Portobello Outdoor Pool

Category

Library Item

Item no

7893

Title

Portobello Outdoor Pool

Description

Two women look across from railings at Portobello outdoor swimming pool. Along from them is a covered seating area and in front is the pool and diving board. The Art Deco style entranceway can be seen at the end of the pool. In the background a roller coaster is visible.

Artist / maker

Unknown

Date

1936

Size

15.6 x 20.5 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Copyright

The copyright status of this item is unknown. If you have information related to the copyright holder please contact us.

Portobello's outdoor swimming pool was opened in 1936. It was equipped with diving boards and a wave machine, and was open between May and September. The pool's proximity to a power station gave it access to heated water, but also meant that it had to be covered for the duration of World War II to prevent it being used as a marker by German bombers. The actor Sean Connery served as a Portobello lifeguard in the post war period. The pool was closed in 1979, not long after the power station, and the area is now used for five-a-side football.

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Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Railings

Places > Edinburgh areas > Portobello

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Diving boards

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Roller coasters

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Swimming pools

(55°57′22″N, 3°7′5″W)