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This edition marks a big splash - Hilsea Lido will celebrate its 90th anniversary on 24 July!
Since first opening its gates the lido has been far more than just a swimming pool. It’s a place full of memories, from sun-soaked summers, icy dips, and the unforgettable scent of chips and chlorine.
But it's not a one trick pony, over the decades the lido has welcomed dancers, Olympic swimmers, aquatic galas, roller skaters, hockey matches, competitive swim meets, body building, and even a water circus.
 This photo from April 1935 shows Hilsea Lido in its earliest form - a vast concrete shell just beginning to take shape.
Back then, the deepest part of the pool reached an impressive 4.6m!
 This is the pool (almost) empty last year before work began. The dirty bit of water in the bottom of the pool is actually groundwater. Because the water table pressure beneath the pool was so strong, it actually pushed the base upwards, causing cracks and letting groundwater seep in.
 And here we have an image from when we had finished the base of the pool, and were working on building the walls.
Extra concrete has been added to weigh the base down. So from now on, it’ll only be filled with sparkling clean water, just as it should be. The deepest part of the pool now is still a generous 2.6m.
Did you know that there's a whopping 80 tonnes of steel securing the base, and 30 lorry loads of concrete? So there won't be any groundwater sneaking in!
 But it wasn't just about watery fun - the Lido has seen it all. Let's go back to WWII. Did you know that from 1943 there were over 10,000 American soldiers stationed in Hilsea? They were brought here to be part of the D-Day Invasion Army.
During their time at Hilsea barracks the main pool was closed to civilians, and the different units would use it on their allocated days.
 Choo choo! This miniature railway was installed after the war, but removed in 1951. It ran from the main pool round to the end of the moat near London Road. Sadly it was removed as it was uneconomic.
 Originally Hilsea Lido was filled with seawater drawn directly from Ports Creek. But in the 1960s, major infrastructure changes reshaped the landscape. As London Road was widened, Portsbridge Roundabout expanded, and the motorway was due to be constructed, much of the surrounding water was filled in.
With the natural flow from the creek cut off, the lido could no longer rely on the sea. From then on it was filled using mains water.
 We’ve spent time speaking to people who remember visiting the lido. Some worked there, some swam there, and some grew up around there. And out of everyone we met, only one person told us he was brave enough to dive off the top board - a former lifeguard (or as they were once called, a “pull attendant”). Most people climbed up, took one look down…turned around and climbed right back down again.
Now we know there are people reading this thinking "I did that", and we have photo evidence of lots of other people doing it. We just haven't met them!
The diving boards were removed during the 1970s. In fact when the team were taking out some of the old walls, they came across the foundations from the diving boards, which took quite a bit of work!
 In 1988, Hilsea Lido faced a major threat when plans were considered that would turn the site into a commercial complex, with proposals ranging from cinemas and hotels to nightclubs, ice rinks and bowling alleys.
Chris Davis, a passionate local resident, refused to let that happen. As chairman of the Hilsea Environment and Lido Preservation Group (HELP) he launched the “Hands Off the Lido” campaign. He rallied the community with leaflets, meetings, and protests.
Over 500 people joined demonstrations in June, and by July, the council had received more than 700 letters of objection, which is more than there'd ever been on any single issue before.
Thanks to Chris’s tireless efforts the redevelopment plans were scrapped. Chris always said he wanted the lido to be “a park, an open space, and a family-friendly facility” and thanks to him, it still had a chance.
 In the 1990s Hilsea Lido experienced a quieter but still meaningful chapter in its long history. While the site faced ongoing challenges with maintenance and funding, it remained a cherished local landmark.
One notable development during this decade was the addition of a children’s play area, which helped maintain the lido’s appeal as a family-friendly destination.
 In the 2000s Hilsea Lido entered a period of uncertainty and transition. By the early part of the decade the site had fallen into disrepair. In 2006 plans were abandoned to refurbish the lido, and it was closed in 2008. However, this sparked a community led revival!
In 2009 Hilsea Lido Pool for the People (HLPP) was established and granted a lease to manage the site. This marked a turning point, as local residents took ownership of the lido’s future.
 In the 2010s, Hilsea Lido Pool for the People Trust worked tirelessly to keep the lido going.
They had the backing from the local MP at the time, Penny Mordaunt, who appeared on the TV show Splash and donated her fee to the lido. This explains the big foam finger in the photo - this is from the TV show and has been signed by all the contestants.
Sadly after trying so hard and gaining some funding, the pool closed during the pandemic and struggled to get going again.
We all owe a huge debt of thanks to the trustees and volunteers who had the foresight to recognise the special features that a lido can offer, and the passion and energy to keep the site going.
 And just like that, we arrive at the present. Times move on and trends change, and lidos are back in fashion again, with pools over the country looking being refurbished and brought back into use. With government funding secured, our cherished Hilsea Lido is now undergoing a full renovation. Soon it will become a vibrant hub of fun, laughter, and community once again, being a place where incredible memories are made for another 90 years.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this journey through the decades of Hilsea Lido.
A special thank you goes to Jane Smith, author of The Book of Hilsea: Gateway to Portsmouth, whose work has been an invaluable resource - many of the wonderful historic photos featured here come from her collection. It’s a fascinating read, rich with local history. You can buy a copy on Amazon or borrow it from any Portsmouth library.
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