Taking the Waters: A Swim Around Hampstead Heath. Caitlin Davies, Ruth Corney - Softcover

Caitlin Davies

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0711232385 ISBN 13: 9780711232389

Publisher: Frances Lincoln, 2012

Synopsis

Taking the Waters is a celebration of four unique swimming spots on Hampstead Heath: the Kenwood Ladies' Pond, the Highgate Men's Pond, the Mixed Bathing Pond, and the Parliament Hill Lido. People have swum at the ponds for over 200 years -- from champion swimmers and world famous divers, to international film stars and hardy year round bathers -- while the Lido is one of London's few remaining outdoor pools. Together they attract over a quarter of a million visits a year. How and why did they come to be and what stories do they have to tell? This book is an illustrated history full of personal memories, archive images and stunning modern photography.

About this title

About the Author

Londoner Caitlin Davies has been swimming at the Heath ponds and Lido since she was a child. A writer, teacher and journalist, she is the author of three non-fiction books, four novels and several short stories. Ruth Corney is an award-winning photographer. She has had several exhibitions that bear testament to her passion for the ponds and Lido. She is also trying to be a year round pond swimmer. In addition to her commercial work, she has led photography and oral history projects, her most recent being the photographic documentation of life at the Ironmonger Row Baths, and its refurbishment.

Review

It's terrific, I was totally immersed. Loved it! Melvyn Bragg A glorious, evocative, watery treat. Get in, quick! Jenny Landreth - swimmingroundlondon.blogspot.com I loved Taking the Waters. In this age when Health and Safety seems to shut down anything that's a little different, the Hampstead Ponds and Lido are one of the last quirky things we've got left. It's a pleasure to have a whole book devoted to them. It will appeal to swimmers and non-swimmers alike, and to anyone with a love for the offbeat. Tracy Chevalier A really well-produced, rewarding book. Text and marvellous illustrations capture the joys, punishments and unabashed delights of bathing on the Heath. Well worth dipping into. Michael Palin Heavenly pics and riveting story of the Hampstead Ponds. Michele Hanson - Guardian columnist Looks gorgeous! Kate Rew, author of 'Wild Swim' As Davies tells the engrossing story of the ponds development, Corney's modern images of life at the ponds blend with historic photographs to create an invigorating look at how people, no matter where they live, will always find a space to enjoy nature. Outdoor Photography If you're finding it harder than usual to get off the sofa and into a swimsuit, try dipping your toe into Taking the Waters, a scenic celebration of Hampstead Heath's unique swimming spots through memory, history, anecdote and photography Fabric Property Chronicles the social history of all the ponds and the lido on the Heath. The book uncovers that people have been swimming at the ponds for more than 200 years and even champion swimmers and world famous divers have been spotted there. Ham & High Whether you're passionate about the Hampstead pools (as clearly many people are), or wouldn't touch them with someone else's bargepole, you'll find plenty of fascinating history, politics and sporting endeavour in the pages of this book. We suggest you pick up a copy, put together a hamper, toddle along to the lido and enjoy this book cover to cover by the poolside. The Londonist 4* With so much already written about north London's most beloved green space, it's hard to think what else there is to say about Hampstead Heath. Yet Caitlin Davies and photographer Ruth Corney have risen to this challenge with spectacular success, their words and pictures evocatively conjuring the pleasure of swimming outdoors... An enjoyable, refreshing read for those impatiently waiting for summer to kick in. Time Out I defy anyone not to find some pleasure in the pages. The Kentish Towner Well researched and colourfully told. The Observer Corney is an award-winning photographer who provides intriguing, atmospheric images of the Heath waters - a subject she has made her own... Davies has a mischievous sense of humour and an appreciation of social history and knowledge of local affairs which makes for compulsive reading. And viewing too, as there are lavish illustrations of archive photographs, paintings from Constable onwards, newspaper cuttings, advertisements - including a fine array of vintage bathing suits - and other ephemera. Ham & High

Edition details

• Publisher: Frances Lincoln
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0711232385
• ISBN 13: 9780711232389
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112