The history and evolution of swimming pools
The Earliest Known Public Water Tank: The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daro
In 1926, what is believed to be the ‘earliest public water tank’ was discovered by archaeologists in the Sindh province of Pakistan. It is constructed of bricks and gypsum plaster, which were coated in a thick layer of bitumen, and measures approximately 12m by 7m. The Great Bath of Mohenjo-Daroas as it is known, dates back to around 2600 BC, and is believed to have been used for religious ceremonies.
The Rise of Man-Made Pools in Ancient Rome and Greece
It was not until the emergence of the Roman empire in 27 BC that more man-made pools began to appear throughout the ancient world. In Rome and Greece, swimming became part of the education of elementary age boys, and pools that were constructed for swimming, as opposed to just bathing began to appear. It was Gaius Maecenas of Rome who added a touch of luxury to the bathing experience in the first century BC, by building the first heated swimming pool.
When the Romans invaded Britain in AD 43, they brought with them the habit of bathing, which was practised by men and women of all classes, even those that had been enslaved. Large public baths, or thermae, were built in towns and cities within England, along with private bathing suites, for the Roman elite. Even the forts along Hadrian’s wall had their own baths so that the soldiers tasked with guarding the border could bathe as they would have done back home in Rome.
By 1837, six indoor pools with diving boards were built in London to satisfy the growing demand for competitive swimming, which was further fuelled by the inclusion of swimming in the modern Olympic Games in Greece in 1896.
The Growth of Competitive Swimming in the 20th Century
The turn of the 20th century saw swimming pool technology take a huge leap forward with the arrival of filtration and chlorination systems, which meant that the water no longer had to be replaced on a regular basis. The technique of applying dry-mix pneumatic cement with a hose, and other innovations that followed, dramatically increased the speed and flexibility of the construction process. This, combined with the post-war economic boom, made owning your own pool more accessible to a wider section of the population. The mid-1900s saw the arrival of above-ground pools, and single unit pools were soon being installed within one day.
Technology has continued to progress with the advent of new, high-efficiency, variable-speed pumps and state-of-the-art filtration systems. London Swimming Pool Company can advise you on which equipment will best suit your needs if you are considering upgrading your pool systems.
Health and Recreational Benefits of Swimming Pools
At present there are around 240,000 swimming pools in the UK (SPATA data). Whether you use a communal pool or are lucky enough to have use of your own pool, they offer a wide range of benefits. In terms of health benefits, they offer a great form of low-impact exercise. Some use the pool for swimming training and exercise, and others for therapy and recovery from injury. Others use them for entertainment, maybe hosting a party in their own pool. Others may use a pool as a cooling, relaxing place to meet for a catch-up.
Whatever your reason for owning or using a pool, and whether you are more of a bather, like the Romans, or more of a swimmer like those who contested the 1986 Modern Day Olympics in Greece, you are partaking in a rich tradition that stretches back to around 2600 BC.
Get in touch
At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool design, construction and refurbishment and servicing so if you need advice on swimming pools, contact us – there’s no substitute for expert advice.
