Poster for Portobello Bathing Pool Illuminated Gala

Category

Museums & Galleries Item

Item no

50842

Title

One poster for the 'Portobello Amateur Swimming Club Illuminated Gala', Portobello Bathing Pool, 1956

Description

One poster for the City and Royal Burgh of Edinburgh Portobello Bathing Pool 'Portobello Amateur Swimming Club Illuminated Gala' on the 1st September, 1956. The poster lists the performances taking place during the event such as a water polo match, a pipe band the Caledonia Divers as well as a firework display. Along the bottom of the poster are the admission charges listed.

Date

1956

Size

51.8 x 25.2 cm

Type

Document; Paper; Promotional material

Location

Museum of Edinburgh

Accession number

HH5308/4/90

Copyright

The City of Edinburgh Council Museums & Galleries

When Portobello's outdoor pool opened in 1936, it was the largest swimming pool in Scotland, and featured state of the art wave technology, Art Deco architecture, and promise of a great day out in heated water. In its first season, it boasted 290,000 bathers and almost 500,000 spectators. One of the pool’s many unique selling points was the heated water, allowing the pool to be open from the month of May through to September every year until the outbreak of World War II in 1939. Construction on a site next to the coal-fired Portobello Power Station meant the pool could be maintained at a temperature of 20 degrees, although many who remember it may not agree it felt very warm.

During the 1950s, the bathing pool hosted numerous galas and diving shows, making visitor figures soar. Many of the posters for these performances can be found in the Museums & Galleries Edinburgh collection.

During the 1970’s the pool’s popularity dwindled with the increase of cheap package holidays abroad. A further blow came when the power station closed in 1978, meaning the water could no longer be heated. In 1979 Portobello bathing pool closed its doors for the final time and was demolished in 1988. Memories of the pool, however, live on.

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Related subjects

Places > Edinburgh areas > Portobello

Sport and leisure > Activities > Bathing

Sport and leisure > Activities > Swimming

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Baths

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Diving boards

Sport and leisure > Sports and recreation facilities > Swimming pools

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