Gas Street canal basin back in the day, in reality this frontage view looks no different than today. It's the background that has changed,
The first open air pool in Birmingham was in Cannon Hill Park on the site of where the MAC (Midland Arts Centre) now stands. It opened in 1837 and closed in 1932 because of new regulations laid down by the forerunner of the Dept of Health and Safety the Department of Health.
ScipioI don't think it would have been in this pool as it was definitely closed by 1932, I was a regular visitor to the park in the 50's and 60's and the only pools I can remember were the two boating pools,and what we used to call the breeding pool where nobody was allowed to fish and the paddling pool.
Phil how kind of you to show the exact position of where I fell in the canal and nearly drowned in 1958, just under that bridge which is actually the entrance to the basin . One of the residents in the cottages dragged me out with a boat hook, he told the police I was going down for the third time , which is supposed to be terminal . Once out I spent the rest of the Saturday afternoon in The General stomach pump rear end police asking questions the other
Phil, do you have a photograph of Ward End Park boating pool? A friend and I took out a canoe, and it capsized. My friend stepped out, the water coming up to his mid-calf. I rolled out, and became fully immersed, and fully wet through.Happy days.