Clubs open, clubs close but the Swan is still swimming…and has been since 1880.
Our stories about the Swan Laundry in Norwich revived memories of the early days of the now famous Norwich Swan Swimming Club.
The inside of the Swan pool all those years ago. (Image: Newsquest Archive)
The idea of actually building a heated indoor swimming pool was a bold one but that’s just what the Swan Laundry did in 1879.
Founder members of the Swan Club when hats were the order of the day (Image: Bridget and Richard Belson)
Then a group of youthful Victorians got together to form a club after the laundry used some of the spare steam to heat the pool beside the River Wensum.
Probably the only club to be named after a laundry.
Founder members included Professor James Carey, T J Gazely, J W Lemon, E T Fish (there is a question mark following the name!) and H F Ducker.
Making a splash: the daughters of Professor James Carey, one of the founding members of the Norwich Swan Swimming Club (Image: Bridget Belson, submitted to EDP in 2005)
One young founder member was Charles R Oury, who was just ten years old. It was reported that Charles went on to become the the first man in England to receive a Gold Medal and Diploma of the Royal Life Saving Society.
He is also remembered for his underwater swim of 98 yards and two feet.
The club also made use of the chilly waters of the river itself and large crowds gathered to watch races on the Wensum.
The early days of the Swan Baths in Norwich (Image: Bridget and Richard Belson)
Growing numbers of 19th century citizens got the swimming bug. Two water polo leagues were established with the Swan having a team in both of them.
Back in those days mixed bathing was frowned upon and there were separate sessions for men and women.
> An early event at the Norwich Swam Swimming Club (Image: Bridget and Richard Belson)
One of the most famous members was Billy Basher, who organised many events including life-saving sessions in the waters.
When the laundry closed the pool in 1933 the club moved to the privately-owned pools at the Lido (later the Norwood Rooms) and the Samson & Hercules and then to St Augustine’s before that closed.
The swimming pool at the Samson & Hercules (Image: Newsquest Archive)
Today the club continues to go from strength to strength and we can all be proud of the Swan which plays a leading role in so many lives thanks to the team of coaches, teachers and volunteers.
Children from the Swan and Penguin Swimming Club making a splash in the new Riverside Swimming Pool, March 2003 (Image: Newsquest Archive)
Our thanks to Bridget and Richard Belson for information and photographs.
Our thoughts are with everyone in the Norwich swimming community following the tragic death of swimming coach Jane Blackwell earlier this month.
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