The Opening of Barking Swimming Pool

Much excitement for the opening of Barking's new swimming pool - better known as the East End's Lido.

This sweeping pan shot succinctly captures the ceremonies surrounding the opening of Barking open-air swimming pool. Contemporary newspaper articles claim that the pool, which was opened on 2 May 1931, was the largest outdoor swimming pool in the South of England. It came to be known as the East End's Lido. Sadly, the film is incomplete.

The pool, which was located in the northern part of the 29 hectares Barking Park, closed in 1988 after a period of decline.