Leeds International Pool

The Leeds International Pool often referred to as the Leeds International Baths, are former swimming facilities in Leeds City Centre, West Yorkshire, England. The Pool is situated at the lower end of Westgate and is notable for its brutalist architecture. The pool was constructed in the 1960s and was inches too narrow to qualify as an olympic pool. The Pool was designed by disgraced architect John Poulson. [cite web |url=http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=200438_13256472 |title=Leeds International Pool, Construction, Westgate |publisher=leodis.net |accessdate=2008-07-21]

The facility closed in October 2007 and was replaced by the Aquatics Centre at the John Charles Centre for Sport (former South Leeds Stadium). The buildings still stand, however have fallen subject to vandalism. One notable factor of the buildings was the overhanging wall, which are used as a sheltered sleeping area by homeless people.

Controversy

The buildings of the pool were controversial from their opening in 1967. Although in the first six months of opening, the facilities were used by over 220,000 people (then, nearly half the population of Leeds), [cite web |url=http://www.leodis.net/display.aspx?resourceIdentifier=2006116_160337 |title=Leeds International Pool, Westgate |publisher=leodis.net |accessdate=2008-07-21] the buildings spent much of their early days closed, being repaired and alterations being made. The architect John Poulson was gaoled for corruption in 1973. Other buildings designed by Poulson include Cannon Street Station and East Croydon Station in London.

Future

The buildings have closed and there are no plans to re-open them. However, their demolition seems more unlikely after the proposed skyscraper to replace them, "The Spiracle" was cancelled. The buildings would be hard to convert for other uses, and the likelihood of a private company wanting to run the marred swimming pool would be unlikely, especially as Leeds now has far superior facilities at the John Charles Centre for Sport. However the buildings are popular, particularly with admirers of brutalism and twentieth century architecture.

Replacement Facilities

The replacement facilities at the John Charles Centre for Sport offer a larger diving pool with a movable floor for adjusting the depth, an olympic sized pool with three inflatable booms for easy division and larger spectator areas. The new facilities adjoin an athletics and rugby league stadium, used by Hunslet Hawks, as well as indoor bowling facilities and tennis courts, the new facilities also offer ample free parking. They are however less accessible for people living in the North of Leeds and other towns within the City of Leeds such as Otley and Wetherby. The John Charles Centre for Sport, is bordered by Beeston, Hunslet and Middleton and is accessible from the M1, M62 and M621.

ee also

*John Charles Centre for Sport
*Leeds City Council
*John Poulson
*Sport in Leeds
*Architecture in Leeds
*Brutalism

References

External links

* [http://www.leodis.net/searchResults.aspx?LOCID=0&DECADE=0&YEAR=&KEYWORDS=Leeds%20International%20Pool&KEYWORDS2=&KEYWORDS3=&ANDOR2=&ANDOR3=&RECSPAGE=5&VIEW=1&CURRPAGE=1 Historical photographs of the pool] from leodis.net.