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COATE WATER DIVING PLATFORM

- SWINDON -

A SHORT HISTORY

Coate Water Country Part is situated to the southeast of central Swindon. It takes its name from its main feature, a reservoir originally built to provide water for the Wilts & Berks Canal.

The reservoir formed a 70-acre (280,000 m2) lake, built in 1822 by diverting the River Cole. Its primary purpose was to provide water for the canal and it remained outside the borough of Swindon until the borough's expansion in 1928. [1] 

In 1914, with the canal abandoned, Coate became a place for recreation. The lake was re-imagined as a leisure destination in the 1930s when it was purchased by the Swindon Corporation.  It was landscaped and a new Art Deco pool was built, (since demolished). Changing rooms and a wooden diving board were added. In 1935 the wooden diving platform was replaced with a 33 ft (10 m) high concrete platform in an Art Deco style.

Coate Water is the largest still water body in Wiltshire with extensive reedbeds. Woodland. Unimproved flower meadows. Plants include common spotted orchid, oxeye daisy, devils-bit scabious, black knapweed and adders tongue fern. Coate water has waterfowl and over 15 species of dragonfly and damselfly including the red-eyed damselfly. Heronry. [4]

The Diving Platform

Situated at the north end of Coate Water, the Diving Platform originally was wooden, but its replacement had both fixed boards and spring boards. It was completed in 1935 to a design by the Borough Surveyor, JBL Thompson. A year earlier, Thompson had designed the Art Deco style Concert Bowl for Swindon's Town Gardens (included on the Register of Parks and Gardens at Grade II), also, built in concrete. [2]

This platform was built of re-enforced concrete to the most modern and safe design of the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA). FINA was founded in 1908 and continues to be the international governing body of swimming, water polo, diving, synchronised swimming and open water swimming. [3]

 

Image © Swindon Libraries Collection

 

The shape of the diving tower at Coate Water meant that the boards could be staggered so as to give sufficient headspace for the diver, and the varying platform heights also allowed for all year-round diving, taking account of the changing water levels.

It was opened officially on the 22 June 1935, and Miss Cicely Cousins later the National Diving champion, performed the first dive from it. She then gave a demonstration of 'fancy diving', followed by exhibitions from Les and Bram Tomkins. [2]

Between 1935 and the early 1950s Both local and national diving competitions took place at Coate Water, and the lake was regularly used for water polo and regattas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diving Tower in its prime 1939. Courtesy of the Amateur Swimming Ass. (Diving Manual 1936)

 

 

Closure of the Platform

After pollution concerns, the lake was closed for swimming in 1958 leaving the diving board to nature.  To stop members of the public using it platform the steps were blocked up.[2]

Civic News, the monthly news sheet of Swindon Borough Council reported in 1962 that the water level was so low it resembled a large village pond.

The 1970s

In the 1970s Coate Water became Wiltshire's first Local Nature Reserve, and subsequently the lake was declared a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Public boating continued until the mid-1990s, with the use of the lake now limited to private boating clubs.

 Image © Brian Robert Marshall

Historic England Listing

The Platform was listed (Grade II) in 2013, being then, one of only four interwar concrete diving platforms at the time to survive to this day, and the sole example located in a lake.[5]  Given that much Art Deco architecture has not survived the passing fashions, we must be thankful for this recognition.

 

Image © Swindon Advertiser (2013)

The Future

There have been numerous campaigns over the last decade to restore the Platform.

In November 2020 Councillor Dale Heenan who was responsible for the Parks at the time suggested that Developers cash (Section 106) be used to improve Swindon’s parks. In the proposal which formed a Parks Improvement Strategy. “The first is to clean and restore the iconic diving board”. [7]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image © Shirley Ludford 2019

 

In January 2022, Swindon Borough Council unveiled plans to restore the Coate Water diving board as part of its transformation of the popular outdoor space.

