This small exhibition of swimwear shows a range of costumes for men and women, dating from the early 1900s through to the 1970s, the timeline that the Queens Memorial Baths were in use.

Left to Right

Women's Blue all-in-one Bathing Suit, c1900
Made from woven cotton and possibly home-made. The suit is loose fitting but with an elasticated waist that would have created some shape. There would originally have been elastic in the sleeves, creating a puffed appearance. Stockings, shoes and a bathing cap would also have been worn.

Women would have taken to the waters for health reasons and bathed, rather than swam and at all times would have kept their body covered, for the sake of modesty and to prevent exposure to the sun. Dark coloured fabric was used to prevent transparency when wet.

'Eros' Striped Bikini, 1971
Manufactured by R and W.H Symington & Co. Ltd, under their 'Eros' label.

Symington's were a corsetry manufacturer, based in Market Harborough, Leicestershire. They started manufacturing swimwear from the 1930s, using the knowledge and expertise gained in designing underwear into the manufacturing of swimwear.

This two piece costume is made from diagonally cut, stripe stretch towelling (nylon/cotton) and has preformed nylon bra cups creating shape and control in the bikini top.

Women's Swimming Cap, 1970s
Swimming caps were not only worn to keep the wearers hair dry and hair style intact, but to protect the hair from chlorinated water. Decorated caps were popular between the 1950s and 1970s; swimming caps are now used mainly by professional swimmers to help reduce drag through the water.

Men's Red Speedo Trunks, c1980
'Speedo' was originally founded by MacRae Hosiery, established by Alexander MacRae in 1914. In 1928 MacRae introduced the classic, figure-hugging 'Racerback'. The costume with its low cut armholes permitted the wearer a greater degree of movement, therefore allowing faster swimming. This inspired a staff member, Captain Parsons, to coin the slogan 'speed on in your Speedos' and the Speedo name was born. The company was built on the nation's active lifestyle and growing acceptance of competitive swimming to become one of the best known competitive sports wear manufactures of our time.

The name Speedo has become so synonymous with brief style swimming trunks that even similar styled garments made by different companies are today referred to as Speedos.

Men's Side Lace Trunks, 1950
Trunks made from a non-stretch fabric with a cotton lining, with an adjustable side lacing system. Although these trunks do not have a maker's label, the image next to them shows an almost identical pair made by R and W.H Symington and Co Ltd from their 'Peter Pan' range, 1954.

A collection of Swimming Awards and photograph of Miss Joan Tailby, 1935-1938
Joan was born in 1920 and used the baths from 1928 through to the 1940s, swimming competitively for Loughborough Town Swimming Club during the 1930s.

Brass swimming award for 2^nd place in the Junior Open competition 1931, presented to Sue Campbell by Loughborough Town Swimming Club.

Swimming Certificate of Merit awarded by the Borough of Loughborough Festival of Britain, 1951
The Festival of Britain opened on the 4th May 1951 its aim was to promote the feeling of recovery after the Second World War, celebrating British industry, arts and science and inspiring the thought of a better Britain.

Although the main site for the festival was in London it was a nationwide affair with exhibitions and events held throughout Britain.

Women's Floral Swimsuit with Cut-out Detail, 1953
Manufactured by R and W.H Symington & Co. Ltd.

It is made from spun rayon and is printed with a floral print of lilies. It is ruched from the mid-riff downwards but has a distinctive loose fitting top with deep sleeves and a silk cord fastening at the centre front. The cut out section at the mid-riff seems in contrast to the covered shoulders and tops of the arms, creating a costume that is both revealing and concealing.

The term ruching refers to the gathered fabric on the costume. In the mid-1930's designer Martin White patented the ruched swimsuit which was called the Telescopic swimsuit. The method used was simple but revolutionary. Lactron thread (cotton-covered rubber) was stitched on to the fabric with a special stitch and with the lactron thread held at a pre-determined tension during the whole of the stitching process. The result was a ruched garment which only needed to be made in one size to ensure a perfect fit for any figure from 30" to 42" bust. Ruching was not only used on adult swimwear but also for children's swimsuits, creating a multi-size costume that could grow with your child.

Women's Leopard Print Swimsuit, 1939
Manufactured by R and W.H Symington & Co. Ltd, under their 'Peter Pan' label.

Advertised as 'fitting like a mermaid's skin' and suitable for the sea, pool, beach or your own garden. This swimsuit range controlled unruly curves and made the slim figure trim with its corset tailored design.

This suit was made in three leopard print colourways, as can be seen on the fabric swatch card in front of the swimsuit. The colourway of this print is called 'Jungle'. The leopard print has been in out of fashion since the 1930s.

The swimsuit is made from rayon with a multilactron elastication. By the 1930s elastic based yarns were introduced which could be wrapped around cotton, wool, silk or rayon yarn to produce Lastex. Celebrated as a 'miracle yarn', it could be woven or knitted and provided two-way stretch maintaining its shape even when wet.

Women's Blue Swimsuit made by 'Spirella', 1950s
This swimsuit was made to measure for the owner by the underwear manufacturer Spirella.

The Spirella Corset Company Inc was founded in 1904in Pennsylvania, USA. The company opened its first factory in Great Britain in Letchworth, 1910.

Spirella only manufactured made-to-measure foundation wear and corsetieres were sent to customers' homes to take measurements and specific order requirements.

Like many other corsetry manufacturers Spirella used the skills and materials that they had perfected in their foundation wear to create the best figure shaping swimwear. This swimsuit has a full bra inset and a hook and eye fastening under the strong centre back zip and is made from an elasticated fabric that holds and supports as well as any foundation garment would have done.

Two member tickets from 1950 and 1951 for Loughborough Town Swimming and Life Saving Club.