- Paperback: 188 pages
- Publisher: Malavan Media (15 July 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0954744500
- ISBN-13: 978-0954744502
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 20.8 x 1.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 353,328 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Played in Britain is a groundbreaking series celebrating Britain's diverse sporting heritage, from medieval cock pits and bowling greens to 20th-century billiard halls, ice rinks and stadiums. In Liquid Assets, the third book of this much talked-about series, journalist Janet Smith, author of a history of Tooting Bec Lido and herself a keen swimmer, traces the development of Britain's surprisingly rich stock of lidos, starting with their muddy beginnings in London's parks, through their fashionable heyday in the 1930s, to their battle for survival today. Lavishly illustrated with both archive and contemporary photographs, Liquid Assets highlights some of the nation's outstanding architectural examples. But if lidos were once to be found in virtually every town and city, since 1945 many have been closed, often despite the efforts of thousands of vociferous campaigners. Liquid Assets charts the best of these lost lidos, including one in Purley where the towering concrete and steel diving board now form the curious centrepiece of a garden centre. The book also provides a unique listing of all lidos still open in Britain, with detailed case studies of the most impressive.With our summers seemingly getting ever hotter, are we about to enter a second golden era for Britain's much loved lidos?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For those of a certain age who remember visiting these giant hard landscaped Lidos from their childhood this book is full of history and nostalgia. Most of these outdoor pools were constructed during the 1930's and had all but disappeared by the 1990's; only a few remain today some of which are now (thankfully) listed buildings. The case reviews take a more in-depth look into individual Lidos including tidal pools such as Penzance, all have a construction date and if applicable a closure and sadly a demolision date. Backed up with some fantastic photographs and diagrams, one photograph shows a diver taking off one of the Lido high boards looking as if he is flying over the pool and another shows demolition men taking sledge hammers to diving boards at a redundant Lido.
The Author obviously has a genuine love for these Lidos the book will make you both happy with the memories and sad that most Lidos have been demolished. For me it bought back some great memories of day trips to Victoria Park, London Fields (now reopened), Whipps Cross, Larkswood and more recently Tooting Bec.
Oh, and if you ever wondered what those gushing fountains were there for it's all in this book!
The Author obviously has a genuine love for these Lidos the book will make you both happy with the memories and sad that most Lidos have been demolished. For me it bought back some great memories of day trips to Victoria Park, London Fields (now reopened), Whipps Cross, Larkswood and more recently Tooting Bec.
Oh, and if you ever wondered what those gushing fountains were there for it's all in this book!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I noticed this book on Amazon and bought it on impulse, and I have to say this is one of the best books I have ever bought! You can just pick it up and read a bit and then come back later and read a bit more. It is as easy a read as that, plain clear narrative and fantastic pictures.
I love swimming and I love swimming in open air pools. I was born and lived my childhood in Hastings East Sussex where we had the St Leonards bathing pool. This was a huge pool with a 10 metre high board and because of the case study in this book I can finally show my children the pool I used to swim in as a child. It was bulldozed a good few years ago but the replacement marina never materialised. Nothing has happened.
The history of lidos is so interesting. They were the grand dames of swimming for so long, so glamourous and enormous in size. I constantly marvel at the measurements in an age where an olympic 50 metre 10 lane pool is a rarity. It is so sad to see so many of these pools have fallen into disrepair and in many cases pulled down completely. Yet equally inspiring are the pictures of the lidos still used today and making their way successfully in a very different era. Ms Smith has created a completely addictive and accessible account of a part of our swimming history and I can not recommend it enough to swimmers and non swimmers alike.
I am almost tempted to swim my way around the remaining pools....
I love swimming and I love swimming in open air pools. I was born and lived my childhood in Hastings East Sussex where we had the St Leonards bathing pool. This was a huge pool with a 10 metre high board and because of the case study in this book I can finally show my children the pool I used to swim in as a child. It was bulldozed a good few years ago but the replacement marina never materialised. Nothing has happened.
The history of lidos is so interesting. They were the grand dames of swimming for so long, so glamourous and enormous in size. I constantly marvel at the measurements in an age where an olympic 50 metre 10 lane pool is a rarity. It is so sad to see so many of these pools have fallen into disrepair and in many cases pulled down completely. Yet equally inspiring are the pictures of the lidos still used today and making their way successfully in a very different era. Ms Smith has created a completely addictive and accessible account of a part of our swimming history and I can not recommend it enough to swimmers and non swimmers alike.
I am almost tempted to swim my way around the remaining pools....
Format:Paperback
Excellent....unputdownable history of a much neglected subject. Nostalgia ain't what it used to be but this quality document certainly brings back some great memories of New Brighton and Southport and provides little pilgrimages of for the future. Just a shame we have destroyed so much.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Stuff
Very detailed research into a fascinating topic.One of those books you can dip into time and time again. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Steve
Liquid Assets (Played in Britain Series)
The Photo's brought back memories of my happy days spent at my local Lido. A wonderful "Find" and worth every penny
Published on 29 July 2009 by Christine Gale
Abolutely swimming!
Janet Smith's book, Liquid Assets, is a great insight into the bathing habbits of the population. Giving informaiton and beautiful photographs of many of the lido sites in the UK,... Read more
Published on 12 April 2006 by Mrs. A. Chaplin
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