Tinside Lido - Opulence For The Proletariat! by johngayton
Plymouth is, and always has been, very much a proletarian city, its citizens siding with Cromwell during the English Civil War. In more modern times the development of Tinside as a free public access bathing and leisure area is a prime exemplar of the local council's commitment to recreation for the masses. The initial works were carried out in 1913 with the construction of a seawater bathing pool and terraced access with further improvements in the 1920's and 30's culminating in the state-of-the-art Art Deco Lido in 1935 with its seawater pumps changing the water continually and its floodlit fountains.Even tho' surviving the war the lido fell into disrepair and in the 1980's was closed, despite becoming a Grade 2 listed building. It has however been substantially redeveloped (with public funding) and is now reopen to the public during the summer months (May to Sept) and the surrounding Tinside area open all year, although still undergoing development
