Peasholm Gap Bathing Pool, Scarborough also known as North Bay Bathing Pool

The first of the schemes outlined in the Report on the “Further Development of Scarborough” is the new bathing pool at Peasholm Gap, in the North Bay. It is enclosed on the north side by steep cliffs which form a sheltered site, near the sea and immediately accessible to the numerous visitors who frequent the North Bay. It is the warmest place on the north side of Scarborough and receives the maximum amount of sunshine.

The Bathing Pool has been planned to fit in with the existing shelters which will be used in connection with the new pool. The bathing pool is 230 ft. long and 60ft. wide, with semi- circular ends, and it has an additional water area 100 ft. by 37 ft., where children can bathe in a depth of water gradually increasing from 18 in. to 3 ft.6 in. This shallow area is separated from the main pool by a long island. Two other islands are constructed on the main axis of the pool, 165 ft. apart. The water area is approximately 17,000 sq. ft.

The floor of the pool has been constructed with a layer of mass concrete 3 in. thick, on which 3/16 in. bitumen sheeting was laid and jointed, and on this the 6 in. reinforced concrete floor slab. The walls of the pool have been constructed in vibrated mass concrete. The floor of the pool is lined with Burmantofts 12 in. by 9 in. machine made bright white faience slabs with five racing lines in 12in. by 9in. black faience tiles, and the walls with white marble terrazzo. There is a white glazed scum channel arranged to overflow approximately one-fifth of the water. Surrounding the pool is a promenade 10 ft. wide, reserved for bathers and this is paved with non-slip reconstructed hard York stone slabs, with a fireclay nosing tile to the edge of the pool, and a drainage tile around the outer edge of the promenade. Surrounding this promenade is a terrace for two rows of spectators’ seats, and behind this a wide promenade for spectators.

Dressing rooms have been built behind the long shelter at the foot of the cliff. A considerable amount of excavation was carried out to form the site for these rooms, which involved the construction of a heavy retaining wall, 193 ft. long and from 9 ft. to 18 ft. in height. This was built in mass concrete. The cliff is of boulder clay, and care has to be taken to retain such material and to keep it dry. The dressing rooms are approached through the arches of the existing long shelter, men at one end and women at the other. They are equipped with 53 dressing boxes each, and cloakroom accommodation for storing bathers’ clothes on the Hyg-gard-all hanger system, there being 640 hangers installed. At each end of the long shelter, winding staircases lead up to the flat roof of the dressing rooms, which is used for sunbathing. Through ventilation has been provided in the dressing rooms, and in addition there are 14 glass dome lights, each 4 ft. in diameter, which also act as ventilators. The existing long shelter at the north side of the pool, and the terrace in front of it, is used for the service of light refreshments from a buffet or cafeteria constructed in the existing building. Bathers descend to the pool by easy tiled ramps in front of the main terrace, and at the foot of the ramps they must pass through a pre-cleanser pool before entering the bathers’ promenade and the bathing pool. The wall above the pre-cleanser and the ramps is decorated by a design in coloured tile work, with a satyr’s head in bas relief from which issues a jet of water which falls into the pre-cleanser pool. The bathing pool is equipped with 42 under water flood lamps of 500 watts each, and the surrounding areas are illuminated by concealed lighting. It is not proposed to use lamp standards near the pool, in order to preserve a spacious appearance. [The New Bathing Pool at Peasholm Gap, Scarborough, Baths and Bath Engineering October 1938]

Opened on 4 July 1938 by the Mayor of Scarborough, Coun. W. G. Wilkinson, J.P.