Comments on: The Riddiford Baths and…Leek and Feta Quiche

By: hotlyspiced

hotlyspiced — Thu, 13 Mar 2014 06:49:44 +0000

Thanks Steve for letting me know. I always thought it was a 50 yard pool!

By: Steve Nightingale

Steve Nightingale — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 02:42:47 +0000

Riddiford Baths were in fact 33-1/3 yards long and three lengths made it 100 yards for competitions. Great days in the open air – Priceless memories.

By: Glenn Benge

Glenn Benge — Tue, 30 Jul 2013 05:21:44 +0000

you’re very welcome.

I’d misspelt the word Riddiford on that website (Ridderford doh!) and hence the images probably weren’t searchable via Google. I’ve corrected the spelling just today.

I’m pretty sure the dive boards were there right up until they closed the pool. They probably put them away for the ceremony.

I personally took those photos on my 35mm camera at the time. The camera had a problem with letting in a little light through it’s casing, hence the orange marks on some images.

Do you know what year they closed it, I’m thinking 1981, but the Hutt City Council website says it was demolished in 1987 which seems a long time between closing and demolishing.

By: hotlyspiced

hotlyspiced — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 23:21:52 +0000

Thanks so much Glenn and lovely to hear from you. Yes, that is quite right about the pool’s length – I do remember now having to do three lengths to make 100mtrs. Your images brought back so many happy memories however it seems I had enlarged the pool in my memory. I noticed the diving boards had disappeared – they were always so much fun as we didn’t just dive off them. Your images must be part of a very rare collection as I couldn’t find any on the net. Thanks again.

By: Glenn Benge

Glenn Benge — Mon, 29 Jul 2013 22:50:43 +0000

I grew up swimming at Riddiford. I was a teeanger when they closed it down and opened Huia Pool not far away.

One minor point though, the main pool wasn’t 50 yards it was 33 1/3 yards – 3 lengths for 100 yards 🙂 or 3 lenths and 10 more metres for 100m which i had to do a couple of times for qualifications.

Click on my link for pictures of the Riddiford Baths’ closing ceremony.

By: InTolerant Chef

InTolerant Chef — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:18:00 +0000

Swimming always makes me ravenous too! I go to hydro therapy at the moment, and our pool’s temperature is about 30*, last week the enclosed rooms heating was broken and the external temperature was 45*- I almost passed out!!

By: Deeps NaughtyCurry

Deeps NaughtyCurry — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:29:00 +0000

how exciting it all sounds, still laughing bout the warning sign 😀 the quiche is making my mouth water…

By: Barbara

Barbara — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:03:00 +0000

Much like my youth but we hung out at the beach. I lkie the idea of using phyllo in this recipe.

By: Yummychunklet

Yummychunklet — Sun, 06 May 2012 19:51:00 +0000

I just learned about Bath in England, so it’s interesting to read about the baths in New Zealand. Your quiche looks delicious, by the way.

By: Bjbamber

Bjbamber — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:11:00 +0000

I love quiche.. this one looks so nice and healthy too after a morning of exercise. I agree, I loved those days of swimming in “imperfect” pools. Ours were outside in the summer and we’d also lay on the concrete to warm up!