These days it rarely seems warm enough for open-air swimming but ALISON COULDRIDGE finds the south east was once awash with lidos which attracted visitors from all over London.

Visiting lidos was a very popular thing to do for much of the past century.

Whether people went to improve their fitness, top up their tans or meet friends, the lido was the place to be weather permitting, of course.

So it seems a shame vandalism and a lack of funding has forced every lido in south-east London to close at some point.

One of the lidos to survive the longest was at Charlton. It was opened by the mayor of Greenwich, Councillor H Icough, on May 6, 1939.

The attraction proved a popular one, with more than 800 people turning up to watch the opening ceremony.

The president of London County Council Parks Mrs H Dalton said although the pool was expensive to build it cost £28,000 it was money well spent because of the health benefits and pleasure people would get from it.

Soon after the lido opened the Second World War began but it still had its uses it was equipped as a fire service emergency water supply.

However, it quickly reverted back to a swimming pool after the war ended.

Andy Hoines, who lived in nearby Abbey Wood, remembers an amusing story about the lido.

He said: "A family of ducks took refuge at the lido in 1991.

"All the rather half-hearted efforts to catch them failed, as they always kept a discreet distance from the pursuer."

He added: "One day, some kids got over the wall for a swim.

"One of them did manage to catch a duckling and took it home.

"Her parents would not let her keep it and the duckling was returned to its family at the lido.

"Soon afterwards, the family of ducks was relocated to a pond."

Although the lido received small grants from organisations such as the London Marathon, the pool was forced to close in 2004 due to health and safety fears and lack of funds to repair it.

A private company has bought the site and there are plans to open it again in the summer.

One lido which did not last so long was The Blue Lagoon Lido, Lagoon Road, Orpington.

It opened in 1933, just in time for one of the hottest summers on record, when temperatures rose to 35C.

The pool proved a very popular destination among Londoners, who were able to combine their travel and bathing fares with a rail-swim ticket.

Orpington resident Mr G Wellwisher said: "The lido was the venue for all the young jet-setters of the day.

"All the better-off youngsters would spend their summer weekends there."

The lido was closed to the public after the Second World War started and never reopened.

Lagoon Road now forms part of an industrial site.

Another popular lido was Bexley Open-Air Pool in Danson Park, Bexley.

It opened in July 1936 and offered a main pool and two children's pools.

The lido was famous for having a mangle which could squeeze excess water from towels.

Susan Wilson used the pool regularly as a child.

She said: "There were steps leading to a raised terraced area and a cafe where you could get pots of tea and take them back to where you were sunbathing.

"Bexley pool was always well used and on a hot day you had to get there early as you might not get in."

The lido closed in 1979 due to vandalism and trouble finding staff. The site is now grassed over.

  • Do you have any memories of the lidos mentioned in this article or any others? Write to Alison Couldridge, News Shopper, Mega House, Crest View Drive, Petts Wood, Orpington, Kent, BR5 1BT.