Buckley pool brought swimming and bathing to Flintshire

The word 'institution' is used liberally but if one organisation deserves this title, then surely it must be Buckley's old indoor baths.

Built in 1927-28 by the local builders Messrs Hayes Brothers of Buckley and opened in July 1928, with funding from the North Wales Miners Federation, whose members from all the neighbouring coal mines paid into a fund of x number of pence for every ton of coal extracted. This was also aided and administrated by the Andrew Carnegie Trust Fund, which incidentally was responsible for the building and funding of the town's Free Library nearly 30 years previous.

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It was estimated that at least 1.2 million tons of coal was extracted at the said rate to pay for the facilities, thus making it the first indoor swimming baths, certainly in Flintshire, if not in the whole of North Wales.

Even though the baths were funded by the North Wales Miners Federation, it was from all accounts and purposes a communal project, with schools and the public at large soon taking advantage of the facilities, together also with the mining fraternity of the district, but whether they had to pay to bathe after their initial contribution, one has been unable to ascertain.

One point of note is that the first female swimmer to use the new pool was a young teenage Winnie Cropper (nee Hayes), the builder's daughter.

Inside the newly opened Buckley baths, circa 1928. Photo courtesy of Brian Bennett

Note the image taken circa 1928 of the newly opened pool, together with the individual cubicles, girls on the left and boys on the right, later to be removed and replaced with more communal like facilities in circa 1960. Note the 'deep end' sign, indicating the fact of it being all of six feet in depth, down to three feet at the shallow end.

One certain fact to emerge, was the popularity of Buckley Baths, not only in the township, but in the wider area generally with schools, for example, coming from as far afield as Flint, Hawarden, Hope and Mold amongst others, enjoying the newly built facilities.

So between the educational bodies and general public, the baths were indeed fully utilised.

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Something that became perfectly clear was the enjoyment and enthusiasm the premises provided to a wide area.

In compiling this article, I had the great pleasure of speaking to Mrs Ella Towell (nee Snead) who worked on the premises for many years and also took a vested interest in the place, even up to its closure in 2006.

One fact I was unaware of was its opening dates in earlier days - from early April to the end of September - shut all winter, this being the case until circa 1960 - which were open from Monday to Saturday, but always closed on Sundays.

Mrs Towell (no pun intended), was involved with the establishment for many years.

Buckley Swimming Club in 1947 with Ella Towell in the centre, middle row. Photo courtesy of Brian Bennett

She states that being an employee in the early days, ie 1940s-50s, one was responsible for payments, hygiene, washing, drying, life saving, discipline, towel and bathing costume hire and security, among other duties, for the princely sum of approximately £2.10s.0d. (£2.50) per week.

This for approximately a 60-hour working week!

She describes her time at the baths as being extremely busy - rewarding, but happy days.

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One period which was particularly busy would be Saturdays and school holidays, when I am told so many bodies were in the pool there was no room for the water, and keeping a check on every individual was an arduous task.

Many youngsters were politely evicted after their time had elapsed, only for them to disappear down the front steps of the changing rooms, and go along the dungeons (a name given to the boys' communal changing section), and up the back steps to disappear once more into the masses.

The baths were operational during the Second World War, summer only, and it was noted that PoWs working in the local industries (mainly Italians) would enjoy a weekly dip.

One section of the building fondly remembered, certainly by older townsfolk, is the infamous 'slipper baths'.

These were six private rooms with a large enamel bath, bigger and deeper than conventional tubs. These could be hired out for a couple of pence per session, and for many Buckleyites of the day it was their one and only opportunity to have a hot bath; in that era very few private houses contained a modern bathroom.

Buckley Baths, an institution for generations. Photo courtesy of Brian Bennett, and right, before their closure in 2004.

So for a small charge, usually mother and children could enjoy a dream session of which most other townsfolk could only dream.

In those days shampoo was an expensive luxury, so for 1d (a penny) or so, a small tablet of carbolic soap could be bought - highly effective, but it would certainly be shunned by today's youngsters.

Returning to the general pool, towels and swimwear could be hired for approximately 1d (one penny) per session.

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This deal was very popular with many - certainly the bathing costume hire, because the cost of this gear was often out of the price range of local bathers. These costumes were made of wool and after a few minutes immersed in water they became very heavy and cumbersome. This practice, even though the swimwear would be washed and dried, would almost certainly not be acceptable today.

As mentioned previously, the baths were an institution, not only in the town but for miles around.

Generations of Flintshire residents have many fond memories of the pool. Sadly, after more than three quarters of a century, with increasing maintenance and structure problems, the old baths had to close its doors - thankfully being replaced by a new and larger pool on the Elfed School complex.