It is a point being highlighted by architectural historian, Dr Ian Dungavell, who this week completes an attempt to visit each of the country's listed Victorian and Edwardian public pools and swim a lap for every year the buildings have been standing.
Dungavell, who began his 1000 year swim in Bramley Baths West Yorkshire has so far clocked up a distance of 22 miles, equivalent to crossing the Channel, in his epic attempt to draw attention to the plight of Britain's dwindling supply of listed pools.
"It's been a tough but fabulous experience," said Dr Dungavell. "The swim has taken me to some of England's best-loved local landmarks and hidden gems. I've met many people who are passionate about the future of Britain's Victorian and Edwardian pools"
Once Britain led the world as the supreme swimming nation, widely acknowledged as the 'best swimmers in the world'.
The nation's obsession reached fever pitch in 1875, when Captain Matthew Webb successfully completed a cross channel swim prompting a boom in the building of municipal pools. By 1911 there were 600 of them.
Now, with only 14 of the 50 remaining open to the public, many, like the Grade 2 listed Ashton-Under-Lyne have been consigned to history. Others, like Hackney's Haggerston Baths are threatened with closure or are subjects of a local campaign.
"We must work hard to ensure that adequate funding an expertise is available to keep our remaining pools open to us for many years to come," says Dungavell.
Dr Ian Dungavell will be at Dulwich Leisure Centre from 6.30pm on Friday 29 August. For more information about the 1000 Year Swim, visit www.1000yearswim.com
For more information about the Victorian Society go to the Victorian Society website
