. They used to plank over the pool that had all the spectator seating around it.

any date yet?

Arranged for 14th October 1 o' clock
meet outside main entrance

1 derekdwc
2 kimpri
3 Nienna
4 rocks
5 TC
6 Ste
7 rudebox
8 plusone
9 wheels
10 w10694
11eddy

Does anybody remember the roller skating sessions at Byrne Ave. my wife and I used to go regularly in the late 50's, great fun.

REMINDER

Arranged for 14th October 1 o' clock
meet outside main entrance

Me and 'Eddy' cant make this now.... we are so disappointed as we were looking foward to going back there and meeting you Guys.

But have a great time and let us know how it goes and if possible lots of pics please!

Gonna charge up the old camera

I may come up for this. Is the main entrance at the front on Old Chester Rd. & is parking easy?

Am not far from there Chriskay you can park at mines!

Thanks, but need to be closer.

Chris, you can park right on it.

Thanks, Bert

not sure which entrance it will be
I was thinking of the way in, in the side street where you used to pay to get in

Thanks for today guys

had a great day today, nice to meet peeps and thanks to derek for sorting it out

Thanks to all for a very interesting visit

Cracking explore here today. Thanks Derek.

on with the pics.





pool surrounded by fencing


Old poolside changing rooms


equipment


?? in the pool


its pretty secure


entrance to male changing room, not foot bath on entry/exit


Lane dividers




old fold up seating on the upper floor


shallow end far from pic


looking the opposite way


an old medal


This is the projector room that is above the pool. note the holes in the wall that the projectors shon through into the pool area. these holes are covered on the over side with a large Byrne avenue baths sign in blue.


circled is the sign in question


me and a new friend


an upstairs office


















Old Gym changing room


sports hall, under the floor is the 2nd pool that is covered over.




these are the pool filters filled with sand




Old bioler that has been sold and will soon be removed and shipped to india.




This is under the sports hall, beyond the brickwork is the inside of the pool.


this door leads to a tunnel that goes across the road to a house on the otherside.


old wiring


old pay slips


Made in England... not much of that going on now

Fab pics Wheels
(great to see you and your children are beautiful).
Thoroughly enjoyed this explore today. It was fab.

I've never ever been in there. Is it closed closed now or are they refubing it? Isn't crocidolite blue asbestos?

Just read the first page and answered my own question

That was my Boiler,her name was Bessie,I miss her.R.I.P.

Had a great day today peeps lots of pics to put up!
fantastic pics all above thanks to Derek and the key holder for the tour and all who turned up

Thanks to Derek & John for the visit. I forgot to make a contribution, but will make one via the website.
Wench; you're right, crocidolite is blue asbestos. When we were in the boiler house, I asked whether the insulation was asbestos & was told no. I didn't see the label on the pipe. I think it would be good if you, Derek, could let them know, especially as they propose to move the boiler soon.

Can't match the quality of wheels' pics - great pics
Here are some of mine, trying not to duplicate his.

more
by the floor markings how many sports took place
football
netball
basketball
badminton
table tennis
?

some more

last lot
The passageway from the house to the baths was to allow the engineer (who lived in the house) to switch everything off during the war without going outside

sorry lied about last ones
wheels where did you get the eye heads for hiding identities


save byrne avenue. baths

Nice one Derek

some footage

[youtube]yMyff-gaELo[/youtube]

thanks for sharing this with us great to see inside this place!

Pics are great

thats a great vid - thanks for sharing it

Thanks for sharing the pics Guys they were brill and the video was wonderful.

I found it all very moving.

I wish we could have gone there but other commitments came up but it was lovely to see the old place again.

I spent so much time there , starting with swim lessons at the age of four and then going swimming and using the sports halls twice a week till the age of 16 so it was almost like a second home.

It is sad to see the decline but it was still wonderful to see inside again, it brought back so many memories.

I have one of those swimming medals somewhere and remember the equipement.
I almost didnt recognise the old 'family pool' area which was at some point turned into a sports hall.

When I used to attend, (the sixties and early seventies) the other pool which was the competition one used to be covered over for sporting events such as basketball badminton and footie etc. So it was a surprise to learn that they altered the family pool.
I remember sitting on those seats watching the swim gala's, I wonder what will happen to them, will they be thrown away?

But thanks again for the pics and video, as said lots of memories revisited, I could almost hear old Mr Huddard shouting out his orders!

Wonderful!

Great vid Wheels am going to keep this,
Anyone know the plans for this building!

only a few from me didnt want to duplicate too much

more

Great pics Babe

well done Rocks. love the T.C pic with the dummy xx

(Derek- may i request a copy of Plusones filming, please. It would look good on his portfolio) x

If I remember will do a copy for brewery meet
Have done one for the gentleman that took us around

can i have one please bud! yeah i wanted to take her home lol

wait til you see Plus' interpretation! lol.
Brill Derek, thankyou x

Great pic's everyone,nice to see the old place again.
I remember going there with school,diving for a brick,in your pj's!

Well done rocks, your becoming quite the photographer aren't you?
Some great shots there

thanx guys
thanx ste, yeah im really getting into it and would love to learn more about "arty farty" pics (as i call them ha)
dropped a hint to son about needing a big camera told him they cost over a hundred but ya never know

Great pics guys and Rocks you slight 'abstract' view is marvelous.