Kenilworth's historic lido to shut permanently

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Medieval discovery delays swimming pool work



Work to build a new swimming pool has been delayed after medieval remains were found on the site, a councillor has said.

Ceramics and at least five buildings, some dating back to the 13th Century, were discovered at Abbey Fields, in Kenilworth by Archaeology Warwickshire.

Connected to Kenilworth Abbey, experts believe the earliest may have perhaps been a kitchen or guesthouse.

Warwick District Councillor Jim Sinnott said the remains could have big implications on the cost of the swimming pool project.

Plans to raise the level of the pool have been approved by Historic England in a bid to protect the remains.

"We want to look after our heritage, we want to look after these medieval findings and we've got to protect them," Mr Sinnott said.

"The huge scale has involved a complete redesign of the foundations of the new building, so that we can best protect what has been found underneath."

Mr Sinnott said the council would hold a public meeting for residents at the earliest opportunity.

"The council understands the frustration of local people about the delays and current lack of swimming provision, but remains committed to providing the town of Kenilworth with a new facility they can be proud of," he added.

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Kenilworth pool plan backed despite medieval finds driving up costs



Plans to build a swimming pool on a site in Kenilworth where medieval remains were found have been backed by councillors despite rising costs.

Ceramics and at least five buildings were discovered at the Abbey Fields site earlier this year.

Amended plans, including raising the height of foundations, mean the cost has risen from £14.7m to £22.6m.

Warwick District Council's cabinet agreed to press ahead with plans at a meeting on Thursday evening.

The local authority said it represented "the least worst option".

However, the decision will need to be agreed at a full council meeting on 15 November, to release finance.

Restore Kenilworth Lido said people had been given "a most colossal bill" for something they did not agree to.

The new leisure centre will incorporate two indoor pools.

A previous indoor pool and outdoor lido were demolished to make way for the new centre and it was during investigations of the site that the remains, some dating back to the 13th Century, were discovered.

Jane Green, from the lido campaign group, said the cost of the project had also been influenced by the decision to include two indoor pools.

"Everybody wants a swimming pool in Kenilworth," she said. "They never wanted two, which is what's made it such as colossally expensive project."

Council leader Ian Davison told BBC CWR on Friday the Covid pandemic and war in Ukraine had also "pushed prices up hugely".

"If you carry on, it's a lot more money and if you stop, it's a lot more money," he said.

"If you abandon it altogether, the local people don't have a swimming pool. So, yes, I can't say it's a good position."

The council leader added the decision to include two pools was influenced by guidance from Swim England.

"It was evenly balanced within Kenilworth whether an outdoor, [or] an indoor second pool, would be better," he said.

"But what was very clear was both Swim England and the schools were saying for teaching children to swim, an indoor one you have to have."

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Spades in ground after remains delayed pool project



The redevelopment of a leisure centre has resumed after a six-month delay following the discovery of medieval ruins.

Warwick District Council said contractor Kier would begin preparation work to build two indoor swimming pools at Abbey Fields in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.

Ceramics and at least five buildings, some dating back to the 13th Century, were found at the site last year.

It was followed by a lengthy process of design revision, which the council said was to ensure the project provided protection to the archaeological finds.

Communities and leisure lead Jim Sinnott said it marked a landmark moment on a long and difficult journey.

A new design and budget - more than 50% higher than originally planned - was agreed in February.

The new leisure centre will incorporate two indoor pools.

A previous indoor pool and outdoor lido were demolished to make way for the new design.

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New pool to open at weekend after lengthy delay



A new swimming pool delayed by the discovery of medieval ruins at the site is set to offer free sessions on its opening weekend.

The multi-million-pound facility at Abbey Fields in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, will open to the public from 07:30 BST on Saturday and people can book lane, family and inflatables fun sessions, Warwick District Council has said.

Everyone Active, which runs the centre, said the opening would give people a first look at "Kenilworth's beautiful new community hub".

The project, which includes two indoor pools and a conservatory-style cafe, took about six months longer to come into being after ceramics and buildings, some from the 13th Century, were found.

At least five buildings were found during work at the site in 2023.

Connected to Kenilworth Abbey, experts believe the earliest may have been a kitchen or guesthouse.

The modernised pools replaced an outdoor pool at the site, which closed in 2021.

Some Kenilworth residents campaigned to save the lido, which had more than a 120-year history.

Campaigners argued there was "overwhelming support" for the lido to remain and its closure meant generations of children would miss out on the joy of an outdoor pool.

But the district council said consultation showed a "year-round" pool would better suit schools and the area.

The new family pool with its movable floor would facilitate a wide variety of water-based sessions and would be accessible to people with disabilities, the council said.

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New swimming pool opens to the public after delays



As Kenilworth's new swimming pool opens to the public for the first time, one councillor says he's sure it will win over the "doubters".

The controversial Abbey Fields pool opened to the public after six months of delays and an extra £8m cost, after medieval remains were found by the builders.

It replaces the 123-year-old Kenilworth Lido on the site, which campaigners had fought to keep open.

Councillor Jim Sinnott (pictured), Portfolio Holder for Safer, Healthier and Active Communities at Warwick District Council said: "Once you've seen the quality and what we've actually delivered, I think you can only be impressed."

Plans for the new Abbey Fields swimming pool were first revealed in 2019, and the lido on the site closed in 2021.

But as the digging for the new foundations began, in 2023, the remains of five medieval buildings thought to be linked to the nearby abbey, and dating back to the 13th century, were discovered.

That lead to a delay of six months while new plans were drawn up, which would preserve the remains.

Sinnott said that despite the site being surrounded by medieval remains, it was still a shock to find them below the old lido.

"Oddly, we thought, the only place to build where you won't find anything underground is on the footprint of the old pools. Low and behold, once it was all dug up, it was a surprise to us, but the ancient remains of the abbey were underneath."

The new designs, overseen by Historic England, mean the building is raised 50cm above the historic remains.

That led to the original planned cost of £14.7 million pounds rising to £22.6 million.

"It has been very expensive, it's taken a major investment by the District, but look at the value we are delivering." Sinnott added.

The new facilities include a 25 metre pool, a 15 metre pool with moveable floor to adjust the depth, and the latest technology to improve disabled access in and out of the water.

But those who had tried to keep the lido open have voiced their frustrations that there is no outdoor pool as part of this new facility.

Alex Fuoco-Lang is the Contract Area Manager for Everyone Active who run the facility on behalf of the council, and says this is a more useful space.

" I know there are hardened people who do like a lido, even in the winter, but you can swim all the time here in these two pools. And the fact you have two pools to come to, it means if we are doing one activity, it doesn't mean you can't then swim."

"There is an outdoor terrace in the new design - which can be accessed only through the pool area.

Fuoco-Lang admits they aren't yet sure how that space will be used.

"We may have events out there, we may have yoga and activities out there. We'll develop that as we go."

An open weekend is being held this weekend, 11- 12 July, for people to come and see the new facilities, and swimming sessions are being offered for free.