Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 30th July, 2009)

what a crying shame,many happy saturdays spent in the "big" pool.rip.

I had my first russian bath in there and most of the men in there at that time where wigan wrestlers.

But I bet there was people saying what shame when they knocked to old millgate baths down as well.

And I know these new baths where popular but they where poorly built so lets hope the next new ones will be built with a bit more proper planning.

Thanks for the memories!

What a rotten shame and a waste,I learned my kids to swim in there like many others,progress??????.

Many happy memories of going to the baths. I'll never forget that high rise diving board.

Is it just me or am I the only one glad to say bye bye to the baths. I thought the pools looked shabby and dirty towards the final years. I too taught my daughter (with the exceptional help of swimming instuctors) to swim in the smaller pools but I much preferred Chorley baths. I too hope the new pool will be much better designed and better maintained.

It needed to come down. It was a monstrosity - too old - and full of asbestos.

It took me a moment or two to recognise what I was looking at! It looks really strange to see the big pool building without the smaller pools buildings at the side. They were just about to start the demolition when we were at home in June.

i was sorry to hear that the old swimming baths are being knocked down however where do we go now for free swimming especially if you dont drive and have to travel everywhere by public transport

Saw this last week when we were back - you get a good view from the Grand Arcade car park upper floors. Last monday there was water spraying upwards - did they hit the mains?

i think it's good that some progress is being made and i think we do need to move on into the 21st century, yes this place did hold a lot of memories but just because it is being demolished it doesn't mean those memories are lost, just that we're moving on

I remember the old millgate baths.We had to wear an armband and when you're time was up a whistle was blown you had to get out pronto. Happy Days!

At the old Millgate baths your clothes basket was hung over the side of the pool if you didn't get out when your colour was up. I do not remember a whistle but there was a series of 4 different coloured lights which changed every 15 minutes. Hence you had 1 hour including changing, depositing clothes and shower. All controlled by Spooner who was liable to squirt us kids with a freezing cold hosepipe if we misbehaved.