the facilities were largely constructed in the 1960s, funded by the head of the neepsend tool and steel corporation, sir stuart goodwin. he approached the university with £30,000 of financial support towards building a sports hall after discovering that the existing gymnasium on the western bank part of the campus would be demolished. they were opened in october 1960. after funding the indoor sports hall, goodwin then discovered that there was no swimming facility at the university (plans had been abandoned in 1939) and issued a further £60,000 from himself and his wife to fund the construction. at the opening ceremony for the pool, he surprised people further by pledging to fund squash courts and indoor cricket wickets. the swimming pool and second gymnasium opened in 1963.