The Old Powfoot Spa of 1903, Solway Firth

[@rogergriffith286]

I have just come across a TV programme about this swimming pool. It was started in 1899. It may have been abandoned in WWI because of the level of maintenance needed. They dismiss the story of the pool being built as the Solway was so dangerous.

[@FrancesS715]

I wonder why the big plans of making Powfoot into a resort didn't happen in the end. The ornamental lakes, golf course, bowling green, spa building and not forgetting the row of houses for the posh folk at Queensbury Terrace just outside of Cummertrees were all build, but then it all stopped... I wonder what happened!

[@rogergriffith286]

Good point. Lack of finance? The wars?

[@thefifthdoctor6780]

Amazing stuff, I’m here now

[@rogergriffith286]

It's a fascinating place

[@miniminimi12]

Have driven past this many times on the way to Queensberry Bay and wandered what it was.

[@rogergriffith286]

I spotted it on a satellite image!

[@MrSmid888]

It’s a common misconception about the divide. It’s a shame on many posts on social media state “discourage mixed bathing” or “male female”. It’s was simply an excellent feat of engineering. As you can see the lock gates in the video. One side could be locked shut to keep the water in the bathing pond and the other opened on the tides ebb to clean out the silt. Lack of maintenance took her in the end, it needed constant maintenance . The original invoice kept at Kinmount estates for the works states a solid concrete base (still intact) and they called it a “bathing pond”. Love Powfoot, great history. “The lakes” are also interesting 👍🏻 First I’ve heard of a bore. My papa was an Annan haaf netter. I don’t believe there is a bore. I know many fishermen and locals and I’ve never heard of this. Cheers 👍🏻

[@rogergriffith286]

Many thanks for the details. Great that someone knows more detail. Do any photographs of the functioning pond exist? I forget where I read about the bore - it's probably not that obvious.

[@MrSmid888]

@@rogergriffith286 no, not to my knowledge. I’ve hunted the internet high and low. The locals have a FB page. I’m not on FB anymore but it has interesting images. There’s images in a Perspex case beside the bus stop at the small bowling green as you enter the shoreline at Powfoot. Very interesting. The channel that you cross over via the small road bridge was once a dockside, with a lovely sandstone sloping wall. It’s still there but overgrown with growth, above it used to be a white crush stone gravel path. Many barrels of brandy smuggled in centuries ago. Such a great place. Love it in the summer, you can walk miles at low tide. If a bore was present I’d of heard of it locally or on tv. I watch programmes about UK bores. Not Steve Davis ! 😂👍🏻

[@MrSmid888]

@@rogergriffith286 pause at 21 seconds you can just make out the walkway and iron fencing on the left of the channel. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zpu8houhmcaDprM

[@trevellyan2182]

Fascinating stuff and great video, out of interest have you seen the bore pass Powfoot? It's the first I've heard of it in this part of the estuary.

[@rogergriffith286]

No. I must research it a bit more and come down for a look - and a video!

[@trevellyan2182]

@@rogergriffith286 that would be great! I recently surfed it a few miles up stream, I'm coming back in April... the whole estuary I find fascinating and the nature is unrivalled. It makes the Severn look small in some ways.... not the bore though the Solway is tiny in comparison but no less appealing :-)

[@trevellyan2182]

October Spring tides would be a good time to film the bore BTW

[@devlin2397]

Well in never have guessed

[@rogergriffith286]

Amazing place

[@martymac1968]

I’ve been in it, must have been 1976-8 or so. Istr that it was full to within 12" of the top. The tide was fairly well out. I’ve seen videos of a small tidal bore on the solway, but I imagine they’re fairly easy to miss, it’s not like they happen every day