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The Baths in Newcastle Road are now under demolition to make way for housing. Always been value for money , the alternative is the new swimming baths next to Sunderland football ground which is reported to being too expensive.   As I lived across the road in Netherburn , the baths was a great place to go with many friends.  We would go sometimes three or four times a week.

Great times were had!

Not very accessable for people with mobility difficulties as you had to go up steps to get to the entrance, then steps down to the changing area, left for the boys and right for the girls. When changed you went to the steps that took you up to the pool carefully manouvering your way along the edge of that horrible brown disinfectant that you had to walk through. It wasnt that bad but it was more of a challenge to get over it without the pool attendant catching you.

Straight to the high board. Forget the perfect clinical dive. The next challenge was to make sure the attendants were looking the other way. Here we go, big jump off the fixed platform , take the "bombing " position and then with an allmighty splash, hit the water.   The next bit was a bit tricky because the noise of the splash would turn the attendants heads round. You would swim away underwater for as far as you could get and then pop up amongst other people looking innocent.  Third time caught and you were thrown out. Boy did we think we were good though.

End of August 2011 fron entrance now gone.

North Side of baths Aug 2011