Construction decision 15 février 1935 (≈ 1935)
Draft voted for 971,560 francs.
Été 1936
Construction by Paul Hanote
Construction by Paul Hanote Été 1936 (≈ 1936)
Building run in 7 months.
1er août 1936
Inauguration
Inauguration 1er août 1936 (≈ 1936)
Opening under the Popular Front.
1936
Creation of nautical clubs
Creation of nautical clubs 1936 (≈ 1936)
Birth of the Bruaysian Club and the Sharks.
1997
Renovation and classification
Renovation and classification 1997 (≈ 1997)
Modernization and registration MH.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The entire park stadium with its fences and grills comprising: Roger-Salengro Park, located rue d'Hulluch, with the kiosk (Box AY 87); the stadium with its monumental entrances, including the facades and roofs of the gym and the stands (see AY 44); the swimming school (former name of the outdoor swimming pool) , located on Auguste-Caron Street, comprising the entrance, the basins, the cabins and the stands (Box AY 41): inscription by order of 12 May 1997
Key figures
Paul Hanote - Architect
Designer of the complex in Art Deco style.
Henri Cadot - Mayor of Bruay-la-Buissière
Initiator of the project in 1935.
Roger Salengro - Minister of the Interior (People's Front)
The eponymous pool symbol of socialist values.
Origin and history
The Bruay-la-Buissière Park and Swimming School, located in Pas-de-Calais, was designed in the 1930s to meet the leisure needs of minors and their families. This project is part of the social context of the Popular Front (1936), which aimed to democratize access to sports and cultural activities. The swimming pool, originally known as "Swim School", reflected an educational will, with a pool dedicated to school and beginners. Its functionalist and hygienist architecture, signed by local architect Paul Hanote, is inspired by the liner style and the principles of Art Deco, with straight lines, flat surfaces and modern materials such as reinforced concrete.
The construction of the swimming pool, decided in 1935 by Mayor Henri Cadot and the City Council, was carried out during the summer of 1936 and inaugurated on 1 August of the same year. Funded at CHF 971,560, it consisted of three basins, 246 cabins, divers and a solarium, for 600 people. Close to mining town 9, it became a central place for miners, who discovered the newly established paid leave. His name pays tribute to Roger Salengro, Minister of Interior of the Popular Front, embodying the socialist values of the project.
Built into a larger ensemble including a park with music kiosk, a stadium, a track and a gym, the complex symbolized emancipation through sport. The swimming pool, renovated in 1997 to meet safety standards, remains a testament to the contemporary heritage of the Artois. It was classified as a historical monument the same year, recognizing its architectural and social importance. Its style recalls that of the Roubaix swimming pool, built shortly before in a similar spirit.
The swimming school was quickly invested by local clubs, such as the Bruaysian Nautical Club (1936) and Les Requins (1937), a Franco-Polish club demanding privileged access. Although the population did not express a prior request, the project met a latent need for leisure for a working community exhausted by mining. Even today, the Roger-Salengro pool embodies the legacy of 20th century social policies and the adaptation of infrastructure to popular aspirations.
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