About

Cleveland Pools is the UK’s oldest public outdoor swimming pool. Built in 1815, the site first opened as a river fed pool, followed by a colourful history through the Victorian era to its heyday in the 1970s, until competition from the newly opened indoor Bath Sports and Leisure Centre saw Cleveland Pools finally close to swimming in 1984.

It was for a short time used as a trout farm, but was threatened with demolition as an alternative to repair. In 2003 Bath and North East Somerset council, who own the site, put it up for sale, and it was added to the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register.

Thanks to the determination of three local people, Ann Dunlop, Janice Dreisbach and Roger Houghton, the Cleveland Pools Trust (CPT) was formed in 2004 to rescue the pools from dilapidation. In 2006 its listed building status was raised from II to II* as the Pools were considered ‘particularly important… of more than special interest.’

Thousands of supporters from far and wide, many of whom have happy memories of swimming here before closure, joined the campaign and today the CPT has many highly valued volunteers who give their time towards fundraising, local engagement, organising events and publicising progress.

Please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions to find out even more.

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