Not many people know this but Milnsbridge used to have an outdoor heated swimming pool.

It was totally unofficial and used only by local teenagers.

Allen Jenkinson says: “Bob Vant’s reminiscences of life in and around John Crowther’s mill sparked off my own trip down memory lane.

“Back in the early to mid-60s our gang used to ‘layke’ down on the canal bank by Crowther’s. There was a short section of the canal there, known locally as the ‘warmies.’

“Crowther’s had their own steam-driven electrical generators but, instead of using cooling towers, the water was circulated into and out of the canal, keeping the water something like 70°F or 80°F all year round. It was great for swimming in. At midnight one year we also built and paddled rafts.

God knows what was lurking under the surface but we didn’t care, it was hot.

“The changing facilities left a lot to be desired. They were bushes on the opposite side to the towpath on a piece of land between the canal and the River Colne.

“The girls in our gang joined in. We were all teenagers, there was a certain level of decorum but nobody really bothered. It was all good fun.

“Crowther’s called the police umpteen times to chuck us out. The lock gates had been removed years earlier and replaced with reinforced concrete panels about four inches thick.”

The difficult access meant they had plenty of notice when police arrived to escape across a three-foot diameter pipe over the river.

“Until one day there was a bobby waiting for us at the other end,” said Allen. “I got my first ride home in a police car out of it, though.

“We didn’t see this at the time, but they were only doing their job.

“The water was untreated and quite possibly dangerous.

“Having said that, I don’t remember ever suffering any ill effects.”