Prudhoe & District Local History Society
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  • About Prudhoe
  • Programme
  • About our Society
  • Images & lists of soldiers killed in WWI & WWII
  • Information requested
  • Poss Sticks Book Launch 2012
  • St Mary Magdalene Cemetery/1
    • St Mary Magdalene Cemetery/2
  • Gallery
    • 1. Places >
      • 1.1 Eltringham
      • 1.2 High Prudhoe
      • 1.3 Low Prudhoe
      • 1.4 West Wylam
      • 1.5 Mickley
      • 1.6 Hexham
      • 1.7 Stocksfield
      • 1.8 Ovingham/Ovington
      • 1.9 West Prudhoe
      • 1.10 Road Ends, Front Street and Stonyflat Bank
      • 1.11 Castle Road and Western Avenue
    • 2. Activities >
      • 2.1 Entertainment
      • 2.2 Football
      • 2.3 Cricket
      • 2.4 Bowls
      • 2.5 Athletics
      • 2.6 Cycling
      • 2.7 Swimming
      • 2.8 Golf
      • 2.9 Other Sports
    • 3. Public Services and Occasions >
      • 3.1 Public Services
      • 3.2 Fire Service
      • 3.3 Post Boxes
      • 3.4 Public Occasions
      • 3.5 Wars and Victory
      • 3.6 War Memorials
      • 3.7 Maps
      • 3.8 Wells of Prudhoe
      • 3.9 End of the Penny Toll
      • 3.10 Prudhoe By-Pass Construction
    • 4. Church and School >
      • 4.1 Church and Chapel
      • 4.2 Schools
    • 5. Commerce and Industry >
      • 5.1 Shops
      • 5.2 Industry
      • 5.3 Mining
      • 5.4 Public Houses
      • 5.5 Agriculture/Horticulture
      • 5.6 Other Commerce
      • 5.7 Coking in Prudhoe
    • 6. Travel >
      • 6.1 Crossing the Tyne
      • 6.2 Transport
    • 7. Castle/Hall/Hospital >
      • 7.1 Prudhoe Castle
      • 7.2 Prudhoe Hall
      • 7.3 Prudhoe Hospital
      • 7.4 Prudhoe Hospital Walled Garden
    • 8. People >
      • 8.1 Social Groups
    • 9 General >
      • 9.1 Now and Then
      • 9.2 Other
    • Liddle family photographs
    • Guest Area - North Tyne
  • Extracts from 'A Prudhoe Likeness'
    • Section 1 >
      • PROUD HEIGHTS OR PRUDHA’S HILL
      • FROM VILLAGE TO TOWN
      • OUT OF OVINGHAM AND MICKLEY
      • IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO FELL
      • RAIDS AND RATIONING
      • JOHN WESLEY SPARKS A FLAME
      • STARTED BY EIGHT MEN FROM WYLAM!
      • FROM FAMILY SEAT TO HOSPITAL & PLACE OF WORSHIP
      • PALACE OR POLLUTED ‘RAA’?
      • WATER FOR MAN AND BEAST
    • Section 2 >
      • END OF THE PENNY TOLL
      • “THE LITTLE VILLAGE DOWN THE BANK”
      • INDUSTRIAL EXPANSION
      • FROM LIME TO DEMOLITION
      • TRAGEDY FOR PRUDHOE
      • FIRE! STOKE THE BOILER!
      • A CANNY PINT AND MORE BESIDES
      • THE COAL BOOM BRINGS SCHOOLS
      • “FALCONER’S ACADEMY”
      • PRUDHOE NATIONAL SCHOOL
    • Section 3 >
      • FOUNDED BY THE LIDDELLS
      • A TRANSIENT POPULATION, SCHOOL FEES & EPIDEMICS
      • THE NEW SCHOOLS
      • EDUCATION FOR YOUNG AND OLD
      • LET THERE BE LIGHT
      • THE EDGE WELL
      • A NEW USE FOR THE CASTLE?
      • ALONG THE FRONT STREET
      • FAMILY ENTERPRISES
      • UP “THE TOON”
    • Section 4 >
      • HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR
      • THE WIDER WORLD OPENS UP
      • STATION GATE Eltringham
      • THE POINTS
      • A PROUD SPORTING TRADITION
      • MEN OF SPORTING TALENT
      • THE MEN IN WHITES
      • ON THE GREEN
      • IT BEGAN BESIDE ‘THE SUEY
      • FROM THE REX TO WATERWORLD
    • Section 5 >
      • OVER THE HILLS AND FAR AWAY
      • FANCIERS OF FEATHER
      • A SLAP-UP TEA AND A GOSSIP
  • Personal Memories
    • Margaret Hepworth
    • Nancy Snaith
    • Marian Smailes
    • Jim and Anne Standish
    • Marcus Gatenby
    • Bill Hunter
    • Norman Roberts
    • Peggy Ballantyne
    • Ronnie Howson
    • Bernard Stewart (West Wylam)
    • Joe Wallis
    • John Currey
    • Interviews with woman from Heddon
Photographs relating to this article, including those in this extract, may be found in Gallery 2.7
The first swimming pool in Prudhoe was created in the 1960’s when the Rex Cinema on the Front Street was converted, though as long ago as 1911 a swimming club was in existence at Mickley when an annual swimming gala was held in the river and attracted some two thousand spectators. The building housed two pools, a large pool which initially was the only pool and then later a toddlers’ and learners’ pool.
Picture
Prudhoe's First Swimming pool 1987
This was built as the Electric Cinema then changed its name to the Rex
By the mid 1980’s the pool was in need of refurbishment due to the demand made upon it. After research it was decided that instead of refurbishing the existing pool the public would be better served by building a purpose made pool taking into account modem trends. The site chosen for the new leisure pool was on the piece of land known locally as the “Suey” and the proposal to go ahead with the new pool was agreed in 1988. The foundation stone for the new project was laid 5th April 1989 by Councillor Mrs Phoebe Grange and the Waterworld pool was officially opened by Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of York on Monday 15th October 1990.

Waterworld has a 25 metre pool, a beach area for toddlers, a 40 metre aquaslide, wave making machinery and a poolside jacuzzi. In addition, the building houses a fitness suite with lounge area and cafeteria.

The pool is used by local schools, and caters for every age group for swimmers of any proficiency from beginners upwards.