Our Meetings

Our summer outing in June was really a visit of two parts, and that’s how you’ll find this review is written, as I was unable to visit The Cricketers after our trip behind the scenes at the Health Hydro. Angie will provide the details for that part of the visit. We began our evening at The Cricketers as the meeting point for everyone, before their allocated time slot across the road at the Health Hydro. I arrived to find it was virtually standing room only, which is always a really good sign at a Swindon Society event. My group was one of the earliest tours of the evening, so we made our way to the Health Hydro after only a relatively brief period at The Cricketers; I was disappointed to miss out on the cake I had seen on offer! Over at the Health Hydro, we met with our guide Gerry Hannon from the Friends of the Swindon Health Hydro in the reception area. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with evening swimming lessons, so there was a little bit of shunting back and forth as we endeavoured not to get in anyone’s way whilst we heard a little bit about the centre’s recent refurbishment. Gerry told us that most of the £6 million funding for the work is actually hidden, because it was the plant room and a few other behind the scenes places that needed most of the money. Nonetheless, the initial changes as you enter the building are impressive, with the gym equipment in the former foyer and a direct link to the ground floor changing rooms, rather than having to traverse the stairs several times for access, as was the case previously. We moved from the reception area, past the new gym and towards the changing rooms and pool. For obvious reasons, we didn’t look around the changing rooms but having been for a few swims myself since the re-opening, I can tell you that it is a huge improvement and I have been very impressed. We did go up onto the viewing balcony of the main pool, and whilst it has been refreshed, it is largely unchanged and in need of a bit more work (funding allowing). This was where we once again got in the way of the swimming lessons - there were many parents watching from the balcony, so we beat a hasty retreat so as not to inconvenience them any further. As Gerry reminded us, when the Health Hydro was first built in 1891-2 it was bathing, rather than swimming that formed its primary function, as bathrooms were not common in most houses at the time, including the GWR workers’ homes in the Railway Village. As the main pool was heated by steam-power, in the winter it would be closed for swimming and boarded over for events such as dances and concerts. During World War One, the boarded over pool also served as a hospital ward. We moved out of the publicly accessible areas and into the behind-the-scenes part of the tour after this. We wandered through various rooms in various states of usage and decay. There was a beautiful original stained-glass window in the door of the Turkish baths (saying exactly that) which Gerry told us had been boarded up in the 1980s for reasons unknown. Perhaps there was a worry about breaking it - I can’t think of any other good reason to board up something so functional and yet beautiful. There were a number of rooms we saw as we made our way through the building, and they were all full of original features. In one, which was latterly used for yoga and dance classes, there was a fireplace with some lovely tiling. In general, the tiles throughout the building on the “dry side” were actually glazed bricks, in what I believe was the original cream and green livery, also later adopted by Thamesdown Borough Council in their 1986 relaunch of the Health Hydro. In the foyer area of what would have been the original entrance from Faringdon Road, there is still a large mural on the wall, which looks to have dated from the 1980s or 1990s - it still looks in great condition, albeit perhaps a little incongruous with the current surroundings. This was the area which originally held the doctor’s surgery and pharmacy. In later years there was a teen sexual health clinic in the old pharmacy rooms as well as the Women’s Branch of the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA). In addition, there is still a plaque on the wall commemorating the official opening of the Well Woman Centre in 1988, which was opened by Dr. Katherina Dalton who was a pioneer in the field of women’s health, specifically PMS. The centre was in operation from the Health Hydro until 2009. That was the last stop on our tour of the Health Hydro, and where I departed for the evening. But by all accounts, I missed a jolly good time in The Cricketers (as well as a cracking cuppa and slice of cake...) Kelly Blake - June 2026 You certainly did Kelly! We had a brilliant tour of The Cricketers where we were led through a maze of fascinating rooms where an assortment of items were being stored. What took my eye was an old road sign, an ash can (we think), and even the original Cricketers pub sign! But one of the best parts of our outing … was the cakes! They were so delicious and there were plenty to choose from. The teas and coffees flowed and we all enjoyed a good old chat at the end of our tours. I think this was one of the best summer outings we have had. We would like to say a grateful thank you to everyone at The Cricketers - especially Julie Wright who made all of those outstanding cakes. We would also like to say a huge THANK YOU to Andrea at the Health Hydro for the two tours she conducted - we enjoyed four tours in total, shared with Gerry. Angie Phillips - June 2026