Why does this quaint village have a hidden oasis?

Tucked away among the green fields of Surrey, lies the tiny village of Shere - with a tea room, a shimmering stream, two pubs and quaint homes dotted along narrow lanes.

It's what some might call the quintessential English village, but Shere hides a fascinating piece of history - one of the oldest open air baths in the country.

The pool dates back to 1875 and is a short walk behind St James's Church - which itself appeared in the Domesday Book - and across the River Tillingbourne.

"We are very lucky to live in Shere, and to have a pool on top of that is the icing on the cake," said Nicola Walker, chairperson of Shere Swimming Pool Club.

It was village resident Lady Arthur Russell who had the pool made so her children could learn to swim, inspired while in Paris by people swimming in the River Seine.

She rented the land from the lord of the manor, the Bray family, and in 1891 the pool was presented to the people of Shere on a 200-year lease.

Today, the pool is as popular as ever, with memberships for this year already at capacity - impressive for an attraction so few people are aware even exists.

"I think everyone who comes to Shere hears the noise, they wander round, they have a little look, and you can imagine they're thinking, 'ooh I'd quite like to be in that pool'," said Nicola.

"The reason that it's members-only is that we don't have a lifeguard here, so all of our members need to sign up to our terms and conditions, predominantly around safety."

The pool was designed for recreation, but it also played a role in World War One.

Many children learned to swim there, but one, George Herbert Grover, learned to dive so he could retrieve things from its floor.

Once grown, Grover was sent to feel for plate mines on the bottom of river beds, and saved many lives by doing so, even being awarded medals for his work.

Now though, Shere's pool is a community space, with residents spending hours splashing around in the sunshine, and with the lease not due for renewal until 2091, many more children are sure to experience their first dips in this village's hidden oasis.

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