It was first opened to the public in 1903 as the Ladies Swimming Bath and is believed to be the oldest surviving outdoor municipal pool of a similar early Edwardian era.

It had changing booths and showers and a very high degree of architectural detail, most of which was manufactured locally.

During the 1990s, the Reading Sub Aqua Club took a lease on the premises and established a non-swimming meeting place, with an intention of creating a regional diving trading centre.

[2] In September 2009, the council rejected the proposal to grant a 250-year lease to Askett Hawk and decided to give a local campaign group the opportunity to develop a scheme to restore the pool for public use.

The restoration was completed in 2017; as well as reopening the pool, there is a restaurant, small spa and private dining facilities.