The old swimming baths at Thornton Heath are now just a memory, the land it once occupied a vast building site upon which a new £7.5m leisure centre is being constructed.

The baths were opened on June 16, 1897. In addition to the swimming pool, which measured 66ft by 33ft and contained 60,000 gallons of water, the building contained four private baths for the use of women and six for men.

The baths were either First Class, for which bathers were charged 6d (2.5p), or Second Class at a cost of 3d.

Apparently the classification of whether a bath provided a first or second class service depended on the time that had elapsed since the water had been changed.

In the winter months the swimming pool was covered over with boards and the room was used as a public hall and ballroom.

An interesting view of the swimming pool can be found in Raymond Wheeler's book Images of Norbury, Thornton Heath and Broad Green, published by Tempus.

It also features a fascinating photograph of a large gathering of Jehovah's Witnesses who assembled on July 29, 1956 when the pool was used for a mass baptism.

A less peaceful meeting took place at the baths in 1913 when the suffragette campaigner Mrs Despard came to speak before a packed hall of women.

A large mob of men gathered outside the baths to protest and were successful in gaining entry to the meeting. They stood at the back of the room from where they continually barracked the speakers.

As the meeting proceeded they started to stamp their feet and sing comic songs. Such was their disturbance, the meeting had to be disbanded and the speakers were forced to leave the platform.

Mrs Despard described the men as being "the worse for beer and none knowing clearly what they were shouting or booing for".

Despite the disarray caused by the male protesters, Mrs Despard considered her visit a great success. She reported that "women who had never belonged to any Suffrage Society came up to our organisers and begged to be enrolled as members of our league."

As Mrs Despard stood outside the baths waiting for the police to clear a way through the mob to her car, numerous women pushed their way through the crowd to beg her to return and hold another meeting.

"Of course I will," she replied.

So with laughter and good wishes, she bade her "brave friends'' farewell and departed as the male members of the crowd pelted her and her companions with stones.

Images of Norbury, Thornton Heath and Broad Green costs £10.98 including postage and packing and is available from Local History Publications, 316 Green Lane, Streatham, London SW16 3AS.

July 17, 2002 11:30