Topsham Outdoor Swimming Pool

cated
- Our water is virtually chlorine free and
heated to 28° C (84° F)
- swimming club, adults only, inflatable,
private hire and lane swimming available

It's over thirty five years since the pool first welcomed the people of Topsham. But many people who will visit this year won't realise that the pool isn't a 'council-run' amenity, but was the result of years of determined fundraising. Tucked away in the centre of the town, Topsham Pool was the result of a herculean fundraising effort first by a small group of tireless and determined individuals and then by the whole community. During the 1970s huge mountains of waste paper were stockpiled and sold, and thousands of glass bottles were collected and returned. Countless jumble sales, carnival floats and many generous donations gradually pushed up the total. A sports council grant topped up the fund and in 1979, after countless setbacks, lots of work and a few laughs, a decade of fundraising culminated in the grand opening of the new pool. Olympic gold medalist David Wilkie was at the official opening and even swam a few lengths. The pool has always been run by a committee of volunteers and in 1979, while jubilant that it was finally finished, the committee had already begun to worry about bringing in enough money to keep it open! Thirty five years on and the worries (and the committee) are broadly the same. There are a few new faces to help out now, but the pool is still funded entirely from entrance fees and bad weather has had an impact on revenues. Fingers are always crossed for fantastic summers. Topsham Pool is still at the heart of this little town of the banks of the Exe, where the whole community and visitors can get together to enjoy the sunshine - today just as in 1979! What are you waiting for........dive in!