Cheltenham

Read and share memories of Cheltenham and Gloucestershire inspired by Frith photos

The Promenade architecture

The unique and distinctive property of the Promenade is that its roadway is twice as wide at the top end (Queens Hotel) as it is at the bottom end (High Street), while the buildings double in height from the four stories of the Municipal Offices to the two story insurance office at the top. The reduction in height is by a careful and sophisticated series of architectural gradations involving different heights of pilasters, a varying hierarchy of cornices, introduction of attic stories, raised pavements, etc. The reason for this strange doubling in width and halving in height, was to make the original, single storey spa (which was replaced by the Queens Hotel) appear relatively imposing, yet to make the ...read more here
Contributed by Mr Jefferies

War time memories

I lived the war years in Gloucester and at weekends when the weather was great, my friends and I would take the bus to Cheltenham and spend the day at the lido. I thought it was a wonderful place.
There were massess of American service men stationed in the area at that time awaiting the assult of the D-day landings. Well, they would love to show off on the high diving boards and we girls in turn loved to watch them. I suppose to us, they were the equivalent of todays super stars.
Can anyone tell me if the lido still exists?
Contributed by June Jackson

Diving boards long passed

I can't remember the 5 metre diving boards in this photo but I certainly can remember the 3 meter ones that replaced these, which have also now gone. I spent many an afternoon diving, jumping of these boards first starting on the 1 meter then the 2 metre and finaly getting the courage for the 3 metre, I can't imagine jumping off the 5 metre board in the photo as the water depth hasn't changed and you could certainly do some damadge to youself if you made a mistake, obviously that is why there are no longer there.
Contributed by George Tarte

Sunday Morning Walk to Church.

This picture evokes a strong memory of attending church with my brother when we would only have been 9 years and 8 years old. Walking together come wind, rain, or snow. One Sunday morning particularly stands out in my memory, which was when we were sent off, not adequately dressed, thick snow on the ground, both freezing cold, but looking after, and, looking out for each other.
Contributed by Margaret Leith