In 1905 local people decided they wanted a space where they could meet up with friends and relax. It took 30 years before this was finally put in place with the opening of Lee Green in 1935. However, as the place was only used by elderly men, more than likely retired miners, a petition was set up to change the use of this place that led to a change of name and purpose with the opening of Lee Gardens Pool in 1957. This change came about with weekly financial contributions from the wages of the hard working miners in the area and support from the local council and others. After its development the pool was handed over to the then Mid Glamorgan County Council and afterwards to Rhondda Cynon Taff County Borough Council. RCT Local Authority ran the pool up until 2013, when its gates closed for the last time.

Over the following 2 years the pool and its grounds fell into a state of disrepair and soon became an eye sore in the middle of the village of Penrhiwceiber. Again, this prompted local people to take action and in 2015 Lee Gardens Pool Committee was formed. The Committee worked hard over the following year and with tremendous support from RCT Together, Tower Colliery, Coalfields Regeneration Trust and Welsh Church Act, the pool opened its gates again in 2016.

There are many gaps in this potted history of Lee Green and Lee Gardens Pool. If you have any stories or photographs of you or your family enjoying this space please contact us. Help us to capture the information before it is lost forever. Please tell people who are not on the Internet about this project including parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, so they can get involved. Thank You