Looking Back at Burnham's historic paddling pool (From Burnham & Highbridge Weekly News)

Looking Back at Burnham's historic paddling pool

9:55am Monday 8th February 2010

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THIS week our Looking Back feature remembers a popular seafront landmark soon to be consigned to the vaults of history.

The once-proud Burnham Boating Pool is to be demolished within weeks after Sedgemoor District Council decided it had reached the end of its life-span.

Built in the 1920s by the well-known Braithwaite family as a thank you for the safe return of five sons from the Great War, the attraction saw hundreds of youngsters spend the summer months splashing around inside.

One of those was historian Iris Rowe who told the Weekly News the boating pool was originally built as a paddling pool.

She said: “My mother used to take me and my two brothers to the pool and there was always plenty of water inside no matter what time of year it was.

“Most of the kids in the town used to love it but they started getting cut feet because broken glass bottles would be washed in by the tide, and it was then turned into a boating pool.

“It was ideal as a paddling pool and would still be great for kids today.”

The district council now hopes to erect a plaque in honour of the Braithwaite family to stand in place of the boating pool once the dismantling works are complete.

Iris also shared her memories of the family, who used to live along Berrow Road, Burnham.

She added: “Mr Braithwaite was one of the customers at the Central Garage where I used to work and Braithwaite Place in Burnham was named after him.

“His sons now live in Guildford, Surrey, except one who married a Burnham girl and moved to Guernsey.”

IF you would like to share your memories of Burnham and Highbridge’s rich past, contact us by e-mailing newsdesk@burnhamnews.co.uk, call 01278-727962 or leave your comments below.

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