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60
The Minister of Health, after an Inquiry held in 1936, approved the Council's
proposals for the establishment of swimming baths at Eltham. The erection of
these baths was commenced in March.
The Baths will be situate on an "L" shaped site at the junction of Eltham Hill
and Sherard Road, Eltham.
The scheme comprises at ground floor level:—
1. A spacious crush hall, with main and secondary entrances leading from
Eltham Hill.
2. Male and female cloakrooms and lavatories.
3. Manager's office and ticket boxes.
4. Adults' swimming pool, 100 ft. by 40 ft., with three tiers of seating for
spectators along each side, 40 dressing cubicles, and approximately 80 lockers for
each sex, together with lavatories beneath the seating tiers.
5. Children's swimming pool, 60 ft. by 30 ft., with 32 cubicles, approximately
50 lockers for each sex ranged along the sides somewhat above the surround level,
and easy of observation for the attendant-in-charge, and lavatories for both sexes.
In the basement are placed:—
1. The establishment laundry and drying room.
2. Workshop.
3. Male and female staff lavatories and mess room.
4. Filtration plant and thermal storage boilers, and electrical equipment.
5. Chair store, etc.
Emergency exits are provided to both pools. A car park is provided with
access from Sherard Road.
Through the courtesy of the Baths Superintendent I am able to say that the
total number using the Swimming Baths during the year was 249,710; Turkish and
Russian Vapour Baths, 19,822; Slipper Baths, 186,084; and the Public Washhouse,
15,559.
Filtration plants have been installed at the Woolwich and Plumstead Baths, and
the chemical and bacteriological content of the water is regularly examined by
members of the Baths staff. Independent samples are taken by this Department from
time to time. There are two open-air swimming pools in the Borough, one in Eltham
Park and one in the Victoria Gardens, North Woolwich. These belong to the London
County Council, and filtration plants have been installed at both. There are also
paddling pools in the Borough, one belonging to the Woolwich Borough Council on
their Middle Park Estate, and one in Eaglesfield, belonging to the London County
Council. There are no filtration plants at either of these.