Interest in the pool's history has recently been revived as a result of an ongoing debate about its future. Opened in 1935 the unheated pool was turned down for listing in 1994 and though Hilsea Lido has been prey to vandalism and neglect - it has still remained a popular place where families and friends have met for over 70 years. The project saw university students, adult learners and volunteers work alongside historians, restorers, archivists and film crews to collect and archive film footage, memories and memorabilia relating to the Lido. Interest in the pool's history has recently been revived as a result of the debate about its future. Opened in 1935 the unheated pool was turned down for listing in 1994 and though Hilsea Lido has been prey to vandalism and neglect - it has still remained a popular place where families and friends have met for over 70 years. The project saw university students, adult learners and volunteers workalongside historians, restorers, archivists and film crews to collect and archive film footage, memories and memorabilia relating to the Lido.
The material collected during the project has been lodged with Wessex Film and Sound Archive. The 60 seconds of archive footage available in spring 2007 has now been augmented to nearly 20 minutes and includes material shot in 1949. Along with the cine footage the project recorded around 60 minutes of oral history recordings collected by the artist and the project volunteers.
A celebratory event was held at the Lido itself where the recovered cine film, mixed with oral history recordings and digitally treated by the artist, was projected back onto the walls of the open air pool. The show started with clips produced by adult learners during a series of video art and oral history workshops.
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