HISTORY OF KING’S MEADOW
The area in the early 19th century was meadow land owned by Mr Poulton and had cattle grazing in it. Mr Poulton was related to the Knolly Family of whom there is the Great Knolly’s St. named.
They were a farming land-owning family and had an auctioneer business in Reading. No bridge existed before 1890 besides Caversham Lock - there was possibly a ferry supported by a boathouse located next to Reading Bridge. The record of 1860 show the men’s bathing area. The map of 1912 shows a foundry next to de Bohun Road and then a men’s swimming area next to that, between the current King’s Meadow Swimming Baths and the Reading Bridge. The Recreation Ground which was partly a gift of the late Mr. George Palmer and partly acquired by purchase, had long been in the hands of the Corporation and the loan raised about 1803 through the Westminster Bank had long since been repaid. Reported in July 1902 was that Reading Corporation sold Stock through the Westminster Bank for funding the construction project.
Before the opening of the woman’s pool, there was a very active men’s pool surrounded by a tin wall. This was built in 1879. In 1884 it was listed as being open 6am - 9pm Spring and Summer. There were changing cabins. The water was fed from the river via a sluice into a large concrete pool 230 x 60ft varying in depth from 3ft to 6ft. It was built by Messrs Jenkins to the design of Arthur Collins, the Borough Surveyor. It was described as one of the best in the country. Although very cold it was sometimes overcrowded and the severe pool attendant, described by one as like a retired Major often used to send people away. A gentleman I spoke to described how he used to ride past, prop his cycle against the tin wall of a summer’s evening and have a dip after finishing working in the hot town centre. The water was not clear but at least it was constantly changing. Many children and schools taught their pupils to swim there and there were summer galas. The Reading School Board, Chairman Mr Collier, is mentioned as having instructions in swimming for boys and girls in May 1902. The Reading YMCA has an active swimming club too. This was not the only pool in Reading; there existed an outdoor pool at Coley. In January 1902 the Reading Winter Bathers were photographed at the Corporation Baths after having their ritual swim. Afterwards they were presented to the Mayor at their annual banquet.
The river area was popular and Reading Amateur Regatta claimed to have had 15,000 spectators. E. Cawson ran a boat hires business besides Caversham bridge and was busy with running steam launch river trips with his Starlight, Mystery, River Queen & Eclipse. The Corporation were also negotiating to buy a strip of river frontage to the West and up the stream of the Caversham Bridge to create a Promenade.
