Historic tidal pool given Grade II listing

The tidal pool on Margate Main Sands beach had been listed at Grade II

A disused tidal swimming pool in east Kent has been given protected status.

The 1930s pool on Margate Main Sands beach has been listed at Grade II on the advice of Historic England.

The man-made structure, which fills naturally as the tide comes in, was originally designed to give the public easier access to sea water swimming.

A Historic England spokesperson said the listing would "provide protection to this important structure".

Swimming and diving are no longer permitted for safety reasons as the pool has "an uneven depth which constantly changes with the tides", Historic England said.

Steve Albon, Cabinet Member for Coastal and Cleansing at Thanet District Council, said that despite this, "the tidal pool is a really impressive focal point on the beach".

It joins the nearby Walpole Bay tidal pool, already listed at Grade II, on the National Heritage List for England.

Margate is thought to be the only town in England which is home to two purpose-built tidal pools from this era, according to Historic England.

The Marine Terrace bathing pavilion next to the pool was demolished in 1990

Both pools were built in 1937 and are described by Historic England as "ambitious feats of structural engineering".

Tim Horne, its listings advisor, said: "These pools are a source of pride. They illustrate the significance of the seaside in British culture and heritage."

The Marine Terrace tidal pool sits opposite the Victorian Nayland Rock shelter, where TS Eliot is believed to have composed part of his famous poem The Waste Land.