Our History

12/11/20090

We are proud of our history and heritage and we can trace the club back to 1840

1840 Two existing clay ‘puddling pits’ adjacent to canal fenced off and screened from the public for use as swimming pools by Mr Sandars. The pools’ water was untreated and unheated canal water and included fish and other wildlife. There were two pools situated end to end – a public bath open free of charge to males and a private bath for women.

1892 Sides and base of private bath cemented. Public bath remains ‘as built’.

1907 Children allowed to use the baths on Saturday mornings.

1913 (July) First Committee meeting was held to set up ‘Hemel Hempstead and District Swimming and Lifesaving Club’. The Club was established by Mr. NW Brentnall. Its original aim was to “promote swimming, technical education and life saving and resuscitation of the apparently drowned…encouragement in floating, diving, plunging and other swimming arts as would be of assistance to a person attempting to save life”.

Mr. Brentnall was appointed as the Club’s first instructor. Swimming classes for men were held at the public open-air canal side baths on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The ladies section met on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons at the open-air canal side private baths.

The Club was affiliated with the Royal Life Saving Society and had joined the Southern Section of the Amateur Swimming Association.

1916 Second Lieutenant William Donald Wilkinson of The 5th Essex Regiment, of George Street was killed in action at the Somme on 14 November 1916. Member of Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club.

1919 The Club erected an army hut on the eastern side as a headquarters and changing rooms

1920s Mixed bathing allowed.

1923 Pump installed to provide fresh (not canal) water from an aquifer 80 feet below pool.

1933 The pool became a favourite venue for water polo matches. Increasing demand pressures the council to consider building a new, purpose built, outdoor pool.

1937 (May) The brand new Churchill’s Baths (on the site of the current Sports Centre) opened and the canal side pools emptied and filled in

1939-45 During the war the swimming Club was put on hold with a few swimmers and a skeleton Committee.

1974 A new 33m pool opened on our current location. At this point, the Club was known as ‘Hemel Hempstead Swimming and Diving Club’.
1986 Name changed from Hemel Hempstead Swimming and Diving Club to Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club. At same time Club colours changed from black/yellow to blue/white

1996 The 33m pool closed for a Lottery-funded refurbishment.

1999 The current 25m pool reopened as the home of Hemel Hempstead Swimming Club.

2008 Former Hemel Hempstead Swimmer Richard Charlesworth swims in 1500m Freestyle for Great Britain at the Beijing Olympics.

View our history photo library here

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