This brief video is cut from a longer film taken in 1930 by Capt Henry Joseph Round MC. It was supplied by David Jervis (davidjervis3@gmail.com), one of Capt Round’s grandchildren.

Capt Round was a distinguished electronics engineer and a right hand man to Marconi. He was awarded the Military Cross in the First World War for his work on radio direction finding and continued inventing and working until his death in 1966, at the age of 85. For those interested, more details can be found here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._J._Round

He was also a fanatically keen amateur photographer and filmmaker, spending hours filming his large family at home in north London and on the beach, including Bude, Dawlish Warren and Weston-super-Mare. Luckily, much of that film has been saved and digitised by his family.

This extract begins with several of the family playing cricket on the beach before moving over to the Beach Pool. It ends with one of the children about to take the plunge.

With so many people present, it may have even been the day the pool opened.

Bude Sea Pool was built in the 1930s to provide a safe environment for swimming for the people of Bude. This semi-natural pool, measuring 91m long by 45m wide, was created under the curve of the cliffs in a conservation area. It provides the unique experience of being in or on the sea, close to the ferocity of the Atlantic Ocean, but sheltered from its extreme effects.

Seapool Opening 1930

Notes on Thorn/Harrison photographs.

The photos were taken by Jake Harrison and Nellie Thorn (Harrison), the last of the Thorn Photographers. Their glass negatives are in the Thorn collection.

Jake Harrison married Nellie. Her mother was Sarah and her brothers Samuel and Harry Thorn. They were the five who documented Bude. Harry Thorn started his business in the early days of photography; his are the earliest photos of Bude, in the mid 1850s. In 1851 Frederick Scott Archer, developed William Fox Talbot’s process so that anyone could take photographs. The hazards of the chemicals used were not understood and Harry died in 1876 and the age of 37, leaving his brother and sister to carry on with his pioneering work.

In the foreground where the bathing/changing tents are is the position of the children’s paddling pool. This was filled in sometime later after the walls of the pool were made larger. There is a group of girl divers waiting by the diving rocks on which is a spring board. The County School swimming sports were held on the opening day and Kay Whateley (Thorn) was awarded 2 points as was Mary Francis, some may remember them. The results were printed in the school magazine later that year.

Spectators on the middle, diving rock, include Stanley Oke. Standing behind the group with open neck shirt and dark jacket. He was an accomplished pianist and organist who turned down a musical career in London to teach in Bude at the County School, later Bude Grammar School and St Petroc’s School, as well as private tuition. He was the organist at St Michael’s Church and choirmaster. Sitting in Plus Fours is John Martin Thorn, brother of Spencer Thorn, one of his daughters, Maureen is sitting on the end of the rock. The small boy between them is Ronald Thorn, son of Spencer Thorn.

Recent Timeline

Local authority funding withdrawn – 2010
Bude Sea Pool threatened with demolition – 2010
Friends Of Bude Sea Pool Charity Formed – 2011
FoBSP takes on management of Bude Sea Pool – 2012
Emergency repairs to steps completed – 2012
Beach huts (phase 1) built and leased – 2012
Over 30,00 people visit Bude Sea Pool – 2012
Damaged section of wall repaired – 2013
30,000 tonnes of sand/rocks removed – 2013
New sluice gate and bridge installed – 2013
Electricity and mains water connected – 2013
Over 50,000 people visit Bude Sea Pool – 2013
Sea wall repair (phase 1) completed – 2014
Improved walkway through Coach Rock – 2014
New stainless steel railings, donated by Stainless Studio Ltd – 2014
Sea wall repair (phase 2) completed – 2015
Final phase beach huts completed (personal donation) – 2015
Access steps renewed – 2015
Approval granted for the Hub – 2015
Hub opened August 2016
Platform renewed 2016
North Section Pool wall repaired 2017
Bude Sea Pool office and shop opened in Summerleaze car park – 2017
Installed new and repaired existing handrails 2018
Repaired and extended balustrade 2018
Repointed and replaced concrete walkway 2018
Steps into pool by Coach Rock installed – 2018
Steps to Summerleaze beach renewed – 2019
New roof covering for the Hub installed – 2019

Cost of refurbishments and improvements so far £390,000

All public funding for Bude Sea Pool was withdrawn in 2010. The Friends of Bude Sea Pool fought a vigorous campaign in 2011 to keep the pool open for the season, and took on its management in 2012. We have since made much-needed repairs and continue to invest in new facilities to secure Bude Sea Pool for future generations and to keep it FREE.

Focal Point for Bude

Bude Sea Pool is a focal point for the coastline in Bude and has always been used for much more than swimming. If you go down to the Pool today, chances are you’ll see endurance trainers, triathletes, kayakers, surf training and lifesaving, beach hut enthusiasts and sunbathers all making the most of this unique amenity. Why not check out what our visitors say about us on TripAdvisor?

There really is something for everyone at Bude Sea Pool, and the Friends of Bude Sea Pool are constantly improving the facilities on offer and the safety of everyone who visits.

Money Raised Every Year

We have to raise in excess of £40,000 every year just to keep Bude Sea Pool open and FREE of charge for everyone, so we rely on the generosity of our supporters and sponsors, not just in Bude but all over the world.

There are lots of ways you can support Bude Sea Pool. Check out how you can get involved, or see how to become a Business Sponsor.