Edgeware Pool – a short history

The St Albans Amateur Swimming and Life Saving Club formed a sub committee in 1924 to look for suitable land for a new pool after operating their Club in the local St Albans School pool in co-operation with the St Albans School Committee since 1923. A decision to proceed with the erection of a new fresh water swimming bath was made at a public meeting of St Albans residents on January 26 1933 according to the Ch. Ch. Times.

Construction began for a local community swimming pool built by our local Edgeware firm Hardie and Thomson, at the Edgeware Road site in 1933, and the facility was completed and opened on 10 January 1934 . It was known as St Albans Public Swimming Bath. The Ch. Ch. Times reported " The bath was the most up to date in the Dominion, apart from the Tepid baths, and the best outside pool on North Canterbury. The pool was in splendid condition with water fresh and crystal clear." The National Swimming Championships were held shortly after the opening, with seating for 2000 - 4000 people.


The pool was the result of a huge amount of input from the community, in the form of voluntary labour, and vision. The pool would open each year on show day and remain open until the end of March, and this was with no heating!
In 1956 fundraising began in earnest with a new Pavilion built by the Club followed by a new Filter plant in 1960 , costing 3,500pounds. A loan was taken out in 1963 to build new dressing sheds with showers at the cost of 1,750 pounds. In 1966 2000 pounds was raised to install a heating plant and finally a new $1,500 office and store ,new concrete walls and pool surrounds .The Ch.Ch. Roundtable raised money to install a new $1000 boiler and bike stands in 1974. Surely a truly amazing Community effort .

The swimming club awarded trophies each year for various swimming achievements. These trophies were still being awarded right up until 2006, and the names engraved on them date back 70years.
There was a community street carnival in 1985 when the Swim Club decided to give the pool a new image recognising its local position and renamed it " Edgeware Pool ". The pool was run by the St Albans community and swim club until 2002 when the Christchurch City Council took over the day to day management. Since that day the community held its breath, watching its cherished facility being slowly run down, until its eventual closure in November 2006.


The St Albans pool was highly valued as a community facility, and also provided a gathering place for families to enjoy a swim, and a good social get together. There were club days and fun days for the community, with the pool also available to many local schools in the area.
Each year volunteers would empty the pool, Periodic Detention workers would come in and clean it, and then the local fire brigade would arrive to pump out the last of the water before it could be painted. This process always meant the delivery of fabulous home baking from the grateful St Albans residents. There are some residents who still remember the wonderful camaraderie that existed, with regular working bees to prepare the pool for each new season.


In 1957 a ‘girl gang’ with 12 members was formed and Edith McPherson, now 86 years old, was one of them. Every day at 10am they would meet at the pool for a couple of quick laps and a cuppa before opening the pool to the public. For around 30years the gang would take turns to serve visitors, seven days a week. Edith smiles as she remembers her days as a ‘gang member’ and the fun they had. She recalls how all their children learned to swim there, and on Thursday club nights the stands would be full of parents and families watching and cheering.
The locals often referred to the pool as their ‘community’s best kept secret’, as it was tucked away at the end of a long access driveway. However it was well worth knowing about such a wonderful place that could forge such lasting friendships, and the whole community benefited from their association with the St Albans pool.
Valerie Somenille