The Broomhill Pool Trust, Ipswich

LEGENDS OF BROOM HILL. QUEEN CATHERINE OF ARAGON.
You may have seen the Broomhill Pool Trust's "Legends of Broom Hill" info-boards (at Sherrington Road and Westwood Avenue). Adding to our Westwood Avenue board covering Broom Hill and Brooks Hall legnds, did you know that Catherine of Aragon visited the area.
Phil Roberts excellent book “Cardinal Wolsey, for King & Country” details that Queen Catherine of Aragon (King Henry VIII first wife) visited Ipswich twice to view the Shrine of Our Lady Grace (at Lady Lane). She was escorted from Sir Anthony Wingfield’s mansion at Brooks Hall to the shrine.
Note: The mansion's location in the book is slightly out (stating "brow of what is now Anglesea Road". Brooks Hall was at the brow of what is now Westwood Avenue), and the book confuses with Broke Hall (which is Nacton) with our Brooks Hall (bordering Broom Hill).

LIDO FOCUS: Complexo Balnear do Lido at Madeira.

While we continue to fight to save one of Britain's finest lidos here in Ipswich.
Please send us any photos of British and overseas lidos that you have recently visited. We will be pleased to re-post with your comments about the visit experience, and an overview of what the lidos offers.

Here's the stunning Complexo Balnear do Lido at Madeira that we visited this summer.

Pool Dimensions & Water Specs: Main Adult Pool: A massive, unheated saltwater pool that is cleaned and completely refilled daily directly from the Atlantic. A public facility, with a near 50m main pool, several children's pool, and safe access to sea swimming and diving boards.
Admission Prices: Adults: €6.00 / (Ages 7–17): €2.00 per person.

It features a uniform depth of 1.2 metres, making it easy for most adults to stand. Children's Pool: A shallow, safe splash pool equipped with water slides and playground structures. Open Ocean Swim Area: Directly bordering the main pool, you can swim in the open sea. It includes a roped-off zone spanning 150 metres in a straight line (165 metres if following the curve of the yellow buoys) equipped with a floating pontoon platform.

Pool website: https://visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/experiencing-the-city-of-funchal/enjoying-the-sea/lido-bathing-complex/

The lost pools of Ipswich, and why Broomhill Pool's restoration really matters (UPDATE). Thanks for all the incredible interest and feedback on our Lost Pools of Ipswich feature. Over 50,000 views (32,000 viewers). There will always be one or two anomalies but we have updated and amended the list based on your input.

BROOMHILL POOL STATUS:

Broomhill Pool is one of 20 listed lidos in the U.K. but the only one not saved, restored, or operational.
There are interested operators. The scheme is planning approved. The precedent is there for NLHF to approve a direct bid from Ipswich Borough Council.
We are now at a critical juncture with Ipswich Borough Council (which may cease to exist in 2027 due to local government reform).

The National Lottery Heritage Fund withdrew its £6.8m funding commitment (to lease holder and applicant, Fusion Lifestyle) on 11 July, 2025.
Over a year has passed, yet Ipswich Borough Council has still not secured the return of Broomhill Pool's lease.
Critically, the lease had not been resecured by the time Fusion Lifestyle entered administration (01 April 2026).
IBC has not progressed the existing scheme - or sort new options or operators for the pool - not until the lease and IP (the various studies commissioned by Fusion Lifestyle using NLHF stage 1 pass) is in its possession.

In recent months, The Broomhill Pool Trust, Ipswich and Historic England are supporting IBC with possible Development Funding Grants towards a fresh NLHF bid.
We are working closely in partnership with Ipswich Borough Council, and we welcome all exploration and suggestions for other funding streams to kick-start and deliver the project.
The Trust has been active behind the scenes throughout. As members of Historic Pools of Britain, and Future Lidos, we have a solid network and understanding of potential replacement operators for Broomhill Pool.
We are aware of a number of top operator(s) candidates that are both qualified and interested in restoring and operating Broomhill Pool, PLUS can potentially carry forward the existing [planning approved] scheme.
We have asked them to contact IBC directly to formally enquire and express their interest.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SUPPORT:

Please continue to support The Broomhill Pool Trust, Ipswich and follow our page and website. Please lobby your MPs, Councillors, or Borough contacts at every opportunity to keep positive pressure and focus

The lost pools of Ipswich, and why Broomhill Pool's restoration really matters.

Ipswich is in the running to become City of Culture 2029. Your chance to make sure that Broomhill Pool is not forgotten. Your opportunity to support the pool’s restoration as a flagship of our town's City of Culture bid. Please complete the short questionnaire, back Broomhill and help shape the themes and ambitions of the bid: Community questionnaire https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/76PRTSP

Our sincere thanks to Ipswich Borough Council Parks Team for the extensive tidy up of the Broomhill Pool site this week. It is essential that this iconic and much loved lido is protected, safe, and secure during this critical period.

The Broomhill Pool Trust (www.broomhillpooltrust.org) will continue its 23 year campaign, to lobby positively and tirelessly (Ipswich Borough Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund) to ensure that the pool project is a top priority, and that the December 2027 planning permission does not lapse without a full restoration solution and schedule in place.

Spotlight Suffolk: What change should City of Culture bring to Ipswich?
At last night's event with an audience of 200.

Mike Read MBE, King of the Channel and President of the Broomhill Pool Trust received huge applause for this heartfelt appeal.

Yesterday's IPSWICH STAR: Long lost lido left high and dry as heartwave hits.

Calling on Jack Abbott MP, Neil MacDonald (Leader Ipswich Borough Council), and Ipswich 2029 City of Culture Team. We need an action plan and demonstrable commitment to save our lido. 15 MONTHS TO SAVE BROOMHILL POOL, IPSWICH.

IPSWICH STAR: Frustration over stalled Broomhill Lido progress in Ipswich.

Pool trust 'frustrated' with lack of progress on outdoor lido restoration Mark Ling, the chairman of a neglected outdoor pool trust in Ipswich has said expressed his frustration that progress on restoring it has stalled.