A MUCH-loved historic site in east Belfast - believed to be Europe’s largest natural swimming pool - has received a £500,000 cash injection to restore its facilities to its former glory.
The Ormiston House estate will use the cash to transform the Ormiston pool, originally constructed by Campbell College for school swimming lessons, into a water-sports facility for the local community.
Dating back to the 1920s, the pool fell into a state of disrepair after the estate in which it was located was sold in 1996 and lay vacant for a number of years.
But last year a private investor bought the premises and submitted planning permission to restore the swimming pool back to its original purposes.
Now Belfast Kayak Academy, a local charity whose mission is to make the sport more accessible to young people, has been granted usage of the restored pool and will now use the site to run a summer scheme and courses in conjunction with local schools and community groups.
Pete Boyle from Belfast Kayak Academy said: “Our mission is to make kayaking as accessible to young people as possible so we are absolutely thrilled to call Ormiston pool our new home.
“The fact the pool itself is deep rooted in the history of the local community will mean we can re-establish links with neighbouring schools and youth groups to help bring Ormiston pool back to life. "
Bristol-based natural swimming pool design and build company Clear Water Revival has been responsible for the restoration of Ormiston House pool.
Heated by biomass and solar panels the company has also worked to reinstate the natural water supply of the low energy pool - a result of it being installed between a pair of twinned lakes on the 13-acre estate.
