The Banstead Image Library
The Galleon Swimming Pool
THE GALLEON SWIMMING POOL, REIGATE ROAD, BURGH HEATH, BANSTEAD, c1936
Aerial view of a newly constructed Galleon Swimming Pool with its opening banner straddling the A217 Brighton Road.
In front stand The Galleon Country Club and petrol pumps of the neighbouring Galleon Garage.
Beyond the pool entrance on the A240 Reigate Road stands the 19th-century Surrey Yeoman coaching inn, which closed in 1998.
It was later demolished and replaced by Yeoman Court residential homes.
At one time, The Galleon gave swimming lessons to pupils from Banstead County School in Picquets Way.
Following WWII The Galleon Swimming Pool was one of Burgh Heath's two venues offering open-air swimming.
The other was The Sugar Bowl, located on the other side of the Brighton Road and 100 yards further south.
This became the Il Pirata Hotel (now The Heathside).
Coincidental name choice or marketing ploy?
A petrol forecourt and convenience store occupy The Galleon site today.
Then (c1950) and Now maps courtesy NLS Maps :
https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=19.2&lat=51.30624&lon=-0.21980&layers=258&right=GoogleSat
Postcard courtesy Pan-Aero Pictures #4262, Kingston on Thames
Picture added on 25 April 2026 at 13:10
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Banstead History
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I used to swim in both pools at Burgh Heath in the 60s. The Galleon always felt much colder than the smaller Sugar Bowl.
Added by Janice Chapple on 26 April 2026
Wonderful days at the Galleon pool. The upstairs balcony was for sunbathing and tuck shop. The fountain was fun to cool off in, and it had a slide chute on the left side and a sprung diving board on the right as you entered through the turnstile.
Added by Heather Lee on 19 August 2026
Burgh Heath
