Architectural historian Ian Dungavell chose the grandeur of Bramley baths to begin a nationwide swimming challenge aimed at highlighting the importance of historic swimming pools.

Dr Dungavell, director of the Victorian Society heritage charity, plans to swim a distance of 20 miles in the chlorinated waters of the country's 13 listed Victorian and Edwardian Pools.

He will complete 1,438 lengths – the total number of years each pool has been opened.

Grade II listed Bramley Baths, on Broad Lane, was the last of eight public baths built in Leeds between 1899 and 1904. The building was restored in 1992 and is one of four listed pools still available for public use in Yorkshire.

Dr Dungavell said: "I'm delighted to be starting the 1,000 Year Swim at Bramley Baths. It's a distinctive and attractive building which has been lovingly restored.

"It is a great example of the contribution historic pools can make to communities as symbols of shared heritage and civic pride."

After completing 104 lengths at Bramley Baths, Dr Dungavell will go on to visit the 12 other listed pools in the country, ending with 116 laps at Dulwich leisure centre on August 29.

"There is still a place for these historic baths in modern society. They are quite often closer to the communities they are supposed to serve and have more of an atmosphere and 'local' feel rather than modern complexes.

"It's not always about the pursuit of sporting excellence. Most swimmers just want somewhere to exercise. At newer venues people often feel like they are swimming in a goldfish bowl."

Swimming a total of 1,438 lengths over the summer, Dr Dungavell will cover a distance equivalent to crossing the Dover Strait of the English Channel.

His journey will also see him visit Beverley Road baths, East Yorkshire; Camberwell leisure centre, London; Chelsea sports centre, London; Batley baths, West Yorkshire; Queensbury pool, Bradford; Woodcock centre, Birmingham; Moseley Road baths, Birmingham; Tunstall pool, Stoke-on-Trent; St Luke's pool, Brighton Centre, Kigs Hall leisure centre, London and Health hydro, Swindon.

He added: 'It is a big task. But the distance I'm swimming should be far longer than it is.

"With well over 50 listed Victorian and Edwardian pool buildings dotted around England, it is shocking that only 13 remain in use and open to the public. Many of the others have been left to rot.

"Pool buildings are notoriously hard to find new uses for.All too often, a decision to close them is effectively a decision to write these nationally significant buildings off.

"We must work hard to ensure that adequate funding and expertise is available to keep our remaining historic pools open to everybody for many years to come."

For more information about the 1000 Year Swim click here or call 020 8747 5897.