Swimming

I got really into swimming when I lived in Scotland, but haven't done it since moving back down south. They have these Victorian swimming baths in Scotland (3 of them in Edinburgh and Glasgow, and I was a member of all of them at different points) which are run as not-for-profit enterprises. they are just completely different to swimming baths down here, at least, I've never found an equivalent. They have turkish warm rooms where you can read for hours, different bits for men and women (and it seems to be a thing that all the women just hang out nekkid, which took a bit of getting used to), with these massive armchairs and all the papers. I used to spend all day in there.

But the best thing was they had these amazing original rings and trapezes above the pools – I got really into doing the trapeze over the pool. You also get a permanent box to leave your toiletries in, and some indoor shoes, and you leave your costume there and they wash it and dry it in time for your next visit. And provide towels so you can spontaneously turn up and everything's there. The pools were so quiet – it was always just me and the pensioners. I went every single day for years, and did 45 minutes. I miss it - I'd love to find a good place down here. Is the Ironmonger's one a nice old place?

Plurabelle, did you ever see the documentary about one of these places? It was aired a few years ago now, but reading your post reminded me of it. It was full of some lovely shots of the pool and members, as well as interviews with old boys who had been swimming there all their lives. I have just had a quick google for it, but can't find anything much. It might be this:

Film: Liquid Paradise - memories of 120 years of swimming in "the Pond" Production of a documentary film, archive and photographic exhibition about a Victorian swimming pool in Edinburgh. This involved wide ranging interviews with local community members and pool users.
from here: http://margin.org/project.html
I'm not sure though as I don't quite see why an architect would be making that kind of film.