History of New Mills swimming pool, squash courts and sports hall
The leisure centre was built using money raised by local people. This is a short history over the last 50 years.
You can tell HPBC what you think of their future plans now!
January, 1973
New Mills Swimming Pool Association (NEWSPA) , first committee
First committee meeting held in New Mills Library lecture room.
The committee organised many fundraising activities, that enable the pool to be be built 7 years later and the sports hall to be completed 15 years later.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1974
Architects Drawing for proposed Leisure Centre next to Hyde Bank Road.
This early plan was created by Gerard White and includes a swimming pool + sauna + sports hall.
In reality the sports hall was not built until later, but 2 squash courts and a sauna were built alongside the pool.
The sauna + squash courts were intended to generate revenue to fund the high cost of heating the pool!
Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
1974
Floor plan for proposed swimming pool + sauna + sports hall complex
The squash courts must have been added to the plan later. The sauna was built in 1980, but no longer exists.
The pool and changing rooms today are roughly as shown in the plan.
However at some point (2010?) the pool changing rooms were converted to more modern unisex cubicles.
Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
February, 1974
Carnival Queen, 1974, working in a local textile printworks.
The 1974 Carnival was the first in New Mills for 25 years. It was organised to raise money for the swimming pool.
According to this newspaper report over £600 was raised by the community. A significant sum at the time!
Newspaper clip courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
Image courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1977-1980
New Mills Carnival becomes an annual event
The success of the first carnival in 1974 prompted the carnival to be repeated in the following years. A selection of carnival programmes have survived:-
Carnival Programme 1977
Carnival Programme 1978
Carnival Programme 1980
The carnival is still going strong as an annual event in New Mills today!
An annual cycle race, discos and various other events were organised to raise money for the pool.
Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
April, 1979
Cutting the turf for New Mills Leisure Centre.
Construction of the pool and squash courts, next to Hyde Bank Road, finally started in April 1979.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
July 1980
New Mills Pool Opens
The publicly raised funds allowed New Mills to have its own swimming pool for the first time!
On 18th July 1980 the swimming pool was finally open to the public. See this newspaper report.
However it was not formally opened until 28th October 1980.
Newspaper Report Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
July 1980
New Mills Squash is born
Two squash courts were built next to the swimming pool and opened in July 1980 along side the pool.
Looks like it was really easy to park in 1980!
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
October, 1980
New Mills Pool Official Opening
The newspaper clip shows Olympic Gold Medal Swimmer David Wilkie alongside New Mills Carnival 1980 Queen Elaine Hyde, at the official opening of the New Mills pool on the 28th October 1980.
Picture courtesy of David and Elaine Aitken.
October 1980
Plaque to commemorate the opening of the leisure centre
This plaque celebrates the official opening ceremony for the pool with David Wilkie, shown in the previous newspaper clip.
The plaque is still in the leisure centre reception area.
1983
Advert for the Pool and Squash Courts
Note a solarium and pool tables have been added by this date.
Also the leisure centre was open later on weekend evenings, compared to today.
Also in 1983. a New Mills team was entered in the North West Counties Squash League for the first time.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1984
Wynford’s Squash Opens
Located on Albion Road.
New Mills now boasts 4 squash courts (2 at the LC and 2 at Wynfords)!
This squash club was later converted into a dance studio.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1987
Advert for pool and squash courts
New Mills leisure centre now has a licenced bar.
Well done High Peak Environmental Health!
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1987
New Sports Hall Under Construction
The leisure centre pool and squash courts were extended by building a new sports hall.
Construction started in 1987 and was completed by June 1988.
Note the 8 year delay in the Sports Hall being built after the pool and squash courts was due to the high project cost and various political issues.
Newspaper clippings 1
Newspaper clippings 2
Picture courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
Newspaper Reports Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
June, 1988
Sports Hall Opens
Mrs Dorothy Brennand – the mayor of High Peak Borough Council is shown opening the sport’s hall, June 1988.
Cheques showing money raised for Sports Hall by the community and other sources.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
June, 1988
Gym Equipment Installed
This picture was taken during the opening of the sports hall, June 1988.
Not sure what happened to the clarinets!
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
November, 1988
New Mills Swimming Pool Association (NEWSPA) signs off.
After 15 years of campaigning and fundraising, the NEWSPA committee hold their final meeting, see newpaper report.
With the Leisure Centre now complete – Swimming Pool/Squash Courts/Sports Hall, there is no longer a requirement for local people to raise funds directly.
Picture Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
Newspaper Report Courtesy of New Mills Local History Society Archive,
1994
Completed Swimming Pool and Sports Hall Complex
Sett Valley Medical Centre was built next to the leisure centre in the early 90s. Shown here on the right.
The car park is yet to be expanded on to the grass in this photo.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
1995
New Mills had its own Sports Shop
You could buy sports equipment in New Mills once upon a time.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
2001
The Leisure Centre as it looked near the start of the millenium
The pool, sports hall and both squash courts are still intact, 13 years after the complex was completed in 1988.
Courtesy New Mills Local History Society, Picture New Mills
2011
One Squash Court Closes
New Mills lost one of its 2 courts in 2011.
It could have been worse, there was a strong campaign by local residents to save the one remaining court.
The former second court now contains gym equipment. The court lines are still easily visible, only the back wall was removed.
2018
New Mills Squash Team
Despite being reduced to a single court. Squash remains popular in New Mills with an expanded club, going strong 7 years later.
Now with 2 teams in the North West Counties League.
Additionally in 2023 a ladies team has started alongside weekly junior training provided by our 2 qualified coaches.
Courtesy of the Stockport Express newspaper.
2024
What happens next??
Does the sports hall get smaller and squash get squashed?
What would NEWSPA think?
You decide!
Or at least join our mailing list or Facebook group to find out more info about the HPBC plans for the Sports Hall and Squash Court.
Even better respond to the HPBC consultation online and read our blog outlining the options.
This page contains many images and some factual details from the Picture New Mills Website. Many thanks to Roger Bryant for providing permission to use the historical images on this page.
Also the pdf documents, news paper clippings, carnival programmes and architectural drawings were provided by New Mills Local History Society Archive. Many thanks to Andrew Screen for digitising and giving permission to use the documents in this page.
Join our mailing list
Save New Mills Leisure Centre Facilities
Join the campaign to prevent High Peak Borough Council from destroying our squash court and shrinking our sports hall.