Lymington Sea Water Baths

DATE: the sea water baths are shown approximately with their current outline on the six inch 1871 Ordnance Survey map but the visible structure probably dates from circa 1930 after the seawater baths were bought and improved by Lymington Corporation and the improved baths were officially opened 3rd May 1933. The architect is not recorded but, as with other contemporary open air baths, is likely to have been the Borough Surveyor. Post-1933 pool-side structures are not of special interest.

MATERIALS: the sea baths are constructed of shuttered concrete.

PLAN: the baths comprise a roughly rectangular structure aligned north-east to south-west but tapering to the south-west. The walls are 100 yards long by 50 yards in width. There is no bottom as the bath is filled directly from the sea and river.

DESCRIPTION: there are concrete steps with tubular metal handrails along the north-west and south-east sides. On the south side built into the southern edge are two rectangular pits, a sand pit and a children's paddling pool. About two thirds along the eastern side is a concrete breakwater stretching partly across the baths consisting of a concrete platform supported on four concrete piers. There are two metal aerating fountains in the pool.