Peter Stewart

And it's remarkably dry down here, ironically, isn't it?

And it's remarkably dry down here, ironically, isn't it?

Of course, we're kind of underwater now, aren't we, as we stand, as it were. Yes. But also in the grounds, there would have been that tea shop, there would have been perhaps changing rooms, toilet facilities.

Of course, we're kind of underwater now, aren't we, as we stand, as it were. Yes. But also in the grounds, there would have been that tea shop, there would have been perhaps changing rooms, toilet facilities.

And I understand also that it was quite shaded, wasn't it, which may have been nice in the summer, but also could have been cold, it could have been chilly.

And I understand also that it was quite shaded, wasn't it, which may have been nice in the summer, but also could have been cold, it could have been chilly.

Yeah, and leaf and mulch and so on perhaps getting into the water. How many people would have perhaps come? How many people would be able to kind of fit in, if you like?

Yeah, and leaf and mulch and so on perhaps getting into the water. How many people would have perhaps come? How many people would be able to kind of fit in, if you like?

And was this open at the same time as the other one which would have been opposite the council buildings?

And was this open at the same time as the other one which would have been opposite the council buildings?

So that was inside, but this was outside?

So that was inside, but this was outside?

And do we know what kind of draw it was for the area? I mean, was it just people from Reigate and Redhill coming or were people coming down from perhaps further afield?

And do we know what kind of draw it was for the area? I mean, was it just people from Reigate and Redhill coming or were people coming down from perhaps further afield?

This was the whole idea of the Bancrofts, wasn't it? But was it as part of a drive to get people into the new cinema, which opened a few months later?

This was the whole idea of the Bancrofts, wasn't it? But was it as part of a drive to get people into the new cinema, which opened a few months later?

OK, and it didn't last that long, did it, actually?

OK, and it didn't last that long, did it, actually?

This is intriguing, it really is. What do you make of it? You've written about it, you know an awful lot about local history, and yet this is the first time you've been down here.

This is intriguing, it really is. What do you make of it? You've written about it, you know an awful lot about local history, and yet this is the first time you've been down here.