Pells Pool

Pells Pool stands beside the Town Brook in Lewes, East Sussex. Built in 1861, it is the oldest freshwater outdoor public swimming baths still in use in the United Kingdom. The pool measures 50 yards long by 25 yards wide and is fed by spring water drawn from the chalk aquifer beneath. A large lawn and sun terrace run alongside the pool, with disabled access, changing rooms and outdoor showers. A small paddling pool and a kiosk selling refreshments are also on site. The baths were established by public subscription in 1860, with leading citizens and local breweries contributing funds. Originally two pools operated side by side, one subscription bath and one free public bath. The land was gifted to the townspeople in 1603 by John Rowe, a local lawyer. In the 1860s over 200 season tickets were sold and more than 1,000 daily admissions recorded in the first season. Visitors find a long rectangular pool lined with brick and fed by natural spring water. The lawn beside the pool marks the site of the former free bath. Cold and warm outdoor showers stand near the changing rooms, and a small paddling pool provides a shallow area for children. The wider Pells area includes a recreation ground created in 1897 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee.