Deborah (Turner) Fryer

My siblings and I used to walk to the Meanwood Road Baths from Grange Terrace, off Chapeltown Road, usually on Saturdays. I remember we had to walk a couple of miles to get there through a series of ginnels with high walls, probably bordering factories. We were always so excited to finally get there, especially on a hot day. We used to bring a penny and could buy 5 salty crackers I remember walking many times the couple of miles to the Meanwood Road Baths from our house in Grange Terrace off Chapeltown Road through a maze of ginnels with high walls. We knew every inch of the walk and could practically time it. We would be so excited to reach the public baths, especially on a hot day. I was about 9 and my sister about 11 when (about 1963) we took my little brother aged about 7 for the first time. We used to have our swimming costumes on under our clothes so we could hurry and get undressed and into the pool without losing time of the swimming session. My brother was even quicker than we were and as we walked out to the pool area, we saw him lying on the poolside being worked on by an attendant. He had jumped straight into the deep end and couldn't swim! That was a scary day. I remember going with my dad once and when he dived in he lost his swimming trunks! At the end of every session we all took our pennies to the office window where we could buy 5 salty crackers which helped us have the energy to walk home. The way home always seemed longer to me, we were so tired out. I now live in St George, Utah and children have to be driven everywhere. Our local public baths is a very impressive structure built like a dome with accompanying tarp and ropes. But I shall never forget the Meanwood Road Baths where we had the best fun and all for 5 old pennies.

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C Lovedale

In addition to the swimming pools there were also slipper baths. Most of the homes in the area didn't have bathrooms, for a small fee hot baths were available here. There was also a wash-house to the rear of the building where the family wash could be laundered and dried. Looking at this image now I am curious to know what the upper stories of the building were for. Did a caretaker/staff live on the premises?

11-Feb-2009

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jean sharp

I too loved the swimming baths & went 2 or 3 times a week I didnt have far to go as I went to meanwood school next door!& lived just up the road my family also used the slipper baths once a week! after our swim we would have the famous oxo & crackers to warm us up on cold nights I think we payed 3d!

15-Mar-2011

jean1224@talktalk.net

Jacqueline Willingham

I too went to Meanwood School which was next door. I remember those blue doors to the baths so well although we left in 1969. I remember waiting in line with my dad with a big white towel over his arm.

27-May-2011

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Helen

I learned to swim at these baths. We went every week from Gledhow school. Where do school children learn to swim now all these local baths are gone. Another two swimming baths that I used to go to are Kirkstall Road and Cookridge Street - both gone, and lets not forget Roundhay open air pool - gone. It seems such a shame that this building could not be used for something else instead of demolishing it.

11-Jun-2011

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jean sharp

Most children learn to swim at their local sports centre which are cleaner & safer now but there was something special about the old baths. There is still a pool at kirkstall next to the West End pub

22-Sep-2011

jean1224@talktalk.net

fiona brennan

as kids we used to go to the swimming baths every weekend , where we learned to swim , we even used the bathrooms where they gave you a small tablet of soap and a towel ,oh what luxury, soaking in the bath, until the attendant, shouted that your time was up,

20-Sep-2012

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