At the Pond: Swimming at the Hampstead Ladies' Pond

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In my novel The Pure Gold Baby, I set a scene of perfect happiness at the Ladies’ Pond. Anna, the protagonist’s daughter, now a young woman, is an eager swimmer, and Jessica, reading Proust, keeps half an eye on her as she lies on the grassy bank. “She sees the fringe of sallows and elders, she hears the slow strokes of an elderly stout swimmer, the ripple of water, the faint hum of hoverflies, the murmurs of conversation.

This is covered by So Mayer, who describes her discomfort at being assigned female in a piece of writing that bobs between Gerard Manley Hopkins, Dido Elizabeth Belle, ancient myths and gender essentialism. For her, the Pond has become a torture; for others, it is paradise. A seven-foot snake and giant carp There are a total of 18 ponds across Hampstead Heath, however only 3 are dedicated to swimming: Highgate Men's Bathing Pond; Kenwood Ladies' Bathing Pond and Hampstead Mixed Bathing Pond.. This book of essays is something to hold on to and re-read when we cannot be there in person. Pure joy.’ – Financial Times see raamat on esseekogumik inimestelt, kellel daamide tiigis ujumise kogemus olemas. paljud on tõelised veteranid - mäletavad, kuidas see kõik 60ndatel oli ja/või elavad naabermajas ja/või töötavad vabatahtliku vetelpäästjana. nende lood olidki mu jaoks kõige nauditavamad. nooremate kirjutajate esseed rääkisid ehk minu maitse jaoks veidi liiga palju neist endist ja vähe ujumisest. samas, seal räägiti ära need lood, mis ju ka asjasse puutusid ja rääkimist tahtsid... näiteks abordist ja transseksuaalsusest.

But in I plunged, and soon I was enjoying the odes to the Pond in winter, spring, summer and autumn by writers as grand as Margaret Drabble, Esther Freud and Deborah Moggach, and as brilliant on – and in – the water as Leanne Shapton (author of the excellent Swimming Studies) and Jessica J Lee (whose Turning: A Swimming Memoir is next on my to-read list). Essays on motherhood, creativity, mental health and sex Of course, I don’t mean anything crazy. But, in the sunshine, many ladies at the Kenwood pond enjoy relaxing topless. And likewise, at the men’s pond, the guys open wear very tiny speedos. There is something enthralling about underground rivers, even when they have been tamed and flow through manmade pipes. We like to think of the watery world hidden beneath us. They are boxed in and have gone under, writes the poet UA Fanthorpe, but they “return spectrally after heavy rain” to confound suburban gardens, deluge cellars, and detonate manholes. The landscape is alive, and the rivers at times resurgent.

In the summer, the ponds can be very crowded. It is not ideal when you’re wandering around, soaking wet, looking for somewhere to lay down your towel, sunbathe and dry off. Trust me – I’ve been there. In one thrilling story, Nell Frizzell gives an insight into being a lifeguard at the Pond, letting civilians see into the secret sisterhood of life-saving naiads. The strangest thing her colleague had ever found there? “A seven-foot reticulated python about three feet from the upper meadow”. It will stay in my mind for ever, as will Moggach’s throwaway line about the fish that live in the mixed pond nearby: “The water almost boils with giant carp, their lips gaping open like sex dolls.” A grass snake at Hampstead Heath – not quite as big as the one spotted by a lifeguard near the Ladies’ Pond (Photo: Carl Court/Getty Images) I used to know the Heath so well, but on my last visit to the pond I managed to get myself thoroughly lost. There was a joy in this as well as a sadness. All walks on the Heath are beautiful, and in the resplendent summer of 2018 they were more beautiful than ever, and there was no danger of losing oneself for long. I wandered along paths and avenues and past many a vast and fallen oak lying hugely on its side. The Ladies’ bathing ponds on Hampstead Heath are a London institution, whether it’s sunny or snowy, so what better way to immortalise them than with a book?’ – Redja siis on keset Londoni linna, Hampstead Heathi pargis selline peidetud aare - tiik, puude vahel, mudase põhjaga (räägitakse. ei ole mul õnnestunud seda põhja katsuda), kalade, veelindude, kiilide ja muu juurdekuuluvaga. päris metsajärv see muidugi ei ole, seal on aed ümber ja väravas tuleb pilet osta ja vetelpääste kontrollib, mitu inimest korraga ujuda saab. dušš jm infrastruktuur on ka, aga üsna tagasihoidlik. ja see kõik on reserveeritud naistele (keelatud on mehed, lapsed, koerad ja transistorraadiod). meeste tiik ja segatiik on samas pargis ka olemas, aga need ei ole üldse samasugused. Each of the authors mentions the nature of the place, and the connection which swimming in the pond brings with its surroundings. The pond teems with 'abundant wildlife - from dragonflies, moorhens and kingfishers above the water's surface, to swan mussels, roach and carp beneath'. Some of the contributors also touch upon its history, and its rich literary heritage. Rich descriptions pepper each of these essays. I went to school not far from the Heath. Our cross- country running ascended nearby Primrose Hill, which we were told in history class had been flat land prior to being excavated as a plague pit. The ponds were for summer, for those who knew how to negotiate the Heath’s unmarked paths and the ponds’ unwritten rules. Growing up on the edge of the northern suburbs of the city, the Heath marked a geographical watershed: the beginning of the sanctum that was central London. It did not mark the wild fringes – wild in both bohemian and arboreal senses – but instead a passport to pagan poetry and a larger secular cultural life. Here be myths and monsters marking my map of the Heath. We were greeted, sunbathing topless, by our headmistress. Where’s a plague pit to open up beneath you when you need one? There aren’t many outdoor swimming spots in London (well, not ones you’d enjoy swimming in any way), so the Hampstead ponds get extremely busy during the Summer months. Try to book online, or visit during quieter periods.

If Hampstead seems too far for you, here’s a post on the best lidos in London! The Hampstead Heath Lido is at the bottom of Parliament Hill as in this photo, keep it in mind when visiting the Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds! FAQ about Hampstead Heath Swimming: Do you have to pay to swim in Hampstead Ponds? No, the facilities at all of the ponds are pretty basic. Don’t expect any swanky leisure centre facilities here. The showers are cold, and the changing rooms are standard. But, despite this, they are totally useable and very useful! How Cold Are Hampstead Ponds? A joyous collection of essays celebrating the sanctuary of the women's pond on Hampstead Heath.' -- New Statesman The pond has truly been one of the wonders of my life. Slipping into its waters is slipping into bliss

Kenwood Ladies' Pond

On my first attempt at visiting the pond, with a classmate the summer before A levels, we were greeted, while sunbathing topless, by our intimidating headmistress. Where’s a plague pit to open up beneath you when you need one? In At the Pond, we are given the perspectives of fourteen different writers, all of whom have swum there. Some of these women are regulars; others have been just once or twice. The book combines 'personal reminiscence with reflections on the history of the place over the years and through the changing seasons.' Combining personal reminiscence with reflections on the history of the place over the years and through the changing seasons, At the Pond captures fourteen contemporary writers' impressions of this unique place. A joy to read perfect for when you need an escape from the stresses of everyday life.' -- Culturefly Kenwood Ladies Pond is a popular destination for women seeking a peaceful and secluded place to swim, sunbathe, and relax. The pond is surrounded by lush greenery and tall trees, creating a tranquil and serene environment that is perfect for unwinding and escaping the hustle and bustle of city life.