tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post3738000250883473025..comments2024-03-18T08:20:19.461+00:00Comments on Transpontine: The History and Future of Laurie Grove BathsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-79816742260437257872024-01-06T18:32:19.289+00:002024-01-06T18:32:19.289+00:00I was in New Triton, trained by Stan Hampton. In f...I was in New Triton, trained by Stan Hampton. In fact I was club Capt until I started work. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-11738115659312828852024-01-06T03:12:07.460+00:002024-01-06T03:12:07.460+00:00I learned to swim there, around the age of five, i...I learned to swim there, around the age of five, in the middle fifties. My family then left for the U.S.A. Where they all still reside. My school teacher, John Cramp, took us for swimming lessons and it was he who taught me the swimming techniques and issued certificates. Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-80466554706787068362023-02-04T18:26:25.068+00:002023-02-04T18:26:25.068+00:00My late Grandfather and Aunt were swimming baths a...My late Grandfather and Aunt were swimming baths attendants in the 50 and 60s.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00348636012615681027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-48474983331948490442021-10-23T22:01:10.553+00:002021-10-23T22:01:10.553+00:00My brother and I often swam at Laurie Grove baths ...My brother and I often swam at Laurie Grove baths in the late '50s/early '60s, going there on the 36, 36a or 141 bus from Crofton Park (sometimes walking, if money was tight). IIRC there were two pools "Second class" (cost 6 old pence? - can't really remember) and "First class" that cost a few of pennies more, was less crowded, had warmer water and wooden steps to climb out of the pool rather than tubular metal ladders. I never knew until now that they filled from their own wells!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05230108599489786245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-67893865504065989212019-03-13T11:56:31.545+00:002019-03-13T11:56:31.545+00:00TomW.. interesting!! I was a student at Goldsmiths...TomW.. interesting!! I was a student at Goldsmiths from 1966-1970 and later worked there from 1992 to 2012. As Social Secretary of the Student's Union booking all the bands that played there from 1969-1970 I became quite friendly with Len Lusted (Geoffrey's Dad that you mention above). He employed me to work as a relief Porter in the summer of 1969 as Warmington Tower was nearing completion, and I was responsible for installing almost every item of furniture and white goods in the building which was originally constructed as student accommodation. One nice little story about Len is that on the occasion that the Crazy World of Arthur Brown played the College Great Hall, we received a visit from the London Fire Brigade who insisted that Arthur be prevented from setting his familiar head-dress on fire during the performance of his hit single, 'Fire'. Len obviously had to agree to this, and Arthur was duly informed. Of course he completely ignored the instruction and set it on fire anyway, right in front of the pipe organ situated at the back of the Hall!David Riddlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841234446226688028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-31920198786749326362018-10-26T07:42:27.428+00:002018-10-26T07:42:27.428+00:00I should have added that 26 is part of the site of...I should have added that 26 is part of the site of Goldsmiths’ accommodation block.<br />TomWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-7383977806293603562018-10-25T17:44:58.085+00:002018-10-25T17:44:58.085+00:00I used to live (council tenant’s son) in the late ...I used to live (council tenant’s son) in the late 1950’s in a flat at 26 Lewisham Way, then a black brick-fronted late Victorian 4(iirc) storey house. Next door was the detached house of Doctor Sawh with his daughter Sandra. Lovibonds off licence was on the corner adjacent to Goldsmiths and across Lewisham Way and 60-80 yards to our left was the Marquis of Granby. As a boy I used to feel ill with the smell of beer when I walked past it; luckily in my teens I got over that. My dad used to take us to Laurie Grove baths as we didn’t have a bathroom and we would take our towels and use adjacent cubicles.<br />One of my best friends was Geoffrey Lusted whose dad was head porter at Goldsmiths. He used to let us in during the vacs to play in the grounds. One summer we found a grenade and foolishly carried it down to the back of the college. Luckily it was a practice grenade left over from wartime practising.<br />TomWAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-64886085089278948402018-06-19T09:57:52.275+00:002018-06-19T09:57:52.275+00:00I visited the building yesterday for the degree sh...I visited the building yesterday for the degree show and was excited to be back in that beautiful space, having taught at Aske’s Girls School in the 1970s and once led a crocodile of 11 year olds to the baths to watch a swimming competition. They loved it too, went back to school and made lovely paintings of the pool with contestants. