SUMMERS spent swimming can have a deep impact on our childhood memories.

In south Essex we are blessed with plenty of pools and leisure facilities but perhaps the most famous of all was Southend’s seawater pool which opened in Westcliff in 1915.

For decades the pool was a major attraction and enticed visitors and day-trippers to Western Esplanade to enjoy the pool and its diving platforms and sun terrace.

School competitions and even midnight bathing parties were held there.

There are still plenty of places to go for a dip today, including Southend’s new Three Shells Lagoon which opened last week. We dived into our archives to bring you these snaps...