This includes a half-a-million-pound investment into building a new inclusive children’s play park closer to the park’s entrance.[6]  At the time the council said that Preparations are currently underway to submit a planning and listed building application to refurbish and clean the iconic Coate Water diving board

Cabinet member for culture, heritage, leisure and town centre experience, councillor Rob Jandy said: “Coate Water really is one of Swindon’s gems and this investment in the diving board and children’s play park is just the start as we also have plans to create new café facilities. 

“We had a fantastic response to the consultation events and we are committed to doing all we can to make the most of all our beautiful parks so local people can continue to enjoy them.”

Restoration Approved

In April this year, 2022 planning approval for the restoration of the Diving Platform was approved.[8] Swindon Borough Council was given permission by its own planning department for the work which will cost £18,000 as part of its country park improvement plan.

The appearance of the Grade 2 1930s structure will remain largely unchanged planning documents reveal.

“The unsightly blockwork to the lower platform will be removed and replica handrails will be reinstated to all the platform levels.

The diving board will also be fully environmentally cleaned down and redecorated. Once works are completed the structure will look as originally designed.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How The Coate Water Platform could look in the next couple of years

 

Opinion

Since the news emerged that the Platform was to get cleaned and restored they have been many comments many in favour, some against, some questioning should we be spending money on a concrete structure that won't be used again?

 

But here is why it IS important to restore it.

 

It is now one of only two Art Deco diving boards remaining in the UK. The one here in Swindon is the only one that is still in water, the other is in Croydon near a car park (the days of that lido that it served are long gone).

 

The diving board here in Swindon is Grade 2 listed which means it's of historical value. Its not only part of Swindon’s heritage but that of the country.

 

I know there has been numerous calls over the years for it to be cleaned. The elements, ravages of time and a few thousand pigeons and other feathered friends have taken it toll. But later this year the landmark will be cleaned up. The plans also show that railings will be fitted to each platform so returning to how it was in its heyday. Mentioned above

 

But back to the diving board, whilst it may never be used again it is an iconic feature of the country park and it will be good to see it restored.

I'm not privy to the actual costs but as a listed structure this means specialist contractors will need to be brought in to work on the historic "monument" which will always up the cost, together with being in water, working at height (H&S) plus plans to have replica iron railings as were originally there will all add up. The plans also show they are getting rid of the breeze blocks to open up the arches on the base.

 

Unfortunately, it's not the case of using a jet hose to just spray it down. There are probably some other elements I haven't mentioned. The project is being funded by developers’ cash (called a Section 106 grant) so no public money is being used for the refurbishment.

 

I know for many spending monies on heritage assets isn't a priority but for others looking after the past for future generations IMHO is a good thing.

 

 

Coate Water Diving Platform, A Short History

was written by Dave Woods,

Chief News Correspondent for Swindon 105.5

© Dave Woods Creative Media April 2022

References

 

[1] Mark Child (2002). Swindon : An Illustrated History. United Kingdom: Breedon Books Publishing.  1-85983-322-5

[2] Historic England. "Coate Water Diving Platform (1417099)"National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 April 2022

[3] FINA - History of FINA Retrieved 29 April 2022

[4] Natural England - Coate Water Retrieved 29 April 2022

[5] Listed Status BBC 29 November 2013

[6] This Is Wiltshire: January 2022 Coate Water Revamp Retrieved 29 April 2022

[7] Swindon Advertiser 24 November 2020  Diving Board given facelift Retrieved 29 April 2022

[8] SWINDON 105.5 24 April 2022 Green light to restore iconic landmark Retrieved 29 April 2022

 

Additional resources Sporting Heritage.org.uk

All Images - I would like to thanks the photographers' for thier images to help tell this story

The copyright remains with the owners. Helen Weedon (Top Image) Swindon Libraries Collection, Amateur Swimming Association, Brian Robert Marshall, Swindon Advertiser, Shirley Ludford.

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