Kilmarnock’s Old Swimming Baths

Does anyone remember the old swimming baths in Kilmarnock before the Galleon was built? Well we discovered two very old photographs which should help to jog your memory. These pictures were in an issue of the Glenfield & Kennedy’s in-house magazine.

Waves produced by the new Wave Machine

The Glenfield Wave Machine was the latest installation in the new public swimming baths at Kilmarnock. These baths, the first of their kind in Ayrshire, were opened on 5th October 1940 in the presence of Mr Ernest Brown, Secretary of State for Scotland (who received this appointment from Winston Churchill!).

Arthur Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1937 to 1940. He was forced to resign the premiership on 10 May 1940, after Germany invaded the Netherlands, Belgium and France. Chamberlain was of course succeeded by Winston Churchill. The United Kingdom was at war with Germany at the same time as the new swimming baths were open to the public in Kilmarnock!

An example of The Wave Machine in action!

As the years progressed the Wave Machine proved more and more popular attracting visitors from all over the country.

During a swimming session everyone kept their eyes on the lifeguard and the very second the board appeared reading “Wave Machine Going On” there were screams and shouts of delight only dissipating once the last wave splashed against the pylons at the shallow end and the loud whistle signaled the end of the session.

By the 1970s the swimming baths were becoming dated and too expensive to refurbish. As a stopgap until the new leisure centre was built, The Bubble appeared.

The Bubble

The Bubble sports hall was an annexe to the swimming pool and was kept elevated by pressured air. Visitors had to go through an air lock to use the facilities. The Bubble was damaged by a storm in 1986 and was taken down soon after. Both the Bubble and the swimming pool were replaced by a new leisure centre across the road. The site of the Bubble became a hamburger restaurant.

The Galleon

The Galleon Centre opened to the public for the first time on 15 May 1987. It was decided that it would be called The Galleon Centre as the name reflected the fact that the Gallion Burn formerly ran through the site.

As well as providing facilities for swimming it houses an ice rink, bowling hall, two sports halls, squash courts, a sauna/solarium suite, a superb fitness room and two bars. It is therefore a complex for the whole family to enjoy.