A rare interwar seawater lido continues to offer outdoor swimming within its colourful Art Deco enclosure.
Quick facts
- Date
- Built and opened 1934; technical systems added 1935
- Architect / designer
- R. Gall of Gregory and Gall; built by William Tawse Ltd
- Type
- Art Deco heated seawater lido with entrance range, changing rooms, café and bandstand
- Designation
- Listed building, Category B (LB50183)
- OS grid reference
- NO 87656 86533
Architecture and continuing use
A large rectangular pool is enclosed by stepped concrete walls and a long pantiled entrance range containing changing rooms, café and turnstiles. A colonnaded viewing gallery, bandstand, flagpoles and bright shutters give the complex a festive civic character.
Its story
Opened during the interwar growth of seaside recreation, the pool soon gained heating and filtration. Local campaigning resisted closure in the 1990s, leading to renewed partnership management and continued seasonal operation.
Why it is included
Its rare survival, listed Art Deco architecture and active community use give the pool significance well beyond Stonehaven.
What to notice
- Symmetrical entrance with paired flagpoles.
- Colonnaded viewing gallery and bandstand.
- Original turnstiles and changing cubicles where access permits.
Reading the surroundings
Opening is seasonal and swimming conditions, sessions and ticketing vary. Check the pool’s live information; non-swimmers should not enter operational areas without permission.
Timeline
- 4 June 1934 The concrete pool opened with swimming, diving and public celebrations.
- 1935 Heating, circulation, filtration and disinfection equipment improved the seawater pool.
- 1994 Threatened closure prompted the formation of the Friends of the Open Air Pool.
- 2000 A formal partnership with Aberdeenshire Council supported the restored facility.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
Season dates and the availability of individual facilities change annually and must be checked with the operator.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Stonehaven Open Air Swimming Pool, LB50183 — Designation category, mapped location, construction phases, fabric, authorship and architectural or historical interest.
- Stonehaven Open Air Pool — Current seasonal operation, tickets, facilities, events and access information.
Location
OS grid reference NO 87656 86533 · Location confidence: High: the HES designation provides an official mapped National Grid Reference and the current source confirms the Place relationship or present identity. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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