The Bramley History Community Archive

The baths were opened at 3 p.m. on 17th October 1904 by the then Lord and Lady Mayoress Mr. & Mrs. A. Currer Briggs.

We feel sure many Bramley people will remember very happy times spent at the baths. Most local people would have learned to swim there when they would have been taken along by parents, family, friends or local schools. Many became excellent swimmers and went on to perform in swimming galas where prizes were handed out. A great sense of friendly competition was what made these events so special. Some of those swimmers went on to do extremely well in their chosen 'stroke', or maybe they were proficient in all of them, or had excellent diving skills. It didn't matter really; it was the taking part that counted and doing your best for your school or swimming club.

But it wasn't just a case of the place being solely used for swimming. Oh, no - from the end of October to the beginning of April, the swimming bath itself was drained of its many gallons of water and when this was done a team of men tackled the job of laying a wooden floor, which covered not just the pool itself but also the walkways which ran around the edge. This flooring ended at the point where the rows of changing cubicles were placed.

Then the wintertime fun got underway. Do you remember those Saturday night public dances when a band would play away until it was time for 'Good Night Ladies' or 'The last Waltz' and then 'The King' or 'The Queen', depending on how long ago it was when you were last there? Many local people met their prospective wives and husbands on these Saturday night events.

Some of the Society's members remember happy times as far back as the 1920's. Lots of local businesses held their annual dances at the Baths. W.E. Yates Limited was one of the larger Bramley businesses to use the baths for their special annual event when 'a good time was had by all'.

Local hairdressers used to be kept unusually busy around these special dates, and if the ladies hadn't made an appointment early enough they would, no doubt, have been very disappointed.

Our current Chairperson, and others within our membership, remember Pantomimes and Variety Shows being put on at the baths, when good audience attendance was to be had. Most of these events were organised by local groups, such as churches, etc., who all seemed to have never-ending supplies of would-be thespians to volunteer or be gently cajoled into taking part in these events.

2008.