This building, that housed Andover’s swimming baths, stood near the top of Adelaide Road and will be familiar to many readers. Though, only the very aged could claim to have swam there. The photograph dates from the early 20th century, soon after its completion.

The baths were built by Frank Beale in whose yard the facility stood. Constructed of corrugated iron sheets attached to a timber frame, it was actually the second version that Beale had erected there.

The first was in 1885, one of the first in southern England, but this was gutted by fire in 1894. The replacement was of similar design but higher, and allowed better light with its lantern roof.

Note the gas light and bracket on the wall, as well as the Gothic Revival style woodwork, both for the entrance to the baths and the adjacent yard.

Cyril Berry in his 1976 book ‘Old Andover’, tells us that a swim, including two towels, cost 6d for men and 8d for ladies – although mixed bathing was not allowed and the baths were reserved for ladies for one and a quarter hours each morning.

There were no added chemicals such as chlorine in those days to cleanse the water and although some fresh quantities were added each day, it was not until Saturday that all the water was changed.

On the last day, all the boys of the town could swim for 1d each. Rules included no dogs, no smoking and no soap.

There was also a spectators’ gallery, diving boards and an array of pictures hanging from the walls, including one of the ruling monarch.

Opening times were confined to the summer months and in the winter, the pool was boarded over and the building became the Assembly Rooms for concerts and theatre productions.

These were not just amateur affairs and included Charles Frohman’s production of Sherlock Holmes from the Lyceum Theatre, London, advertised as ‘the most thrilling play ever seen on stage’.

Another was Cousin Kate from the Hutchison company with reserved seats costing 3/- each, available from Messrs Holmes and Son (former proprietors of the Andover Advertiser). On Frank Beale’s part the baths were never intended as a great money-maker.

They never paid their way and were closed during the 1920s, to became a furniture store and it was not until 1937 that another swimming pool was opened, next to the Walled Meadow.

Having lain idle for many years the Adelaide Road building was finally demolished in 1976 to make way for new development. An interesting footnote to the Andover Advertiser’s report of its demolition records that two important, Tudor period carved stone fireplaces had a few years before been removed from the Angel inn.

One was sold intact but the damaged one had been stored at the baths until being removed to ‘Test Valley Archaeological unit’ at Romsey for repair.

Today’s historians lament the removal of those fireplaces from their original location at the Angel which is the best-preserved 15th century inn in Hampshire. Although historian Richard Warmington in 1970 was able to draw one of the fireplaces before they disappeared that is the only record of what they looked like.

The intact one’s whereabouts is unknown but where, one wonders, is the damaged one today?

Does it still exist in the care of TVBC or the county council?

Is it by chance unrecognised for what it is, at Chilcomb?