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-42020708829843153622017-12-30T18:12:26.193+00:002017-12-30T18:12:26.193+00:00Was at Goldsmith"s in the early 80's and ...Was at Goldsmith"s in the early 80's and used the slipper baths occasionally after using the small gum. Was a rare treat to relax in such a huge bath. Mark Whitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-20996925234986743902016-11-11T09:34:23.746+00:002016-11-11T09:34:23.746+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Alan Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00261092123194332480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-6533682498408779402016-05-14T07:56:06.006+00:002016-05-14T07:56:06.006+00:00was a student at Goldsmiths 87-90 and lived close ...was a student at Goldsmiths 87-90 and lived close by. Our gas was out for a month once so we were very grateful for the showers at the pool. Used to walk round from our flat in our dressing gownsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06185396408035858931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-85378734436523052162016-04-25T21:53:59.369+00:002016-04-25T21:53:59.369+00:00Hi Patti Sure I can post the flyers. I don't h...Hi Patti Sure I can post the flyers. I don't have many, usually just one of each location. I will try to remember after my hols. <br />You may need to give me some info on how to post pictures though.<br />Cheers, JohnJohnny Tabasco.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03597105971641227201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-61723932851758589522016-03-03T09:59:21.317+00:002016-03-03T09:59:21.317+00:00Hi Hotrodasaurus,
I'm researching the fascina...Hi Hotrodasaurus,<br /><br />I'm researching the fascinating history of the baths and it would be amazing to see some of your tickets/flyers!<br /><br />Would it be possible to post them here?<br /><br />Thank-you very much<br />PPattinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-27667459309306708862016-01-05T19:28:05.190+00:002016-01-05T19:28:05.190+00:00Ok, lets revive this. This is Hotrodasaurus but th...Ok, lets revive this. This is Hotrodasaurus but that was years ago so now I am 50 Year old teenager. <br />There were indeed RnR events here in the 1970s (Seventies) I could give you the exact dates and tell you who was playing as I still have a ticket/flyer.<br />These revivals were a big thing as RnR was all over Great Britain, indeed the Black Bull in Lewisham, The Squire in Catford and The Northover in Hither Green held RnR events most weekends. In fact you could go to Rock and Roll probably every day of the week fro the mid 1970s to the mid 80s.<br />I do remember the baths though as a great looking place though not really suitable for Teddy Boys leaping about with pints of beer. Good to hear this has not been turned over and converted into flats.<br />Cheers, JohnHotrodasaurus/50 Year old Teenager.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-26704707235441442742015-11-12T20:19:49.854+00:002015-11-12T20:19:49.854+00:00My grandfather worked at the baths until he left t...My grandfather worked at the baths until he left to join the army in 1915Leohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15854055425720936482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-27299339382073839802015-08-10T21:22:37.587+00:002015-08-10T21:22:37.587+00:00I learnt to swim in Laurie Grove baths in 1950. I...I learnt to swim in Laurie Grove baths in 1950. I went swimmining with the guides in the little pool (ladies only) and with my school Childeric Road primary in the pool up the hill, I liked this one the best. The big pool, which could have a floor put over the water was for mixed bathing. In the school holidays we had a ticket which allowed as in as often as we liked for a 1d a visit.Twinklehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10676611052592546079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-9392554518781570522014-12-13T22:17:30.488+00:002014-12-13T22:17:30.488+00:00I remember many great evenings spent dancing to gr...I remember many great evenings spent dancing to great fledgling <br />bands (Spencer Davis, Manfred Mann, The Who, to name a few) during my time at Goldsmiths' in the early 60'sAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-26436424503040756482014-04-23T11:55:14.542+00:002014-04-23T11:55:14.542+00:00My grandmother in grew up in Deptford learnt to sw...My grandmother in grew up in Deptford learnt to swim in Laurie Grove, and then my sisters and I did the same as we went to St James's and used to walk to the baths once a week for swimming lessons.