Saturday, 26 October 2024

Of paddling pools and vanished pastimes in Chorlton Park

Now if you are of a certain age you will remember the paddling pool in Chorlton Park.

Now this is not to be confused with the big open air swimming pool which was a feature of the park when it first opened, and was 50 yards long, 21 yards wide running from 5 feet 3 inches at the deep end to 2 feet and 6 inches at the shallow end.

It is a story for the blog for another time but does appear in that book I wrote with Mr Topping and entitled
The Quirks of Chorlton-cum-Hardy, which came out last year.

So back to the paddling pool.  Until yesterday I only had the one picture of the paddling pool which dates from the 1930s, but yesterday Roger Shelly sent over this one, which he took in the 1960s or 70s.

Leaving me just to include the map from 1933showing all the features of the newly built park.





Location; Chorlton Park






Picture; the paddling pool, circa 1960s/70s from the collection of Roger Shelly, and detail from the OS map of Manchester & Salford, 1933-34

10 comments:

  1. I remember the paddling pool and also the cabin where you could buy lovely ice lollies. Somehow they always tasted better from there than anywhere else. I can still taste them!

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    1. There were two pools one at each end........

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    2. No, just the one

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  2. There was a Swimming on the other side of the playground that was derelict, I played in their in the late 40s early 50s.

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  3. I played in the park and the paddling pool in the late1950's and the playground was separated from the paddling pool. Also theirc

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  4. I played in the paddling pool in the late 1950's. I thought there was privets all the way round separating it from the playgroup. Also I remember Shetland ponies coming each year we could ride. Does anyone else remember Ma Grey's off Beech road? Happy days, Jean from Cundiff road

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  5. Does anyone remember the Shetland pony rides each year in late 1950's. Also remember Ma Grey's off Beech road. Happy days Jean from Cundiff road

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  6. Amazing. All gone then by the time I arrived on Ryebank in 64

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  7. Thank you Andrew

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