Swimming pools & swimmers

I have never heard of any Roman Baths at Livingstone Road, although my brother remembers an area at the back of the old baths that was not open to the public. I would be very grateful to learn more about these.

I can assure you that this site exists, I was taken down there on a visit with others in 1958/9, there was as I remember a stairwell at the rear of the swimming baths that gave direct access, I can still clearly remember the place and being surprised at the condition of the Roman Baths which also had a larger communial pool area. Perhaps it has already been built over years ago, I remember a newspaper report about the new bus station having problems with foundations opposite the Swanswell Pool, and then the 'surprise' discovery that rubbish had been dumped into the original pit and just covered over with topsoil over the years. It was common knowledge to locals that this was in fact a bomb crater that everyone and his dog dumped unwanted rubbish into it including household waste which in those days was buried in the garden generally. I was amazed that no one on the Council either knew or remembered this area for what it was. Next to the crater were a row of single storey shops opposite the Swanswell with a garage sales site on the corner which may have been the original Brandish site. So the lack of local knowledge concerning the Livingstone Road Roman Baths on which the 'new' baths had been built partly over does not surprise me. Many important areas of Coventry have been bulldozed to make way for ill-conceived hastily made decisions on what was thought to be best for Coventry. You only have to look at the area opposite the new Cathedral where there were several streets of old cottages destroyed to make way for the university buildings and the Herbert Art gallery. This was our own 'Stratford upon Avon' tourist area that has been lost for ever, moving the odd building to Spon Street is not exactly the same is it?

I believe you, Wingy, that this site exists and that you were told they were Roman baths. I have to confess that I am sceptical that they were constructed by Romans. It would be wonderful if that is proved to be the case, however, and would add another dimension to our city's history since there would have to have been a settlement here.

Wingy that must of been where they had all the bodies from 2nd ww used as a mortuary because the main one was full. I was told by a worker recently at Livingstone baths when I told them of the bodies kept their he said the mortuary was underneath . My dad and Uncle took bodies there from the Alvis. As for Roman settlement Radford Coventry stems from Roman Baginton was a Roman settlement or was it.

Just for info, Foleshill Leasure Centre (or Livi Baths as most of us knew it) finally closes its doors on Sunday, August 17th 2014 - after serving the local (and not so local !) community for 77 years! After spending years of my life not only taking my kids there to swim, but also teaching there for the City of Coventry Swimming Club, it will be sad to see it go.

Very sad to hear this. I went to Livingstone Road baths regularly throughout my childhood with parents, brother and mates, both to old and new baths. I have very fond memories of that time, as no doubt many others have also. What a shame it is closing.

I used to love Livingstone Road Baths. I used to catch the inner circle and walk the rest of the way and get to the baths for 9.00am on a saturday morning so I could be first in and have a swim before any one else got there. I was not a strong swimmer so I liked to swim along by the side. To be quite honest I did not realise the baths were still open. I think I also remember an are outside that looked like a derelict area but I could not tell you if they were Roman ruins.

as you come off foleshill road onto the slipway leading to the island at the lower end of sky blue way, 2/3 off the way down on the left of the road underneath the actual sliproad there are some roman remains beneath the surface which are subject to a preservation order.

So sad - to hear of the closure of Livingstone Road baths. My husband and I met there when we we 8!!! We used to swim for Three Spires, along with my 2 brothers and my husband's 2 brothers. Our lives seem to have been built around it - my mum became a coach and learnt at Livi, whilst we swam hundreds/thousands of laps under the watchful eye of our respective coaches - Trevor Thomas, Albert Sneddon and my father-in-law (coach) Ken Rouse. I learnt to swim in the small pool then doing widths in the big pool. I once had to be rescued by a lifeguard having passed out when I dived in (I had meningitis)!!!! My husband, his 2 brothers, myself all went to National level. My mum coached for many years, before retiring as a coach for children with disabilities at Bedworth Swimming Pool - she has now passed away. My father-in-Law - Ken Rouse - taught as a coach for many years with great success - sadly he too has passed away. We now live in Perth, Western Australia where we are spoilt for choice with pools and still swim every week (our son also swam at National level). So swimming is in our blood. It is a crying shame that such a 'historic' place has been closed. I truly hope COVENTRY can promote swimming and continue to teach children to swim and prevent drowning deaths, with good facilities. Again so sad - that those big wooden doors have been closed forever.

Hi Dolphin was your mum's name Sheila by any chance.

Ref Livingstone Baths. I am trying to find out if it was ever bombed in the war, as I had a chat to a local man in his 80's + the other day and he made a comment about bodies being buried there under the pool area and quick lime used in the graves. It may be just his mind playing games with him, but does sound like he knew what he was on about and what happened. He also said about swimming in the old pits / quarry of Hemmings Brickworks (wherever that was).

There is an article here that mentions the baths Hemmings Brickworks I think are the same as Websters Bricks which has its own topic. There is a picture of a quarry full of water on there Baz.

I know Livingstone baths was a mortuary Baz my dad and uncle took bodies there after digging them out from the Alvis. I believe that gentlemen 9 times out of 10 they tell the truth, it's the ones who never experience this life find it hard to believe in my experience and anything goes in war. The Hemming brick factory was in Foleshill, Webster Hemmings made bricks for industry here on this link.

With Livingstone Baths closed and the Coventry Swimming Baths to close shortly I am interested to hear from fellow bathers how many school swimming baths have we lost. I have worked in most schools teaching swimming, lifesaving or training pool lifeguards. I hear the following schools have closed or are going to close their pools: Caludon Castle, Ernsford Grange, Cardinal Newman, Coundon Court, Teachers Training at Canley. I believe President Kennedy, Lyng Hall, Exhall Grange and the Jag pool is still going. The Binley School pool closed many years ago. Many thanks