Sometimes you find a structure that hits a popular chord, one that is more than bricks and mortar, has a wider appeal and also has a tangible and sustainable use. One such structure is the Newcastle Rock Pool located to the south of the town. The 1920s and 1930s saw a huge rise in popularity of swimming and bathing and to capatalise on the possible tourism benefits many local councils decided to invest in open air sea pools. Other similar examples exist across NI for example at Warrenpoint and Whitehead while mill villages started to erect their own pools for the benefit of workers as at Gilford and Mossley. Newcastle Urban Council was one such Council to see the potential and take the initiative. The idea of a sea pool was originally raised in 1926 but the cost of over £8000 was too much for it to be considered. Eventually a site was found beside the Black Rock, its current location.
Constructed in 1933 this mass concrete structure is believed to be the only one of its kind in Ulster. It was officially opened in June 1933 by Elizabeth Lady Annesley at a cost of £4000. The engineers were Messrs Ferguson and McIlveen of Belfast while the contractor was Mr Isaac Hamilton of Annalong with ironwork and a pump provided by Messrs Workman Clark. The mass concrete has signs of sea shells within it and is of a simple and plain construction. It was to open everyday from 9am to 9pm between June and September, the full price was not to exceed 6d and included use of the pool, changing box, swimming costume and a towel.
The pool was replenished twice daily by the tidal flow with a back up pump keeping it topped up. There are changing booths, a central showering area and five deep concrete steps making a viewing platform. A year after it opened there was a championship gala with events for boys and girls, a diving competition, an exhibition of tricks and swimming by J Taylor and a waterpolo match between Warrenpoint ASC and Donegall ASC.
In the mid 1980s the pool was at risk of closure but £22,000 was spent on repairs resulting in increasing visitor numbers and was used as a summer-season open-air public pool with swimming and life saving lessons also happening. In 2016 the pool was listed, being the only listed sea pool in Northern Ireland. The pool closed again in 2020 and has not reopened since.
Speaking to Jill Truesdale, Alliance local councillor for Mourne DEA, Jill notes the importance of the site and the affection that locals have for it – ‘As a long term resident of Newcastle it saddens me greatly to see the rock pool fall into such repair and essentially abandoned since summer season 2019. I spent many happy days here as a child as did my children when doing their lifesaving certificates. It’s a wonderful safe space for young people to hang out all day amongst friends during the long summer holidays. I have consistently raised concerns over its condition and water discharge issues since being elected in 2023. This is a very unique structure and would benefit both the resident and visitor population. As we have seen from many other sea pools right across Ireland and the UK it is within the realms of possibility to restore this beneficial structure for the public good’
A petition in 2021 gathered over 2800 signatures to keep the pool open, such is the level of affection for the structure. Since then the attention has not dissipated and it is a common discussion point in town. In 2024 it was added to the Heritage at Risk register and site inspection noted that there were numerous leaks to the sea wall and erosion of the mass concrete. Estimates for its restoration have been put at £5-7million, which for such a small site and of a relatively simple construction is concerning.
There are numerous examples of public and tidal pool restorations across the UK. Future Lidos is one such lobbying group. It is an informal network of projects across the UK and Ireland, dedicated to bringing the joy of outdoor swimming to more communities by restoring heritage pools, creating new lidos, and sustaining these precious assets for the future. They note that “with the right investment, lidos can nourish our health, our happiness, our economy and our communities long into the future.”
With the Mourne Gondola scheme now unlikely to happen, here is a structure owned by the Council that has both tourism and local benefits. It has widespread public support for its reinstatement and broad political support too, a rarity in Northern Ireland. This is an amazing and unique asset and given the chance it has the potential to offer a tourism experience while offering locals a haven for relaxation. Architects, engineers, consultants and heritage enthusiasts here is a building at risk that needs our help!
Sources
Future Lidos – https://www.futurelidos.org/
Belfast Telegraph – Monday 26 August 1935
Heritage at Risk – https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/harni/barniview.aspx?id=1766&js=false
Listing details – https://apps.communities-ni.gov.uk/Buildings/buildview.aspx?id=18365&js=false
1950s postcard – https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1445429372294815&id=392904327547330&set=a.393615654142864
