Crown Pools is a swimming venue in Ipswich that opened in 1984.
| Crown Pool | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Crown Street, Ipswich, Suffolk, Crown Street, IP1 3JA |
| Opened | 1984 |
Design and building
editCrown Pools has a collection of three pools: a 8-lane 25x18m pool (0.9-1.8m deep), a pleasure pool (0-1.75m deep) with a wave machine and a teaching pool (0.75m deep).[1] It is the biggest leisure facility in Ipswich also offering a range of indoor facilities including gym and sauna.[2] When it opened in 1984, there were queues of children waiting to gain entrance and in the summer of 2019 saw more than 1,000 children swimmers each day.[3][4]
The land was originally home of the Art Deco designed Egertons Ipswich Ltd (garage and showroom). It was demolished in the early 1960s and was temporarily used as a market before Crown Pools building began.[5][6][7]
In 2023, the requirement to have the bulk supply of sodium hypochlorite to the facility by an external contractor was changed to an Electro Chlorination System, which generates its own sodium hypochlorite on site. This reduces the Ipswich Borough Council's carbon footprint and make a cost saving.[8]
Notable visitors
editLady Diana visited Crown Pools and spoke to swimmers in 1990.[9]
Refurbishment and current use
editIn 2010, new changing area and reception and improved air conditioning were installed as part of a £3.5million revamp.[10]
in 2011, the leisure and teaching pool were emptied in phase II of the refurbishment. The work involves tiling, roofing, lighting, general redecoration and replacing heating equipment underneath the pools. The pools re-opened in 2012.[11]
In 2012, the competition pool was refurbished and re-opened later that year.[11]
Future
editCrown pool will likely be closed when the new "low carbon aquatics centre" opens next to Ipswich Town Football Club in 2027. The aquatics centre will include an Olympic sized pool, water flumes, a bigger gym, better facilities for fitness classes, soft play and a cafe.[12][13]
The Crown Pool site will likely be redeveloped for housing or commercial use.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Poolfinder | Crown Pools". Swimming.org. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Crown Pools". Ipswich Fit. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Looking back at when Crown Pools were first opened in 1984". Ipswich Star. 2017-06-30. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Busy school holidays as 1,000 children a day visit Crown Pools". Ipswich Star. 2019-07-31. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Ipswich Historic Lettering: Charles Street". www.ipswich-lettering.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Suffolk Archives Egerton's".
- ^ Egerton Collection.
- ^ "Connection denied by Geolocation". democracy.ipswich.gov.uk. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Nostalgia: Royal visits to Ipswich over the decades". Ipswich Star. 2020-07-02. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Swimming pool gets £3.5m revamp". 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ a b "Crown Pools in Ipswich emptied for refurbishment". BBC News. 2011-10-18. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Ipswich council plans to close Crown Pools and build new aquatics centre". BBC News. 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Experts to make waves on pool proposals". Ipswich Star. 2006-11-09. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
- ^ "Homes could be built on site of Ipswich Crown Pools". East Anglian Daily Times. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2024-02-08.