<br />I remember the Pearce Signs advert as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-42975284693860311912014-04-09T18:57:20.446+00:002014-04-09T18:57:20.446+00:00If my memory serves me right there where three swi...If my memory serves me right there where three swimming pools at Laurie Grove, one was further up the hill. I used to be the school's swimming captain at Christopher Marlowe (attended 1959-1963) so spent most of my life at the pool. One of the life guards was named Perry. Thanks for the memory this was a wonderful time of my life.Connie Allennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-89407540411111063262014-03-29T22:10:34.667+00:002014-03-29T22:10:34.667+00:00Laurie Grove Baths holds a very special place in m...Laurie Grove Baths holds a very special place in my heart. It was my second home from the moment my Dad threw me into the middle of a circle formed in the water by my 4 sisters & brother.I had no fear & found a passion for swimming that has lasted my entire life. I have so many happy memories of the long hot summer days spent in the pool having fun and just floating on my back staring lazily up at the sky. I was really sad when it closed for good but am pleased that all the features that made the building so special still remain. It has been great reading the history of the baths and the photo's took make straight back to my childhood in the 70's. Thank you for stirring happy memories.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-89535855741971950352014-03-15T09:07:17.733+00:002014-03-15T09:07:17.733+00:00Used to swim there in the late 80s while studying ...Used to swim there in the late 80s while studying at Goldsmiths. It was a little run down but still lovely in its splendour. I know of baths from this period that have been kept in use (Munich for example). What a shame Laurie Grove isn't! Thanks for posting the history of it - had I known of its significance in terms of musical and socio-political history, I would have enjoyed my swim even more.annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00656684418545811063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-23256739950663682992014-03-15T09:07:02.817+00:002014-03-15T09:07:02.817+00:00Used to swim there in the late 80s while at colleg...Used to swim there in the late 80s while at college. It was a little run down , very quiet and so it was lovely to swim there under that grand roof. What a shame it isn't in use as a pool anymore. I know of baths from this period that still are (e.g.Munich) Thanks for posting its history!annettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00656684418545811063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-38264654252429605922014-01-10T21:52:09.490+00:002014-01-10T21:52:09.490+00:00Lovely to hear from you from Kay, let's hope t...Lovely to hear from you from Kay, let's hope the next generation of swimmers will have similar things to say about Deptford wavelengths!.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17026835814805695527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-14031320197188951242014-01-08T21:06:03.331+00:002014-01-08T21:06:03.331+00:00I regularly swam at Laurie Grove from the late 196...I regularly swam at Laurie Grove from the late 1960's onwards. My school Christopher Marlowe had weekly lessons there and the annual school gala in the summer term. There were 3 pools, the one up the hill open all year round and the summer pool and the teaching pool. New Triton Swimming Club trained there most evenings and I was also a member of that club. We wore green and yellow speedos and had galas all over London. It used to cost 6d in old money to have a swim. My little brother swam his first length there at the Deptford Festival (the first one?) in about 1968/9 - he still has his medal which he insisted on being given to him by the Parish priest and not the local dignitaries as he was impressed by the Priest's long surplus. I carried on swimming throughout my life - rlearning to swim at Laurie Grove and eventually taking my swimming teachers exams and spent over 30 years teaching and training swimmers specialising in disability swimming. I also went on to help start London's first competitive swim club for disabled competitive swimmers which has helped produce National, International and Paralympic swimmers. My teaching/ coaching has always been as a volunteer and that's due to the volunteers at Laurie Grove that taught me. My parents would never have paid for my lessons so without their help I would never have been able to have enjoyed a lifetime of swimming or been able to pass it on. Laurie Grove Baths holds a special place in my heart.Kaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8650332.post-20182839756840302642012-12-17T20:36:20.077+00:002012-12-17T20:36:20.077+00:00Well there have been several Teddy Boy revivals, i...Well there have been several Teddy Boy revivals, including in the 1970s so maybe that was what Hotrodasaurus was referring to..https://www.blogger.com/profile/17026835814805695527noreply@blogger.com