Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex |
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The refurbished outdoor pool in 2010
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| Address | Gatting Way, Park Road, Uxbridge |
| Postcode | UB8 1NR |
| Opened | 1935 |
| Closed | 1998* Reopened 2010 |
| Operated by | Fusion Lifestyle |
| Owned by | London Borough of Hillingdon |
| Architect | G.P. Trentham |
| Status | Grade II Listed |
| Length | 220 feet (67 m) |
| Width | 72.5 feet (22.1 m) |
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The Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex is a fun place in Uxbridge where people can exercise and relax. It is run by Fusion Lifestyle for the London Borough of Hillingdon. The main part of the complex is a special outdoor swimming pool, which is a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical building.
This outdoor pool was known as Uxbridge Lido until 2010. That year, a brand new centre was built, and the old pool was made new again. A new indoor swimming pool was also built next to the outdoor one. The indoor pool opened in February 2010, and the outdoor pool opened just one day later.
The outdoor pool was built in 1935. It cost about £24,500 at the time. Its design is called "Moderne" or Art Deco style. The pool closed in 1998 and was badly damaged by people. In 2007, it was announced that the pool would be fixed up. The plan was for it to be used as a training pool for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Contents
What the Complex Looks Like
The oldest parts of the Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Complex are the outdoor swimming pool, two fountains, an entrance building, and a grandstand. The outdoor pool is not heated. All these parts are special because they are Grade II listed. This means they are protected because of their history and design.
When it first opened, the pool was 220 by 72.5 feet (67.1 m × 22.1 m). It has a unique shape like a long, twelve-sided star. This is the only pool of its kind left in the country. It was also the second longest outdoor swimming pool in London. There are two fountains, one at the north and one at the south end of the pool. They are made of concrete and have a special design with two basins.
The entrance building is at the northern end. It is made of concrete and brick. It has one floor and is shaped like a "U". The middle part has a window where you would pay to get in. The grandstand is on the eastern side of the pool. It is made of strong concrete and has three levels. The top level is a flat roof where people could watch the swimmers.
As part of the new development, the nearby Hillingdon House Farm athletics track was also updated. The new building next to the outdoor pool has a 50-metre (160 ft) indoor pool. It also has a sports hall, a gym, a café, and changing rooms for visitors.
History of the Pool
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The person who designed the lido was G. Percy Trentham. Before the pool was built, many local people swam in parts of the Frays River and the River Colne. Building the pool and its buildings cost £24,500. About 120 local people who did not have jobs were hired to help build it.
The pool officially opened on August 31, 1935. The Uxbridge Urban District Council organized the opening event. Reverend Luther Bouch, who was the chairman of the council, opened the pool. Alf Price became the first person in charge of the pool.
Athletes who took part in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London stayed nearby at RAF Uxbridge. They used the pool to train for their events.
Hillingdon Council closed the pool after the 1982 summer season. It did not open in 1983. However, a group called the Uxbridge Pool Action Group reopened it in 1984. They received a grant of £148,000 from the Greater London Council. This group added solar heating panels and a huge water slide. They also added other activities to try and make the pool popular. But it was still hard to keep the pool running, and the Council took it back in 1989.
The pool closed a second time after the 1998 season. This was because of damage and the need for big repairs. The pool, pavilion, entrance building, and fountains were all given Grade II listed status in 1998. Even though they were protected, the buildings were still badly damaged by people.
Bringing the Pool Back to Life
In October 2000, the London Borough of Hillingdon suggested building a new indoor pool. This new pool would be 50-metre (160 ft) long and have special movable floors. It would be built next to the outdoor pool. The plan was also to fix up the outdoor pool so people could swim in it again. The new centre would also have a gym, a restaurant, and a sports hall. English Heritage, a group that protects historical places, would help with the project.
Permission to build the new swimming pool and sports centre was given on June 8, 2005. In January 2008, construction began on the £21 million complex. The goal was for it to be ready for athletes training for the 2012 games. Sharron Davies, a famous former Olympic swimmer, helped start the building work. The outdoor pool was completely restored to look like it did when it first opened.
The athletics track was finished in April 2006. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it.
Money for the project came from several places. The London Borough of Hillingdon gave £22 million. The London Development Agency gave £2.02 million. Sport England gave £1.5 million, and the Heritage Lottery Fund gave almost £1 million. In May 2009, a special ceremony was held to celebrate the building reaching its highest point.
The indoor pool and sports complex opened to local people in February 2010. The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, officially opened it on March 21, 2010. The outdoor pool, which is not heated, opened the very next day.
On September 8, 2010, the pool celebrated its 75th birthday since it first opened.
The South Korean Olympic Team used the centre for their training during the 2012 Olympic Games.
Images for kids
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The refurbished outdoor pool in 2010
