A partnership involving the Carew Pole Garden Trust, Torpoint Artists Collective, and Rooted Futures has taken initial steps to restore an 18th-century bath house swimming pond on the Antony Estate in Cornwall, backed by funding from the National Lottery Community Fund.
Specialists at the Carew Pole Garden Trust have begun assessing the historic Antony Estate site in Cornwall, looking at how the bath house pond can be cleared, evaluating tree maintenance needs, and examining the tidal inlet and water movement through the location, according to BBC News.
History of the Antony Estate Bath House Pond
The bath pond and bathing house were constructed in the late 18th century after being designed by Thomas Parlby. Reginald Pole Carew, who inherited the Antony estate, wanted a place to swim within the woodland stretch situated on the bank of the tidal River Lynher, according to BBC News.
Partnership Roles and Community Involvement
The restoration project is driven by a new partnership between the Carew Pole Garden Trust, Torpoint Artists Collective CIC, and Rooted Futures.
- Carew Pole Garden Trust: Leads the physical restoration, utilizing its knowledge of the estate and gardens to clear the pond and manage tree requirements.
- Torpoint Artists Collective: Focuses on creative learning, community involvement, and an artist-led programme featuring wildlife recording, photography, storytelling, and nature journalling.
- Rooted Futures: Coordinates the partnership and assesses its impact on people, wildlife, and wellbeing through biodiversity monitoring and participant feedback.
The collective’s gallery on Fore Street in Torpoint will serve as a town-centre hub for updates, community discussions, and creative events. Organizers also plan to establish a Friends of the Pond group to bring together local knowledge, practical skills, and ideas for the area's long-term care.
Partners Aim to Create Welcoming Community Resource
In a joint statement, the partners expressed their aim to create a welcoming community resource where people can connect with green and blue space, discover the natural environment and contribute to the long-term care of a valued local landscape
, noting that education, creativity, and community participation will be central to the work, according to BBC News.
Open-water swimmers, nature lovers, and interested residents have been invited to share feedback and volunteer by emailing Antony Woodland Garden. While early investigations are underway, any return to swimming remains dependent on the restoration work, safety evaluations, water quality assessments, and environmental conditions, with no confirmed timetable established yet for swimming to resume.