Ruislip Lido

Ruislip Lido started as Ruislip Reservoir [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/ Ruislip Lido, from Ruislip Online] ] . It is located in Ruislip, London, England. It was opened on 5 December 1811 as one of the reservoirs for the Grand Junction Canal by engineer John Rennie and constructor Hugh Mackintosh.

A suitable valley, that between Copse wood and Park wood, was selected and dammed. This flooded Park Hearn, a small village there [ [http://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/environment/greenspaces/ruislip.php London Borough of Hillingdon - Ruislip Woods] ] .

Located on Ruislip Common, between Ruislip Woods (a national nature reserve) and Poors field, Ruislip Lido is at Gbmapping|TQ087891. Referring to the map shows that the canal, now renamed the Grand Union Canal, is some distance to the west, and that a culvert was built to lead water to the canal at Hayes Bridge, a distance of some seven miles. Some of the route was under the ground, and parts have been built over [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/feeder.htm The Ruislip Lido Canal Feeder, Part One, Ruislip] ] . Part of the route includes a little known aqueduct which carries the canal feeder over the River Pinn near Woodville Gardens [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/aqueduct/ Ruislip's secret aqueduct] ] .

The Ruislip Lido Railway [ [http://www.ruisliplidorailway.org/ Ruislip Lido Railway] ] [ [http://www.buccabury.co.uk/ruislip/rlrmap.htm Map of the Miniature Railway] ] is a narrow gauge railway which runs about one third of the distance around the reservoir.

The Lido begins

The reservoir was developed as a lido in 1933, with an Art Deco style main building designed by George W. Smith, together with an area reserved for swimming.

The formal opening was by the Earl of Howe in 1936.

Attractions included:
*rowing boats
*motor boats
*paddle boats
*children's playground
*a beach
*swimming
*miniature railway
*water skiing
*dinghy sailing

This made it very popular with the local populace.

In addition several films were made there, including:
*The Young Ones (film) with Cliff Richard
*A Night to Remember [ [http://www.hidden-london.com/ruislipcommon.html Hidden London - Ruislip Common] ] , where RMS Titanic "sank on film"

The Heyday

Dinghy Sailing

Ruislip Sailing Club [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/sailingclub.htm Ruislip Sailing Club RIP] ] were based at the lido. This local clubs members raced dinghies suitable for inland waters including the Graduate and the Solo, it ceased when the water level was artificially lowered and became too shallow for sailing.

Water Skiing

Ruislip was one of many venues for the World Water skiing Championship [ [http://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver.merrington/lidos/lidos1closed.htm#_Toc2087928 Ruislip Lido] showing a 1965 picture of Charlotte Rampling on a ski tow boat]

Demise

It is said that the local council run the the lido into finacial ruin in the 1970s by raising the admission fee beyond the level the market would stand [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/history.htm Demise of the Lido (scroll down)] ] [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/demise.htm The story of Ruislip Common Water Pumping Station and its Curious Aftermath (with footnote by the son of the engineer, Mr. Hester)] ] . Additionally the main building had been closed down and was vandalised before being fire damaged beyond economical repair in 1993 and demolished in 1994.

Resurrection

Today, in 2007 the lido is a shadow of its former self. The miniature railway is still running and has been lengthened considerably in the past few years and a second station and platform were added near the Waters Edge pub.

The main building has been replaced by a pub - The Water's Edge [ [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/pubs/watersedge.htm The Water's Edge] ] , and the children's playground has been refurbished

References

reflist

External links

* [http://www.ruislip.co.uk/lido/brochure.htm Brochure for the lido from circa 1948]
* [http://www.friendsofruisliplido.net/ Friends of Ruislip Lido]