Figure 1.--

Most English schools offer swiming lessons to the students. Given the English climate, one might assume that this was an ordeel, but the children seem to enjoy swimming even in what seems to an American rather cold water. Some schools have their own swimming pool. Others use public facilitoes. The most common trunks are the brief Speedo style. Many private boarding schools ininitally had the younger boys swim without trunks. Some schools had uniform trunks, but mot let the children choose their own suits.

Chronology

I am not sure how prevalent it was in the rest of Europe but I imagine it was similar there as in Britain but during the Victorian and early Edwardian periods it was often customary for men and women to bathe/swim separately. Only very young boys would be with their Mothers and sisters. It was quite commen for men to swim nude but all in one bathing costumes were very popular for those who could afford them. These usually had full length sleeves and legs but short-sleeved and knee length versions did come into vogue. These were usually made of quite heavy cotton and were for the most part quite impractical. Many photos of fairground strongmen or boxers of the period show very similar if not identical items. The women suffered worse having very voluminous bathing costumes. This was a time when women would not be seen to be exercising as it would not have been deemed ladylike or feminine. It was only around the start of the 20s that women were able to take a fuller part in more 'physical' sports etc. Around the late 40s swimming trunks appeared in Britain, possibly as a result of American GIs but more probably because of the power of the Hollywood films. These were tight fitting but not brief. Made of 'modern' fabrics they were cut to the upper part of the thigh put with no inleg. Other than missing the Y-front they were not dissimilar to unperpants other than the fabric. Later into the 50s a shorts trunk with a very small inside leg were popular for a short time.

Types

Knitted swimwear was common in the 1940s and 50s although it obviously had drawbacks. Most schools insist upon swimming trunks for boys and specifically ban shorts style costumes for swimming lessons and competitions. Specific colours eg Navy or Black are usually stipulated. This includes state and private and junior and senior. At public swimming pools and at the beach it is usually only the younger boys who wear trunks and boxer short length swimming shorts are generally the most popular. Very recently tight fitting wetsuit type long legged or knee lengthed 'trousers' have become popular, especially as beachwear by those taking part in surfing or wishing to affiliate with that image. It is mainly very young boys who are dressed like this other than for fashion or sports wear. Propably because of parents worrying about exposure to the sun. These remind me of the hideous lycra cycling shorts which used to be popular but are now back to the preserve of the cyclists - they are worn under shorts by some taking part in sports.

Personal Experiences

English contributors have provided information about their experiences:

New Castle (1960s-Early 1970s)

A reader describes the approach at his prep school. "First thing every Tuesday morning from April to October my class had a 60 minute swimming lesson in the normally rather cold outdoor pool, which (for ALL Boys between 8 and 13 years old,) had a pointless, but strictly enforced rule that stated: 'Junior and Lower-School boys are NOT PERMITTED to wear swimming trunks at any time!' so that all of us Boys had to swim completely naked, while the Girls all wore swimming costumes! At first, being Outdoors with nothing-on felt very strange, particularly while standing around the pool with two dozen other stark-naked little boys, waiting for the lesson to start. Of course there was a lot of teasing and giggling from the girls, but after the first couple of lessons I don't think most of us bothered about being seen nude, and in warm and sunny weather it was really terrific!"

Kent (1960s-70s)

Another reader writes, " Yeh, I went to private school in Kent during the 1960s and 70s and right through prep school and senior school we had to swim nude. There was no reason given, it was just a school rule. There was no bunking off either, if you were not swimming for any reason you had to sit naked at the side of the pool. My school was boys only."

Richard (1970s-80s)

A British reader tells us, "I grew up in the 70s and 80s and at the time all boys wore swimming trunks; boxer style or shorts style swimwear had not reached Britain. Those who were fashionable, into competative swimming or had more money wore Speedo trunks. These were cut much briefer and made of nicer material (usually shiny, smoother and quicker to dry). Nobody wore shorts to swim in and would have laughed at the early 90s extra long swimming shorts. Denim cut-offs were perhaps the one exception but even they tended to be cut very short. Many boys attending Prep schools such as mine were expected to wear nothing whilst swimming; it was just the norm. When I moved on to my senior school many of my peers expected the same there but by that time, as now, swimming trunks were expected. It is interesting to note that some public schools were very uptight over such things and their boys not only wore trunks but also tops whereas others went with the notion that boys did not need to wear anything and trunks were an unecessary item. I have no idea what lay behind the the thinking but despite initial surprise lasting no more than seconds I only wore trunks in competitions with other schools whilst at Prep. A relative of mine recently sent a photo of himself and other boys swimming in the river at a camp organised by the school back in the 50s when they were all around 12 which shows those on the bank in school uniform and the rest naked playing in the water and that may give a clue to the mindset of those who were the grownups and teachers of my era as they had enjoyed that freedom. Obviously far less knowledge or fear of paedophilia as there is today as well as very different ideas as to a childs place, childhood etc. The photo shows nothing and would be of no interest to a pervert but does show how times have changed. (Will see if I can find it for you)."

Summerhill

A reader writes, "Nowadays in Britain there is only one school that I know of with a clothing optional policy which is the famous or infamous Summerhill in East Anglia.