Surbiton Lagoon

Surbiton Lagoon is a defunct and demolished open air swimming pool that was located in Tolworth, in London, United Kingdom.

It opened in May 1934 though had been open for business since April, and was situated in Raeburn Avenue in what was then the Surbiton Urban District of Surrey. It was situated on the 418 bus route of London Country Buses, and near to Berrylands railway station and Tolworth railway station.

The lagoon complex was designed by the architect HT Mather. The pool had a maximum depth of 9 feet (2.7 m) and a minimum depth of 3 feet (0.91 m). It was 165 ft (50 m) x 90 ft (27 m) - a huge pool by any standards. The lagoon was closed permanently in 1980.

The opening ceremony was performed on a Wednesday evening in May 1934 by Mr. H.S. Durbin JP and featured many displays of swimming, including an appearance by Miss Ivy Hawke, the successful 1928 channel swimmer. A water polo match was held, and the festivities went on into the evening.

The Lagoon was approached along a grass-lined entrance drive, much like the housing estate in the picture of the site today. On the left was a small stream, a tributary to the Hogsmill, and in front the whitewashed entrance with fittings picked out in bright blue paint.

As visitors entered the pool complex through a turnstile they were greeted by an ornamental fountain.

The pool had a full set of diving boards, both springboards and diving platforms at the deep end, and a simple tall slide. At the shallow end was a smaller slide suitable for children. Entry to the water was down a set of submerged stairs, an unusual design feature.

Along the right hand side of the pool was a set of sun terraces, concrete broad stairs with wooden boards on top. There was a lagoon café, and an ice cream booth. Separate ladies' and gentlemen's changing facilities, each with a children's section. Ladies' facilities were on the left and gentlemen's were straight ahead, past the deep end.

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